Generational Relevance.

Many at times great #inspiration comes from the people nearest to you. In this day and age when we are at a constant need to reinvent ourselves in this rapidly changing world, I grew up next to someone who did that long before all of it was even a necessity. Why? Because he enjoyed doing it! He is my Appa (Dad)

Appa (Ananthan Chockalingam) turned 60 this year and we commemorated his life by releasing a book titled “என் பெயர் Ananthan” (My name is Ananthan). In the late 1980s, as a young engineering graduate from the South he moved to Chennai with a lot of hopes and dreams like many still do. After learning the basics of typesetting and publishing from renowned newspapers like Dinamalar, he shortly began his own business. The business evolved and so did his roles, significantly contributing to the #Tamil computing industry for over 30 years! During these busy years, he also founded and ran a fortnightly newspaper in his hometown Theni along with a thriving computer education institute. My sister and I have seen him work hard and constantly reinvent himself… and truly enjoying it. It was inspiring! Now, several decades later, he is investing his time and energy in developing an agricultural farm in the mountains of Kurangani in the Western Ghats, successfully producing 100% organic Arabica #coffee in his coffee estate.

When we were making this book, we collected wishes from people who are his relatives, friends, colleagues and well-wishers. Going through them made me realize the multi-faceted life he has been living. The challenges that come with it has been enormous and I have seen him work through it. I draw inspiration from it when I face challenges of my own!

We all have such simple people in our lives living an enormously inspiring life. We just need to look for it. Generational relevance stays- it all depends on one’s perspective!