The event was marked with TAMIL THAI VALTHU and Prayer followed by

Vivek Bomb, President, Rajasthan Youth Association, welcomed the gathering and said, “The Book Bank Project has always been guided by a simple objective—to ensure that no deserving student is deprived of education because of the cost of textbooks.What began as a humble initiative has evolved into a movement that continues to remove barriers to learning and nurture the aspirations of thousands of students.”The continued support of our members, donors, and volunteers has enabled us to positively impact more than 1.60 lakh students over the past 63 years, and we remain committed to expanding this effort in the years ahead.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. G. L. Gnanatheva, Minister (Commerce), Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka to South India, Chennai, India, said,”Education is one of the most valuable investments in the future, and initiatives like the Rajasthan Youth Association’s Book Bank Project ensure that financial constraints do not stand in the way of learning. For over six decades, RYA has empowered thousands of deserving students through education, strengthening communities and inspiring future generations. I congratulate the Association on its remarkable contribution and wish all the students continued success in their academic journey.”

Speaking about the vision and legacy of the initiative, Bipin M. Jain, Book Bank Chairman, gave his report for the year 2026-27 and highlighted that books are given for Arts, Science and Engineering courses to all college students across Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet irrespective of Caste, Creed and Religion.He also briefed on the working of the book bank by a visual presentation.

Guest of honor Shri Ashok Kumar Mundhra and Rajesh Surana motivated the students by their talk and appreciated the work done by RYA book bank since 1964.

All the Guest and Donors were honored on this occasion. Shri Vikas Mardia , secretary proposed vote of thanks. Program concluded with National Anthem.

The patient, a known case of coronary artery disease, had previously undergone two angioplasty procedures with stent implantation – one in 2021 and another in 2024. However, both stented arteries had developed severe in-stent restenosis, with nearly 90% blockage, while a third coronary artery had around 60% narrowing, necessitating coronary artery bypass surgery.

While robotic surgery has increasingly found applications in cardiac procedures, robot-assisted CABG remains relatively uncommon in India because of its technical complexity and the specialised expertise required. The 4-hour surgery was performed on the beating heart, avoiding the use of a conventional sternotomy.

The procedure was particularly challenging as the patient was obese and diabetic, both of which significantly increase surgical complexity and the risk of postoperative complications. Despite these challenges, the surgery was completed successfully. Owing to the minimally invasive robotic approach, meticulous surgical planning, and comprehensive postoperative intensive care, the patient made an excellent recovery. He is expected to return to his normal routine and resume work within about five days, a remarkably short recovery period for a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

The multidisciplinary team behind this clinical achievement comprised cardiac surgeons Dr. K. R Balakrishnan, Chairman – Cardiac Sciences and Director – Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Dr. Vinod Kumar Manikala, Cardiothoracic Surgeon; cardiac anaesthetists Dr. Suresh Rao and Dr. Ajay Aravind, and ICU intensivist Dr. Arthi.

In his comments, Dr. Balakrishnan said, “Conventional coronary artery bypass surgery requires opening the chest through a midline incision of nearly 12 inches and dividing the breastbone. With the robotic approach, we were able to perform the procedure through a small incision of about two inches on the left side of the chest, significantly reducing surgical trauma while achieving the same objective. This was, however, an exceptionally challenging case. The patient’s heart function was severely compromised, with an ejection fraction of only around 30%, indicating a weak pumping capacity. In addition, he was obese, making access to the target coronary arteries technically demanding. Performing a robot-assisted bypass on a beating heart under these circumstances requires meticulous planning, precise execution and seamless teamwork.”

In his comments, Dr Vinod Manikala said, “The greatest benefit of this robotic approach is what the patient experiences after surgery. He was extubated on the very first postoperative day, recovered rapidly, and is expected to return to his normal life within about ten days. Most patients undergoing this procedure can resume their professional and daily activities within five days, which is significantly earlier than with conventional open-heart surgery. Beyond the faster recovery, robotic coronary artery bypass offers the advantage of durable and safer surgical revascularisation. This approach is particularly beneficial for patients with multiple co-morbidities, obesity, osteoporosis, advanced age, or heavily calcified coronary arteries, where minimising surgical trauma can make a meaningful difference to recovery.”

“Our mission is simple, to position India as the Experience Capital of the World,” said SamitGarg, President, EEMA. “India has always been a land of stories, celebrations and unforgettable experiences. Today, those strengths have evolved into a powerful economic opportunity. The experience economy is no longer just about entertainment, it is driving tourism, entrepreneurship, employment and destination development. Despite representing nearly 18 per cent of the world’s population, India accounts for only 2–4 per cent of the global experience economy, highlighting the scale of opportunity before us. ”

EEMAGINE 2026, EEMA’s flagship annual convention, is scheduled to take place in Chennai from 7–9 August this year at ITC Grand Chola, and the choice of host city is itself part of the Vision 2030 story. According to the association, it was selected not simply as a venue, but because Tamil Nadu already demonstrates, at a state level, the exact transformation Vision 2030 is proposing nationally.

Commenting on Chennai hosting EEMAGINE 2026, VinodGopal, Vice President – South, EEMA, said “Hosting EEMAGINE in Chennai for the first time is an important milestone for the region’s events ecosystem. Tamil Nadu has the infrastructure, creative talent and cultural depth to host world-class events. By bringing over 800 event professionals, industry leaders and decision-makers to the city, we hope to showcase Chennai’s capabilities, foster new collaborations and create long-term opportunities for local businesses and event professionals.

Speaking about this year’s convention, SiddharthGaneriwala, Founding Member, EEMA said, “EEMAGINE 2026 has been curated as a platform where industry leaders, policymakers and global experts can collectively shape the future of India’s experience economy. The convention will focus on business growth, policy, technology, AI, sustainability, talent development and global best practices, while enabling meaningful dialogue on how the industry can scale responsibly and contribute more significantly to India’s economic growth.”

In a heart-touching tale, a 40-year-old man from Chennai met his stem cell donor who had saved him from a rare and life-threatening blood disease for the first time, almost two years after the transplantation.

DKMS Foundation India, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as thalassemia and aplastic anaemia, helped the donor.

The survivor, Samnu John, a marketing manager by profession, has been suffering from unexplained high fevers, swelling, rashes, and crushing fatigue since 2017. The exact reason for the suffering was not determined for several years despite multiple hospital visits. When his blood platelet count fell dangerously low in January 2022, he was rushed to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). He was then diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia, a condition in which the bone marrow stops producing sufficient platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells.

Since stem cell transplantation is the ideal solution to save the patient, without which the patient might die, the medical team started searching for a suitable donor. No one in his family and friends circle was the right match. After 18 long months, an ideal match was found with 25-year-old Paritosh, a resident of New Delhi. Subsequently, a team headed by Dr Aruna Rajendran, Haemato-Oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician at Madras Medical College/RGGGH, performed the transplantation to restore normal blood cell production.

Samnu has since made a full recovery and resumed his work as a marketing manager.

In her comments, Dr Aruna said, “Aplastic anaemia is a rare and life-threatening blood disease which can lead to bone marrow failure. It will leave patients vulnerable to infections, uncontrolled bleeding, and exhaustion. A stem cell transplant is the only curative option for these patients. It had taken us almost 18 months to find the exact match for him. I am glad to see him fully recovered from his condition. There are several other patients who are still struggling to find a suitable match. Along with science, we also need a proper system and awareness to make stem cell transplantation possible.”

Recalling the ordeals he went through for years, Samnu said, “I had to quit two of my jobs because of my severe symptoms. Survival itself was difficult both before and after diagnosis. I was scared both for myself and my family. I was tired of waiting for my donor. It was during those darkest days that we managed to find the right match through the DKMS Foundation.”

Paritosh, a long-time blood donor, had signed up with DKMS Foundation India years earlier after hearing about a family desperately searching for a donor for their own loved one. He least expected that he would receive a call requesting him to donate stem cells.

Paritosh said: “I felt a deep sense of responsibility when I got the call. Just like everyone else, even I thought stem cell donation required an open surgery and long recovery. But that’s not the case. Stem cells are collected from our arms. I hope this meeting debunks the myths around stem cell donation.”

Paritosh, who had flown from New Delhi for the meeting, said, “I have thought about him every day since I got that call. Seeing him healthy, working, and living his life with his children is all I ever hoped for.”

Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman, DKMS Foundation India, said, “Patients in Tamil Nadu face distinct genetic and socio-economic barriers in finding a match. When more people from Tamil Nadu register as potential stem cell donors, especially from under-represented communities, we don’t just improve match probabilities on a registry spreadsheet but also change the odds for every child and adult waiting for a transplant.”

Through Samnu and Paritosh’s story, DKMS Foundation India hopes to raise awareness of severe aplastic anaemia and encourage more people to register as blood stem cell donors, a simple process that can one day give someone a second chance at life.

Since matched sibling donors are very scarce, many rely on unrelated donor registries like the one maintained by DKMS Foundation India to find a genetic match. Individuals aged between 18 and 55 years who are in good general health, have a BMI below 40, and are not already registered are eligible to sign up as potential blood stem cell donors. Register at https://www.dkms-india.org/register-now

The robotic programmes will be offered based on the 4th generation da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, one of the most advanced technologies available in the world. The programme spans multiple disciplines including gastroenterology, oncology, urology, gynaecology and nephrology.

The hospital will leverage its expertise in robotic surgery for a wide spectrum of complex conditions including GI cancers, colorectal cancers, gynaecological cancers, breast cancers, urological cancers, fibroid surgery, hysterectomy, endometriosis treatment, ovarian procedures, prostate surgery, kidney surgery, kidney transplant, bladder procedures, reconstructive urological surgeries, thyroidectomy, hernia repair, gallbladder surgery, colorectal surgery and advanced upper gastrointestinal procedures.

One of the program’s key highlights is Kauvery Hospital’s expertise in robotic kidney transplantation, reflecting the institution’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of minimally invasive surgery and offering advanced solutions for some of the most complex surgical procedures.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said: “With ‘Kauvery 3X Chennai’, we are creating an integrated robotic surgery ecosystem that brings together advanced technology, multidisciplinary expertise, and uniform standards of care across our three Chennai hospitals. Patients can now access comprehensive robotic care across multiple specialities closer to home and with the qualidefines consistency that define Kauvery.

This initiative reflects years of investment in clinical excellence, surgical innovation, and collaborative care. For us, advanced healthcare is not measured by the technology we own, but by how meaningfully it improves patient outcomes, enhances recovery, and expands treatment possibilities. ‘Kauvery 3X Chennai’ is a significant step towards making world-class robotic surgery more accessible to the communities we serve.”

The new MoUwill build on the existing relationship between RCEM and Apollo Hospitals, who have worked together to deliver emergency medicine exams and training in India for over 20 years.By bringing internationally recognized emergency medicine training frameworks to India, the collaboration aims to further strengthen the quality of emergency care and improve patient outcomes across the country.

Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) Objective Structure Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)are currently delivered at examcentres in Apollo Chennai and Hyderabad.Emergency departments serve as the primary critical line of care for acute illnesses and trauma, where timely, evidence-based clinical decision-making drastically impacts patient outcomes.

Apollo Hospitals has long pioneered emergency medicine as a distinct specialty in India through accredited residency programs, multidisciplinary emergency response networks, and continuous clinical education. This collaboration builds on that foundation, offering Indian clinicians’ direct exposure to internationally recognized training frameworks.

Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., said: “Emergency medicine is one of the most critical pillars of healthcare, where every minute can make a difference. As healthcare evolves, continuous learning, global collaboration, and evidence-based practice become essential to delivering the best outcomes for patients. Our relationshipwith the Royal College of Emergency Medicine reflects Apollo’s long-standing commitment to building clinical excellence, investing in our healthcare professionals, and strengthening emergency care capabilities across India. Together, we hope to create meaningful opportunities for learning, faculty development, and knowledge exchange that ultimately benefit patients.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), strengthening emergency care systems can prevent a substantial portion of deaths and disabilities resulting from acute injuries and illness in low- and middle-income regions, underscoring the necessity of investing in standardized emergency education.

This relationship aligns with Apollo Hospitals’ broader vision: bringing world-class healthcare expertise to India while offering domestic medical professionals’ opportunities to engage with international standards of clinical leadership.

Thanks to the minimally invasive nature of the surgery, the nanogenarian walked out of the hospital within two days of the procedure, following a routine post-operative stay in the general ward, early arm support, and a series of physiotherapy sessions.

A rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that surround the shoulder joint, much like a cuff around the wrist. These structures keep the ball of the shoulder securely within its socket and facilitate movements such as lifting and rotating the arm. The senior citizen had sustained a tear in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder following the fall and continued to experience persistent pain for nearly a month. He was unable to lift or use his left arm, and despite rest and conservative treatment, the pain and weakness progressively worsened.

The Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine specialists at the hospital performed the procedure using the InSpace™ biodegradable subacromial balloon spacer, the only minimally invasive, dissolvable spacer specifically designed for patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. In this procedure, a small, deflated balloon is inserted, through tiny holes, into the space beneath the shoulder bone and gently inflated with sterile saline. The balloon acts as a smooth cushion, keeping the ball of the shoulder properly centred within its socket, thereby restoring the joint’s natural spacing and gliding mechanism. This enables the patient to lift and move the arm without the painful bone-on-bone friction. Over several months, the balloon gradually and harmlessly dissolves on its own, by which time the shoulder adapts to a more comfortable and balanced pattern of movement. No permanent implants, screws or anchors are left behind.

In his comments, Dr. Ashok S. Gavaskar, Clinical Lead, Orthopaedics and Head of Joint Replacement Services, Rela Hospital, said, “In this patient, the rotator cuff tear was massive. A large portion of the tendon had torn away from the bone. Because the tear was extensive and the weakened tissues had retracted, a conventional tendon repair was not feasible. Managing such a massive tear in a 97-year-old patient is both uncommon and challenging. Shoulder arthroscopy is usually performed under general anaesthesia. But the patient’s advanced age and underlying cardiac condition made this approach potentially risky. We therefore carried out the entire procedure with the patient fully awake under an interscalene nerve block, a targeted regional anaesthetic technique that completely numbs the shoulder while keeping the patient comfortable and conscious throughout the surgery. This enabled us to avoid the risks associated with general anaesthesia in a nonagenarian and facilitate a faster and safer recovery.”

Dr. Prakash Ayyadurai, Consultant – Orthopaedics Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine, Rela Hospital who headed the surgical team, said, “rotator cuff tears are among the most common shoulder disorders and become increasingly prevalent with advancing age. They represent a significant and growing healthcare burden in India’s ageing population. Studies from India suggest that approximately one in five adults over the age of 40 has some degree of rotator cuff tear, with the prevalence rising sharply with each advancing decade. Full-thickness tears are seen in nearly 10-11% of this population.”

“Age remains the single most important risk factor, as the tendons naturally weaken and undergo degenerative changes over time. Against this background of age-related wear and tear, even a seemingly minor fall can be sufficient to cause a major tear. Other factors that increase the risk include diabetes, hypertension, smoking and a lifetime of repetitive overhead activities,” he added.

In his comments, Prof. Mohammed Rela, Chairman, Rela Hospital, said, “Performing this procedure while the patient remained fully awake at the age of 97 is a notable achievement. It exemplifies personalised, age-appropriate surgical care. This case reflects the modern, tissue-sparing direction of shoulder surgery, where an irreparable rotator cuff tear can be effectively treated using a biodegradable balloon spacer rather than major open reconstruction or joint replacement.

Importantly, this case demonstrates that persistent shoulder pain and a ‘dead arm’ are not conditions that elderly patients simply have to live with. Advanced age and underlying cardiac concerns need not be barriers to effective, life-improving treatment when the right minimally invasive technique is matched to the right patient. Modern keyhole surgical techniques, combined with tailored anaesthetic approaches, now enable even patients in their 90s to undergo surgery safely and benefit significantly. We encourage patients not to delay seeking specialist advice. An early and honest assessment can help determine the most appropriate treatment options and what can realistically be achieved.”

The surgery was particularly challenging for several reasons. The patient’s severe degenerative scoliosis had significantly distorted the normal alignment of the spine and narrowed the spaces surrounding the spinal nerves. This anatomical distortion made the uniportal endoscopic spine surgery technically demanding, requiring exceptional precision to safely navigate the compressed neural structures through a single 8 mm portal.

The patient’s pre-existing cardiac condition added another layer of complexity. He had previously undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and had a permanent cardiac pacemaker. These factors increased both surgical and anaesthetic risks, necessitating meticulous multidisciplinary planning and seamless intraoperative coordination to ensure patient safety while achieving effective nerve decompression.

The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr. G. Venkatesh Kumar and Dr. Vignesh Jayabalan, Senior Consultants in Orthopaedics, along with a cardiologist.

In his comments, Dr. Venkatesh Kumar said, “The patient presented with severe functional limitations. He suffered from debilitating leg pain and was unable to walk more than a few steps. Our evaluation revealed severe degenerative scoliosis, a spinal deformity that had caused significant nerve compression in the lumbar region. Traditionally, patients with this condition often require extensive deformity correction surgery using pedicle screws and rods. However, advances in spine surgery enabled us to perform a full endoscopic uniportal lumbar stenosis decompression through a single 8 mm incision. The procedure successfully relieved the nerve compression, and the patient was mobilised pain-free shortly afterwards.”

Dr. Vignesh Jayabalan commented, “One of the biggest advantages of this advanced endoscopic technique over conventional open spine surgery is that it achieves the desired outcome with minimal disruption to normal tissues. The procedure involves negligible blood loss, no muscle stripping, less postoperative pain, no sutures, faster recovery, and precise decompression of the pain-generating pathology while preserving the spine’s normal anatomy. Our philosophy is simple: to preserve the spine’s natural supporting structures while removing only the diseased tissue responsible for nerve compression and pain.”

Dr Vijay C Bose, Joint Director and Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedics said, “Medical knowledge in orthopaedics is vast, and research continues to expand it further. It’s impossible for one person to be an expert in everything. At SIMS, we have five sub-units under the Department of Orthopaedics. Each unit focuses on a specific area such as joint replacements, sports injuries, trauma, and foot and ankle conditions. Very few institutions across the country have this kind of in-house expertise, and we are fortunate to be one of them. In this context, this particular case marks a breakthrough in spine surgery.”

Dr. Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman of SIMS Hospital, said, “This case exemplifies SIMS Hospital’s commitment to delivering advanced, patient-centric care through innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration. With only a handful of specialists in the city performing uniportal endoscopic spine surgery, we are proud to offer patients access to cutting-edge treatment that enables faster recovery, reduced surgical trauma, and an early return to mobility. We remain committed to investing in advanced technologies and clinical excellence to provide world-class care, even for the most complex cases.”

600+ leading companies participated in the Job fair, recruited candidates across a wide range of sectors. These includes manufacturing, Information Technology (IT & ITES), banking and financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education and training, transportation, tourism, sales, and marketing, among several other industries.

More than 80,000 job seekers participated in the job fair and attended interviews. Of these, over 30,000 candidates secured employment and received their offer letters. The event emerged as one of the largest Job fairs not only in Tamil Nadu but also in India, marking a significant milestone in large-scale job creation.

As a highlight of the event, offer letters were presented to the selected candidates. Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Mr.J.C.D. Prabhakaran, Chennai Police Commissioner Mr. Amalraj, renowned film producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu, Founder of The Rise–Ezhumin Movement Rev. Fr. Jegath Gaspar, Founder ofGiveLifeFoundati,nDr. Akila Srinivasan, , Secretary of Loyola College, Rev. Fr. Thomas Alexanderand Principal of Loyola College, Rev. Fr. Louis Arockiaraj along with several other dignitaries were present, gave the offer lettersand congratulated the selected candidates.

Speaking at the event, the chief guests emphasized the importance of creating Job opportunities and enhancing the skills of young people. They noted that job fairs of this scale serve as a direct bridge between employers and job seekers, playing a crucial role in reducing unemployment by connecting qualified candidates with potential recruiters.

Following the success of similar employment fairs held in Tirunelveli and Tiruchirappalli in previous years, the Mega Chennai Job Fair has set a new benchmark. Founder of The Rise–Ezhumin MovementFr. Jegath Gaspar along with the organizers said, they plan to organize more such large-scale employment fairs in the future with the objective of creating greater job opportunities for young people.

The patient underwent a series of diagnostic investigations, including advanced brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, which confirmed severe inflammation with bleeding in the brain caused by Varicella encephalitis. Further investigations also revealed Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST)—a blood clot in one of the major veins responsible for draining blood from the brain. Doctors informed the family that the condition could rapidly become fatal, with the risk of worsening brain injury, progressive bleeding, and dangerous fluid accumulation within the brain if not treated immediately.

The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she was started on antiviral therapy along with medication to reduce brain inflammation. Despite intensive treatment, her condition deteriorated over the next few days. The bleeding worsened, and excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulated in the brain, resulting in dangerously elevated intracranial pressure and a further decline in her level of consciousness.To save her life, the multidisciplinary team performed an emergency External Ventricular Drain (EVD) procedure to drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid and relieve pressure on the brain. She was also treated with Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy to control the immune-mediated inflammation and Heparin, a short-acting injectable anticoagulant, to treat the blood clot and prevent further neurological damage.

Following the emergency intervention, the patient’s condition gradually improved. She was successfully weaned off ventilator support, continued to make steady neurological recovery, and was discharged in a stable condition after 40 days of hospitalization.

“Chickenpox is generally considered a mild viral illness, it can, in rare instances, lead to severe neurological complications, particularly in adults. this case was an exceptionally challenging case involving a rare and rapidly progressive neurological complication of chickenpox. Timely diagnosis, continuous clinical reassessment, advanced neuroimaging, and coordinated multidisciplinary care were instrumental in identifying and treating these life-threatening complications, ultimately leading to a successful outcome.”Said Dr. K. Jered Livingston, Senior Consultant, Neurologist, Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals.