We have all kinds of days and weeks but not a voluntary service week. That is why we decided to have such a week, and not just a day," explained Paramasivan.
His father was A P Nagarajan, one of the most famous Tamil directors who has made films like Thillana Mohanambal, Thiruvilayadal and Saraswathi Sapatham and won national and state awards. But Paramasivan decided not to dabble in cinema. He didn't want to spoil his father's name, he quipped.
"Just because I am his son, I can't be an expert on filmmaking," he added on a more serious note. "I feel each has his journey and we should pursue what interests us. But what stayed in my mind about my father was his helping a lot of people as he came from a very poor family and had to struggle a lot when young. I have seen his joy of giving."
Paramasivan's journey in social service started in the year 2000 with the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, introducing a scheme called Sreevari Seva that entitles anyone to be a volunteer at Tirumala to help other pilgrims. It was a huge success with lots of people joining in.
Though the volunteers were extremely satisfied, as the scheme involved spending a week at Tirumala, they entrusted Paramasivan with the responsibility of finding some other voluntary work for them in the weekends in Chennai which they could do without affecting their professional lives.
Image: Paramasivan with Stanford faculty and staff
Also see: This is where abandoned mothers go
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