The success and growth of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI Sangam) into Fiji’s largest cultural organisation as well as a leading institution in promoting education can be credited to Yanktesh Permal Reddy (YP Reddy), said former Sangam Fiji secretary general, Damend Gounder.
Mr Reddy took over the presidency of TISI Sangam in 1977 after a tumultuous period for the organisation and held the position unopposed for 21 years.
“TISI Sangam became a powerful and influential institution under Mr Reddy’s leadership — an organisation that the-then Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, in the 1980s described as the second government of Fiji,” said Mr Gounder.
“For his selfless service to Sangam, Mr Reddy was awarded the Dhanveer – the giver. Mr Reddy became only the second person in Sangam’s 98-year-old history to be bestowed this highest honour.
“YP Reddy has left us with the invaluable lesson that dedication, hard work, honesty, and simplicity are the virtues of success at that one should always uphold and promote national interest from the goodness of the heart.
“Mr Reddy was also a well-known philanthropist who gave generously but didn’t want any publicity or accolades for his noble deeds.
“That was the hallmark of a man who believed in simplicity.”
