Kaimkarya Thilakam Award Announcement for 2006

[Guest guest]

Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

Sri Ramanuja Mission of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam

-----------------------------

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

The ongoing celebrations of Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi provide an

opportune time to identify and acknowledge talented and dedicated

young bhagavathas for their service to the Srivaishnava community.

 

Sri Srinivasa Gopalan (Uppili Swamin, as he is more commonly known)

is one among a select few to have had a complete formal training in

both Vedic and Nalayira Divya Prabhandham recitation from an early

age. In spite of his impressive academic career, including post

doctoral fellowships from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,

the National Institutes of Health, and Johns Hopkins University, he

has taken the time and commitment to impart this knowledge to fellow

bhagavathas both in person and through a tele-bridge for the past

several years. Thanks to his guidance, many bhagavathas are now able

to fluently chant and participate in Veda and Prabhandha goshtis.

More importantly, bhagavathas living abroad now have the rare

opportunity to learn such valuable scripts in a traditional manner.

 

In recognition of his services, Sri Ramanuja Mission, Inc., is

extremely pleased to confer upon Sri Uppili Swamin the

title, "Kaimkarya Thilakam." This title carries with it an honorary

plaque and blessings from HH Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikan and will

be presented in Washington D.C. in the presence of fellow bhagavathas

during Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi celebrations on Sunday, May 28th.

 

We thank and honor Sri Uppili Swamin and pray to Sri Ranganatha Divya

Dampathi and Poorvacharya Padukas to bestow upon him and his family a

long life and continued service in the years to come.

 

Please see below for additional highlights of Sri Uppili Swamin's

background and accomplishments.

 

Nadadur Mathavan

 

Secretary, Sri Ramanuja Mission

------------------

 

Born & brought up: Thiruvallikkeni, Chennai, TN, India

 

Born to: Smt. P. Santhamani (Teacher) & Sri V. G. Sampathkumar

(Srikaryam, Sri Vanamamalai Mutt, Triplicane)

 

Grew up in: Sri Vanamamalai Mutt, Triplicane

 

Personal: Married with 2 kids (Amina Kausar, Sampath and Ramanujan).

 

Elementary School: Samarao Thuvakkappalli, Triplicane

 

High School: The Hindu Higher Secondary School, Triplicane

 

Arulicheyal Learning:

1. V. G. Sampathkumar Iyengar (Thagappanar)

2. Sri. U. Ve. M. A. Venkatakrishnan (Geethacharyan) Swami

3. Sri C. Parthasarathy Iyengar Swami

 

Vedham learning:

1. Sri U. Ve. Kuvalai Ramanujachariar swami (Uncle to my maternal

grandfather)

2. Sri U. Ve. Selayur Thirumalachar Swami

3. Sri U. Ve. Uppili Venkat Swami (Pomona Temple)

 

Arulicheyal Teaching:

2003-2005 - weekly once on telebridge.

 

Education:

 

BSc/MSc: RKM Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Univ. of Madras.

PhD - 1998: Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

 

Post doctoral fellow:

 

1998-1999 ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich,

Switzerland)

2000-2003 NIH (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD)

2003-present JHU (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD)