Thin, frail, emaciated and sporting a shy smile, Paalam Kalyana Sundaram looks like your next-door neighbor’s old, but affectionate grandpa. Once you get to talk to him, the fire and determination in him shines forth through his words. He speaks in a childlike manner, and his voice, too, is high-pitched, but as you listen, you are awestruck at the yeoman service he has done for humanity.

Born at Melakarivelamkulam in Thirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, Kalyana Sundaram lost his father at a very young age. It was his mother who inspired him to serve the poor.

A gold medalist in library science, he also holds a master’s degree in literature and history. During his 35-year-long career at Kumarkurupara Arts College at Srivaikuntam, he diligently and willingly donated his salary month after month towards charity and did odd jobs to meet his daily needs. Even after retirement, he worked as a waiter in a hotel in exchange for two meals a day and a meager salary so that he could continue to donate to orphanages and to children’s educational funds.

Mr. Kalyana Sundaram was disappointed with his high pitched, female voice and was so depressed that he wanted to kill himself. As a young kid, he read ‘Kalkandu’ a Tamil magazine and was especially  fond of author/editor Tamilvaanan and his writings.

He used to write letters to the author and the author would reply to his letters and one day invited Mr. Kalyana Sundaram to meet him in Chennai.

When they met Mr.Kalyana Sundaram told him about his voice and how bad he felt about it. Innocent as he was, he even asked for suggestion from the author to give him ideas on how to kill himself. Mr. Tamilvaanan told him that his was not his disability because all that matters is what people say about you. He further added, for people who make fun of you, make them talk about your great deeds. He went back to his village with great motivation and decided he will start helping fellow human beings

He further added, for people who make fun of you, make them talk about your great deeds. He went back to his village with great motivation and decided he will start helping fellow human beings.

When the India China war broke out in 1963, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru made a public request on radio for people to donate to the National Defense Fund. Mr.Kalyana Sundaram was a student in the Madras University was moved but had very little to spare and so he gave away his gold chain weighing 65 grams to Mr. Kamaraj, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Kamaraj was so moved by this gesture that 

he announced him as a national treasure and blessed him to have a great future.

After his donation to the National Defense Fund, Mr. Kalyana Sundaram met the editor of ‘Ananda Vikatan’ Magazine -Mr. Balasubramanian. The editor warned him the path of service is a challenge and not an easy one akin to a constantly burning fire where people are forever lost in it. He also challenged Mr. Kalyana Sundaram saying that providing for other people, using ones ancestral resources (money from parents or grandparents) is not true service. Although Mr. Kalyana Sundaram had been doing this for 10 years, this was not a true measure of philanthropy. He said “when you start working let’s see if you continue giving to others”. This fired up Mr Kalyana Sundaram and set him on a path of service for mankind his entire life.

When flood ravaged South Tamil Nadu districts in 1992, donations started pouring in for the flood victims. Mr. Kalyana Sundaram chose ademographic of kids who had lost their books, school uniforms and stationary. Hetraveled to several villages and donated books, school uniforms and stationaries to 10,000 children. 

The legendary Carnatic singer M S Subbulakshmi was so moved by this extraordinary philanthropic deed she invited Mr. Kalyana Sundaram to her house and felicitated him.

When the legendary Carnatic singer M S Subbulakshmi was offered a payment for her performance in editor Balasubramanian’s family wedding, she requested him to donate it to Mr. Kalyana Sundaram organization and gave the forwarding address.

 Mr. Balasubramanian had by then completely forgotten about his first meeting several years ago. He personally wanted to give the check to this organization since the acclaimed, nationally renowned singer M S Subbulakshmi had recommended them. When they met, Mr. Balasubramanian felt that he had met this person before (recognizing the voice) and Mr. Kalyana Sundaram had to remind him that it was his advice and challenge back in the day that had changed him. Mr. Balasubramanian was moved  to tears  and  was  

overwhelmed by the achievements of this one man.This led to the editor publishing a cover story in ‘Anantha Vikatan’ on Mr. Kalyana Sundaram and his work.

This article in ‘Anantha Vikatan’ touched Superstar Rajinikanth and his wife Latha. Mr. Rajinikanth announced Mr. Kalyana Sundaram to be his adopted Father. He and his wife Latha invited him to stay with them forever. After 15 days of the hospitable treatment, Mr. Kalyana Sundaram requested them to let him go since he felt imprisoned and there were people who needed him.

When the ultimate question of death kept cropping up in Mr. Kalyana Sundaram’s life and he decided that this too must be done in true Kalyana Sundaram style! He went to the Dean of Thirunelveli Medical College and told him on his death he would like to donate his entire body for scientific research.

He runs an organization `Paalam’ that serves as a bridge between donors and beneficiaries: it collects money and materials from those willing to donate and distribute them among the weaker sections.

The United Nations Organization adjudged him as one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century’. An American organization has also selected him as the `Man of the Millennium. ‘The Union Government has acclaimed him as `The Best Librarian in India’. He has also been chosen as `one of the top ten librarians of the world’. The International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, has honored him as `one of the noblest of the world’.The gold medalist in library science even donated the entire amount of Rs. 30 crores that he received with the Man of the Millennium award.

While many ‘newsmakers’ are catapulted to almost celebrity status overnight for doing hardly  

nything of acclaim and people are ready to stoop to any level get publicity, Kalyana Sundaram who has done some extraordinary and selfless work in the society remains unnoticed.

He is an epitome of selfless service.Listen to him, what he says about his work;

‘I ama bachelor and my personal needs are meager. I am able to manage doing odd jobs in a hotel or a laundry. 

simply do not wish to own anything. In fact, one of my happiest moments was when, after being chosen as the ‘Man of the Millennium’ by an American organization, I donated the entire amount of Rs. 30 crores I received towards charity. Everything is, therefore, a state of mind. Finally what do we take with us when we leave planet earth?’

“We cannot sustain ourselves, unless we contribute to the society in some way or the other. I strongly feel if even one person does his bit towards social good, there will be some change.”  - 

‘I ama bachelor and my personal needs are meager. I am able to manage doing odd jobs in a hotel or a laundry. I simply do not wish to own anything. In fact, one of my happiest moments was when, after being chosen as the ‘Man of the Millennium’ by an American organization, I donated the entire amount of Rs. 30 crores I received towards charity. Everything is, therefore, a state of mind. Finally what do we take with us when we leave planet earth?’

“We cannot sustain ourselves, unless we contribute to the society in some way or the other. I strongly feel if even one person does his bit towards social good, there will besomechange.”                                                    - P. Kalyana Sundaram