Lakshmi Vijayakumar, psychiatrist and founder, SNEHA suicide prevention centre
Chennai does not ‘tom-tom’ its achievements. It is known for its quiet service. There are countless examples. Take SNEHA, for instance. It has been running for 40 years entirely by volunteers, who expect nothing in return but simply want to be there for another human being. That epitomises Chennai for me.
Another example is the 2015 floods in Chennai. My home was flooded, and I was rescued by boat. When we spoke with the disaster relief team, they told us that Chennai is the only city where locals help so much. We often say that the younger generation doesn’t care about the society and is too preoccupied, but during the Chennai floods, they were the ones at the forefront, helping with zero expectations. Chennai is truly an example of people being humane human beings.
Chennai has the perfect blend of old-world charm and new-age progress. We may be conservative in our dressing but we are very forward-thinking.
The city has also been the torchbearer for NGOs working in mental health. Some of the most reputed NGOs in mental health are based here. They have not restricted their work to Chennai, and their work has been recognised by international organisations such as the World Health Organisation. The city brought in the culture of the community – meaning NGOs – working for mental health.
(As told to Serena Josephine)
Published – September 07, 2025 10:24 pm IST
