Tamil Nadu’s Good Samaritan Manimaran, a beacon of hope for the downtrodden

Inspired by the selfless legacy of Mother Teresa, Manimaran’s World People Service Centre has so far treated over 15,000 leprosy patients, rescued several of them and got them admitted to leprosy units.

Manimaran (fourth from left), a native of Thalayampallam, comes from a very modest family and is the youngest child of farmer couple Pandurangan and Rajeshwari. (Photo credit: Manimaran)

Recalling the warmth of the nuns at Missionaries of Charities, Manimaran says that the sisters understood I was determined not to go back and so they allowed him to stay at a nearby home for men.

“During the days I used to serve at the Missionaries of Charity and sleep at the men’s home at night. After some time, I was told by Nirmala madam there to serve my people in my hometown,” explains Manimaran on how he came to Vellore.

“Based on her recommendation, I got trained at the Schieffelin Institute of Health Research and Leprosy Centre at Karigiri,” notes the social worker.

The leprosy centre at Vellore taught him the medications to be given to patients, and how the caregiver should protect himself from the disease.

In his initial days of social service, Manimaran would carry a bag with dhotis and sarees and a first-aid box to help the needy. During this period, he got the opportunity to meet former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who was then touring Tiruppur.

During the Covid pandemic, Manimaran perfromed the funeral rites of 325 bodies. (Photo credit: Manimaran)

Kalam applauded Manimaran’s services and urged him to start an organisation for the poor. “That’s how ‘World People Service Centre’ took shape,” he says.

Manimaran, a native of Thalayampallam, comes from a very modest family and is the youngest child of farmer couple Pandurangan and Rajeshwari.

According to Manimaran, from an early age, his father told him that serving others is equivalent to serving God.

After his training at Vellore, Manimaran, though a minor, used to work at a garment factory in Tiruppur where his brother was employed. “As I was not legally allowed to work, I would hide in restrooms whenever there was an inspection,” says Manimaran who was paid Rs 20 for working eight hours.

“Of the Rs 600 I earned monthly, I used to spend 90 per cent of it on buying clothes and food for the destitute,” he recalls. During those days he would spend most of the time taking care of the homeless, providing them a shelter and taking care of their treatment expenses.

“Since my childhood, I have seen my father helping others and that cultivated a habit of giving in me. I think I am destined for this,” smiles Manimaran.

Manimaran noted that he got into the garment business and used the income to help the needy.

Recently, the social worker (right) met superstar Rajinikanth (left) who gave him an ambulance free of cost. (Photo credit: Manimaran)

Furthermore, Manimaran is involved in giving dignified funerals to unclaimed bodies. Initially, he and his team members would do the rounds to zero in on unclaimed bodies in the town. But now they get calls from police departments, and other organisations regarding corpses.

“People feel disgusted to even touch a person affected with leprosy or any other disease, but we claim the dead bodies and provide them a dignified funeral. The funerals are conducted with the approval of officers. So far, I have buried or cremated 2,558 unclaimed bodies,” says Manimaran who terms these bodies ‘Prasadam’ (scared offerings).

“In fact, I feel at peace at Mayanam (burial ground), as I have come to terms with the inevitability of death and view them as a symbol of the natural cycle of life. If you have this mindset, it will lead you to a sense of peace and acceptance,” adds Manimaran.

The Covid pandemic period kept Manimaran on the toes due to the surge in the number of deaths reported in the state.

“I can never forget those two years. Everyone dreaded to come near dead bodies. I used to quarantine myself in those days and talked to my family over the phone. I believe in good karma, which made me do this service,” he says.

In recognition of his service of performing the funeral rites of 325 bodies during the pandemic, he was awarded the best social worker by the Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Thirupathur district administrations.

Manimaran (right) with the then TN CM Jayalalithaa (left) (Photo credit: Manimaran)

Manimaran is a recipient of the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities apart from several district and state awards. His services have been recognised globally as well.

He noted that late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa invited him for a meeting after he received the Chief Minister’s State Youth Award during the Independence Day celebrations in 2015. Later, Jayalalithaa recommended Manimaran for the national award.

Recently, the social worker met superstar Rajinikanth who gave him an ambulance free of cost.

On his future plans, Manimaran says he wish to construct an electric crematorium offering free funeral services.