A life of service: The story of a humble hero
In a quiet corner of Hyderabad, untouched by the trappings of fame, lives a man whose heart has echoed with compassion for the past four decades.Social activist Dr. Raghu Arikapudiis a 'one-man-army',who has garnered support from various voluntary organizations and individuals apart from his own contribution of over 2.5 crore, touching more than 25, 000 families. A small -time employee with the government defence establishment Bharat Dynamics Limited, now retired, he has built a legacy of selfless service inspired by the path of saints and visionaries like Mother Theresa and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Families of farmers battling drought, differently abled individuals striving for dignity, fluorosis victims, students in pursuit of education and countless others grappling with life's harsh realities have felt the warmth of his timely support and kind words.To him, service is not charity. It is duty. A prayer in action. His daily prayer to God, Raghu says is simple, yet profound. 'Let me not be alive the day I am unable to help another human being'.
JOURNEY TOWARDS SERVICE
Born in a farmer's family in a remote village called Chemallamudi in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Raghu Arikapudi completed his ITI,joining Bharat Dynamics Limited in 1984as an apprentice andlater as a technician in the Missile manufacturing unit Gyro (referred to as the heart of the missile) in 1990. By the time he retired in March 2024 after 33 years of service, he had left behind an unparalleled legacy of giving.His stint with service began in the CITU trade union in the early days of his career where he was involved in securing ration cards for families of immigrant labour who lived in dire conditions.Soon disillusioned by the trade unions, he decided to charter his own course. After serving as a director and general secretary of theBDL employees Consumers Cooperative Society for over a decade, he started the 'Winners Foundation' in the year 2012 expanding his social service activities to cover more people.
FINDING THE NEEDY FROM NEWS STORIES
Unlike most people who read newspapers for information or entertainmentDr.Raghu Arikapudi scans them for human interest stories. Regional papers with details of those in despair have him travel to their homes in the nook and corner of the Telugu states extending the helping hand that they so desperately need.'I get up at 5 AM everyday and go through newspapers looking for people in need of help and make every effort to reach them immediately' Dr.Raghu says. Reaching out to rural kids and helping them reach their true potential is most satisfying and he has supplied 'school kits' with school bags, books, study material and toys to 6000 kids in the most backward areas. In partnership with the government education department, he has extended counselingto 10,000 students in 100 government schools so far.Helping farmers in distress and the differently abled has been a commitment close to his heart says Dr. Raghu who is happy that he has helped1000families of differently abled people lead a life of dignity. Braille kits andwalking sticks for the blind andwheel chairs and tricycles have been distributed to many and he plans to take up these works with greater focus in three mandals in Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Sangareddy in Telangana.With the help of an NRI doctor who runs the Hope4 Spandana foundationhe has reached out to 150fluoride victims in 25 villages in Marriguda, Munugodu and Nampally mandals in Nalgonda district with wheel chairs, mobile medical services, food and employment. This collaboration continued when the Covid virus struck and he helped more than 1000 families directly and 20, 000 indirectly Dr. Raghu informs.
Another initiative is the collaboration with Hope 4 Spandana where 90 differently abled people were provided investment ranging from Rs 40, 000 to 1 lakh to run grocery stores, fancy and tailoring units, mechanic shops and hair cutting saloons in Telangana. Women, kids suffering from Thalassemiaand those affected by natural disasters are part of his long list of beneficiaries. His latest philanthropyis inspired by the story of a daily wage earner Gandhiram Jena from Orissa who is known as the 'Tree man'and spends 90 percent of his earning on planting saplings to save the environment. Anamount of 20 thousand rupees pooled through his Arikapudi trust was sent to help him repair his hut and buy groceries for the entire year.
AWARDS AND APPRECIATION
Dr.Raghu has received over 100 awards including state, national and international awards.Awards from the Indian Red Cross society, the prestigious Abdul Kalam award,gold medals and citations from the government and a string of awards from several organizations are part of this long list but he remains ever humble andgrounded. Dr.Raghu Arikapudi's story is that of a true hero- quiet, consistent and immensely impactful. A reminder that greatness does not always roar, sometimes it whispers through the kind acts of an ordinary man with an extraordinary heart.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Only locals' policy sees 20% dip in degree seat takers in T
1 2 Hyderabad: With the Telangana govt reserving all seats for local students, the number of allotments in the Degree Online Services Telangana (DOST) first phase counselling dropped by 20% this year. While a total of 76,290 seats were allotted in DOST first phase counselling in 2024, this year the number stood at 60,436. In 2025, a total of 89,572 candidates have registered for DOST and 65,191 candidates have given web options. "We are getting several requests from non-local candidates who are looking for admission in degree colleges in Telangana. We have decided to open seats up for them in the spot admissions," V Balakista Reddy, chairman, Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) told TOI. He said that as all local students would already have been given a chance to get a seat in counselling process, opening seats for non-locals during spot admissions will ensure that they are not violating any norms. This year commerce and life sciences courses are in demand at the undergraduate level. Of the total allotted seats, 21,758 are allotted in commerce and 15,249 in physical science. The remaining seats are allotted in life sciences, arts, and other courses. Of the total seats allotted, 38,041 are allotted to female candidates and 22,395 to male candidates. Among colleges, Nizam College is at the top position as 97.74% of seats (1170 out of 1197) are filled in the first phase of counselling itself, followed by Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Womens University, Koti with 93.19% and Government City College (Autonomous), Hyderabad with 88.89% of seats getting filled. Just like every year, a majority, 58,575, of these seats are allotted in English medium, 1,552 in Telugu medium, and 309in Urdu medium. All the candidates, who have secured a seat, will have to reserve their seat by online self-reporting between May 30 and June 6 using their DOST candidate login by paying prescribed fees. DOST phase-2 registrations and web-options will begin from May 30 to June 9 and seat allotment will be done on June 13. A total of 3,71,096 seats are available through DOST this year.
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- The Hindu
Admissions begin at Srirangam polytechnic for skill development courses
: Skill development training courses are being offered to students under the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme at the Srirangam Government Polytechnic College at Sethurapatti in association with the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC). Degree-holders, Industrial Training Institute (ITI) graduates, diploma-holders, and school dropouts in the 18-35 age group can apply. Training courses are offered for Surveyor, House Wiring Electrician, and Plumber Basic. ITI certificate or a HSC is a requirement for admission. Interested candidates can apply online through or call 7695856957, 7604933100 or 8248252577 for more information.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Visually-impaired woman appointed as Oodhuvar of Tamil Nadu's Thiruvanmiyur temple
CHENNAI: In a first for the state, a visually impaired woman has been appointed as an Oodhuvar in a temple under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. SS Priyavathana (24) from Chennai received her appointment order from Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday and was posted at the Pamban Swamigal temple in Thiruvanmiyur. With this, she becomes the 12th woman and the first visually impaired person to be appointed as Oodhuvar – devotional singers who recite Tamil hymns in temples. Since the DMK government assumed office, 35 Oodhuvars have been appointed, including 11 women. Born preterm, Priyavathana was diagnosed with visual impairment five months after birth. With her parents' support, she pursued a BA in Vocal Music from the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, completed diplomas in music teaching and in Isai Kalaimani, and later trained at the Archaka Training Institute. She now performs daily temple duties accompanied by one of her parents. Speaking to TNIE, her mother Subashini Sureshkumar, who has been her constant companion and first teacher, said, 'She would sit close to the TV speaker and hum along. We noticed her interest early and enrolled her in music classes.' Since Priyavathana does not read Braille, Subashini first memorised the songs and then taught them to her daughter. Over time, Priyavathana mastered various Tamil devotional hymns and has performed in temples and venues such as Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 'She also sings bhajans in Telugu, Hindi, and Marathi, and plays the violin. Her day is filled with music practice for three to four hours,' said Subashini, adding that she continues to support her daughter in every step.
