TCA – Close to my heart

My friend Jhanvi called me to have a chat about performing in Indian consulate events.  I told my experience how I sent a mail to the culture consul, met her to brief about our organization and got the opportunity to perform.  She wanted to bring a group from her organization to perform though her personal dance group performs in various events around Hong Kong.

During the conversation, she mentioned that her organization is very close to her heart as it gave her the necessary impetus to stay in Hong Kong by introducing the community to her when she had to stay alone while her husband was travelling for many days in a month. 

Similarly, TCA was close to my heart as it gave us the opportunity to showcase our talent, though I acquainted with a Tamil friend’s circle in Sai Ying Pun as soon as I arrived here. My first TCA programme was a debate (Patti mandram) headed by Mr. Mohammed Yoonus.  I used to participate in Tamil debates during my college days. While watching, my mind was thinking when I would participate in such an event.  Surprisingly I was able to join them the next year itself.  I started attending the programmes regularly and saw many children performing. Solos were not encouraged that time. There will be only one annual event during that time.

When my son joined us in Hong Kong after three years, I started longing for my children to participate in such events.  I was looking for opportunities.  Since our friend’s circle was very small, we were not familiar with those groups who perform. Therefore, my son was not able to participate in such events. Meanwhile, my daughter, born in Hong Kong, starting walking and speak.  She was two and half years old by then.

Instead of looking for opportunities, I thought of taking it up on my own. I decided to take up my chance of forming a group to perform. I made a very simple script in pure Tamil on Prahalada.  TCA gave us the chance to perform.  Somewhere I thought that I would gave a name to our group for that first performance and named the group as Siruvargal Kalai Kuzhu (Translated as Children Cultural Group in English). It was the first stage performance of CCG.  After that, we did not turn back.  Every year we would present variety of items. 

Due to the encouragement by TCA for past 20 years, CCG could flourish well and now teams are able to perform in various events all around Hong Kong. Though I had many disappointments and hurting comments during the TCA meeting sessions, TCA is still close to my heart like Jhanvi mentioned about her feeling. 

Just her comment made me write this blog to write about my feeling about TCA.  Thanks for her call on that day.