TRIBUTE TO MR THARIAN JOSEPH

LOVING TRIBUTE TO THARIAN JOSEPH
RETD SECRETARY COMPLAINTS & APO,
SOUTHERN RAILWAY CHENNAI

Adieu and not good bye !!!
Mr. Tharian Joseph passed away on 1st February 2010 at his residence in Chennai . The burial service was held on 5th Feb 2010 at St Luke’s Church, Anna nagar, Chennai 40

At the outset I offer my personal condolences and on behalf of the Executive Committee and the members of the Southern Railway Catholic Association of which I am one of the Vice Presidents.

He was Asst Personnel Officer and Secretary Complaints (Public Grievances) directly reporting to the SDGM of Southern Railway till his retirement in 1990. He was the President of the Southern Railway Catholic Welfare Association Southern Railway Chennai till his retirement. Like until Gandiji’s arrival from South Africa, no one knew of Congress as a political party, until Mr. Tharian took over the reins of the Southern Railway Catholic Welfare Association, no one knew about its existence. It was run on as a charity organization by a few Anglo Indian employees of the Southern Railway.

When he took over, he gave a name to it with all rules and regulations and byelaws and got it registered to make it a transparent organization and with definite structure to run it continuously. Thus he gave us a name and a structure and a face among our non-Christian colleagues in Southern Railway. We are thankful to his trial blazing work.

He did not stop with just naming the “baby” but went on to find nourishment in terms of fund rising for the association. He proposed to have music evening along with release of a souvenir. He made us to go around and to collect funds for advertisements to be published in the souvenir. With all the efforts the souvenir was published in 1988 first of its kind in the history of the organization. Thus, he toiled to collect enough money to run the organization. In the course of action, he released a list of his friends and relatives who were in the banking and jewelers business.

Further, he made to organization as one of the notable one among the other lay organizations of the Madras Mylapore Arch Diocese. He was successful, in organizing the annual thanksgiving service right in the NJO quadrangle with Most Rev Dr Casimir G SJ DD PhD, the then arch bishop of Madras Mylapore Arch Diocese as the chief celebrant of the Eucharistic service. The entire staffs of HQ were amazed at his organizing such blitzkrieg right in the railway campus. The fete has not been repeated even after two decades. The meticulous planning and execution was his original idea and he executed through all of us splendidly well.

In order to encourage the spirit of unity among the Catholics employees of the Southern Railway, he organized long pilgrimage tour to Goa. To set an example, he joined with his family. The visit to the holy cathedrals and the visit to the Bom Jesu Cathedral where the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier, patron saint of missions and popularly known as Lord of Goa are preserved, are unforgettable. We owe a lot of thanks to the efforts he had taken.

Also, during his tenure as the President, we had ample opportunity to visit the homes maintained by the Missionaries of Sisters of Charity, the congregation of Mother Theresa in around Chennai. The practice of having Friday Eucharistic service at the St Antony’s Church was started during his tenure. Also visit to various parishes during Good Friday in and around Chennai and the way of the cross on Fridays were started during his tenure as the President.

Personally, Mr. Tharian and my father David Dorairaj retd AWM/EWS/AJJ Southern Railway, were good friends and the friendship lasted till the death of my father on 13th May 2009. when I informed about the death of my father at the Railway Hospital on 13th may 2009, he was eager to come pay his last respects to him. I cannot forget his initiative to take myself and my friend Mr A L Xavier, in to the Wisemen Association Perambur Branch. Together with him we both had attended many meetings of the association and were able to execute a few projects for the needy people.

What is striking was the man’s compassion for the poor and the needy. Though born in a well to do family in kerala, he never had the air of superiority and snobbishness. I never felt him as an officer of the Central Govt but always as a great friend and a guide. Hence, he used to call me often on phone and enquire about many things. Even a month ago he was passionately pleading for a widow of a railway employee of LW/PER for issue of ID card.

Once again, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law and grand children. Hence, let me conclude “adieu and not good bye” because as Christians, we believe that we shall see him on the beautiful shore as we see him now.

D XAVIER GNANARAJ,

AAO/W/PER

NEW JOINT OFFICE

SOUTHERN RAILWAY,

AYANAVARAM CHENNAI 23
Posted on the 5th February 2010

9003060199

91-044-26741659

email: x_g_raj@yahoo.co.uk, dxgnanaraj@gmail.com

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www,gnanarajtx.blogspot.cm

NJO REACH OUT NEWS LETTER
MARCH 2008 VOLUME 4.3

lThe third issue for the year 2008 and thirty first from inception is in your hands. NJO REACH OUT wishes those NJO staff whose Birthdays and Wedding Anniversaries fall during March 2008.
Shri M Jeychandren, FA&CAO/S&W/PER has relinquished his present post on 29 th February to take up the prestigious post of Additional Director General - Commonwealth Games, New Delhi. He has been here for a six years in this office and has been with us through the storm and calm. A farewell party by the Accounts Staff of NJO/PER, the first of its kind in the annals of Accounts Office NJO/PER was held on 28th February in Nilgiri Sabha. The staff, officers, representatives of the organized labor and others competed with each other to pay felicitations and encomiums. The function was well attended by staff and they stayed throughout the function from 1530 hours until 1800 hours. Speaker after speaker highlighted his unassuming mingling with the staff, simplicity, will power, dynamic leadership, trailblazing efforts, magnanimity, compassion, mercy etc.

A PERSON SO DYNAMIC AND RESOLUTE: NJO/PER, a non-descriptive office until his arrival reached dizzying heights under his able guidance and stewardship. The entire zone turned back to look at NJO/PER for inspiration and guidance. In fact, the ECS programme even with the older version of TAS, was implemented successfully in the Workshop Accounts Office and the HQ and other office staff were approaching this office for guidance in implementing

COMPUTER SAVVY: As a person with futuristic mind where ever he worked, he paved the way for office automation and transformation. Either in Divisional Accounts Offices like TPJ, MAS, Traffic Accounts Office in Chennai, Construction Accounts Office in Egmore, Chennai, and in NJO/PER. Computerization in these offices was synonymous with his name. He has helped creation of infrastructure for creation of computer centers, hardware, software and computer literacy among the accounts staff.

E’NOVATOR: Under his able leadership, the Stores and Workshop Accounts Offices switched over to the EFT mode of payment to suppliers, ESC facilities for the staff to receive their salaries and PF payments. It is worth mentioning that the ECS scheme was implemented in this office under the instructions of our FA&CAO, even before the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, New Delhi, suggested it.

THE PERSON BEHIND ISO: As an uncompromising person with the efficiency and quality of service, he encouraged the staff to obtain ISO certification. The Workshop and Stores Accounts Office of NJO/PER is the only office in the entire Indian Railways to obtain ISO. To increase the transparency in Govt transactions, further he caused the “e” facilities like the Touch screen, Interactive Voice Response System and internet to the suppliers.

A PERSON WITH COMPASSION AND MERCY: During the heavy rains and cyclonic storm in November 2006, he came to office. He went around the entire building and found the precarious condition of many ceilings, walls etc. He at once gave orders to interact with Divisional Civil Engineering Officers to repair. An estimate was prepared and the work is in progress. He could not keep quiet to see the inconvenience caused to staff. Though he is firm in his convictions, resolute in his will power, he is very gentle too. Not many of us have seen him angry. He used to be firm and demanding yet in his own unique style. Many of us do not know his association with many organizations out side the railways However, with in the railway circle, he has been known for his compassion and mercy for Pensioners, Dependents on Pensioners, Senior Citizens and Students.

HIS MAGNANIMITY: The NJO REACH OUT a social service unit of our office is very grateful to our FA&CAO for his continued patronage to the School Toppers Awards distributed last three years at the Railway Colony Aided High School, just behind NJO/PER. He was enthusiastic about the idea when he was first invited to give away the cash awards and certificates at the school.

NEW FA&CAO/S&W/PER:
Smt Reena Ranjan, IRAS officer of 1986 batch, has taken over as the new FA&CAO/S&W/PER in place of Shri M Jeychandren. Formerly she was FA&CAO/T/MAS. She had earlier worked in NJO/PER as DY FA&CAO/S/PER for a brief period. NJO REACHOUT /PER extends warm welcome to her and wish her all success in her ventures here in NJO/PER.

WEDDING BELLS
Selvi Vidya Priya daughter of Smt Geetha and Shri V Raman Sr AFA/IC/PER got married to Selvan Karthik, son of Smt & Shri K Sundar, on the 10th February 2008 at the A R Kalyana Mahal, Thiruvanai Koil, Trichy 5 . Shri S Dharmaraj AFA/SII/PER attended the marriage and carried all the good wishes from the officers and staff of Accounts Office / NJO/PER. NJO REACHOUT prays the choicest blessings for the newly wedded couple and congratulates Smt Geetha and Shri V Raman Sr AFA/IC/PER

Dr Nirmala daughter of Smt Sivakamavalli, AA Pension Section and Dr V R Murugan got married to Selvan Balamurugan son of Shri R Anandan and Smt Vijayalakshmi, Walajabad on 18 February 2008 at Sri V R Jayarama Chetty Kalyana Mandapam, Vellore and the reception was held at the ICF Kalyana Mandapam, Villivakkam Chennai 38. A host of officers and staff from various accounts offices attended the reception. NJO REACHOUT prays the choicest blessings for the newly wedded couple and congratulates Smt Sivakamavalli, and Dr V R Murugan


LAUGH AWAY:

Why we get reddish color water from the tap sometimes? Because it is coming from Red hills (reservoir)
You make nice coffee! Can you tell me the secret? I cannot reveal it as I have got the “coffeeright” for it
Why she is applying glycerin in her eyes? Because she is going to watch mega serial in TV

LIVE FROM HISTORY: THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
During the early periods of the World War II, when the war clouds were hovering all over the Europe, three supreme commanders of the of the allied nations namely cigar smoking Winston Churchill, iron man Joseph Stalin and the President of USA, Eisenhower met in an undisclosed place by the pool side. While discussing the war strategies, Mr. Churchill, suggested if there were a fish in the pond how they could catch it. Mr. Stalin said that he would take a gun and shoot it. Churchill interrupted what he would do if the aim were missed and bullets were over, Stalin kept quiet. Eisenhower said that he would take a net and fish it out. Again, Churchill interrupted what if the fish jumped out of the net, Eisenhower kept quite. Both Stalin and Eisenhower looked at Churchill stirringly as if they were asking what he would do. Churchill quietly stood up, took a tablespoon and started drying out the water from the pool. Both of them laughed at him. Churchill without standing starred at them and said that in that way the fish would never go out his hands. Both were dumbfounded at his die-hard optimism.

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