Muthappan bids adieu to LEGACY

JEDDAH — LEGACY (Leadership & Empowering Global Academy for children and youth) in its regular session held in Jeddah recently bid farewell to its senior faculty member Muthappan Annamalai, who is moving to the Eastern Province to take up a challenging assignment in his company. LEGACY has been grooming children to be effective communicators and leaders since 2002. Children present speeches and take up leadership roles in their fortnightly sessions in accordance with the manual provided to them. The areas covered in their projects include speech organization and delivery with emphasis on body language and vocal variety. The children are also imparted training on making impromptu speeches, debating and quizzing, as a part of each session is devoted to table topics, debates and quiz competition. LEGACY is proud that Legacites showcase outstanding performances in such activities and win laurels in their schools, colleges and community. Legacy faculty members, who are from the Toastmasters fraternity, Raja Chandran, Sheikh Khaja Mohideen, Lakshman Sockalingm, Shanti Lakshman and Kalyani Rajan and the Legacities fondly remembered and cherished their long association with Muthappan. The specially invited guest, L. Ramnarayan Iyer, executive editor of Saudi Gazette newspaper, recalled his association with LEGACY and its selfless service to the community. He called upon the Legacites and the faculty to enliven the legacy being left behind by Muthappan. He also exhorted Muthappan to spare some of his valuable time to a legacy that he nurtured for the last decade. “In this age of connectivity and smartphones it would be easy for you (Muthappan) to stay in touch with your Legacites and continue to nourish them with enriching advices,” said Ramnarayan. Muthappan in his speech thanked the Legacites and colleagues in the faculty for their love and affection and assured that though he will not be physically present in future sessions he will be available on the electronic media. He also cited the example of cricket (a team sport) that we watch and from which we can learn. He told Legacites that the batsman (a singular entity) is out there with one purpose to score. And there are 11 others on the field to prevent him. “We see this in the game and it is a perfect analogy of life, where you with hard work and diligence will try to score or achieve your goals, but there will be others as obstacles in your path. But you’ll should work to overcome those obstacles to be successful,” said Muthappan, while elucidating other nuggets in his short farewell speech.