The Visionary
A.R. Sreedhara Vadhyar, a pioneer Architectural Engineering consultant started his carrier as civil engineer in Kerala Public Health and Engineering department in 1965. Being a tireless man with clarity in vision, quit this job, to explore his own path. Thus in 1977 his new brainchild
Yasoram Builders, was formed as a partnership firm.
His ability in the field of construction came to the notice of the government and general public where his new invention of pre-cast concrete houses, that could be assembled in 24 hours and could be dismantled and transported easily. The first prefabricated house was constructed at Cheppanam in Panagad in 1973. This success lead to the construction of industrial building in Palluruthy, Kerala State Warehousing Corporation Building in Kottayam and double storied Residential Buildings for Y.N.P. Trust at Kochi. These still stand testimonies to the prefabricated architectural marvel of A.R.S. Vadhyar.
His success in this field lead to the construction of conventional multistoried housing and shopping complexes, hospitals, educational institutions, places of worship etc. Individual houses were also constructed, which are in innumerable numbers. Some of the residential complexes built by Yasoram in the heart of Ernakulam city are :-
1. Indraprastha Apartments on T.D. Road, Ernakulam
2. Himagiri Apartments near St. Alberts College, Ernakulam
3. Kanchanjunga Apartments near Government G.H.S., Ernakulam
4. Pancharatna Apartments in Vyttila, Kochi.
5. Santhivan Apartments near Law college, Ernakulam.
6. Indradhanus Apartments on T.D. Road, Ernakulam
7. Sivadas Towers on Chittoor Road, Ernakulam
8. Victoria Towers at Kacheripady Jn., on Banerji Road, Ernakulam
9. Diamond Towers at Thevara, Ernakulam
10. Gosreepuram Apartments at Mattancherry, Kochi.
11.Yasoram Gardens at Ollur, especially for villas
12.Sowparnika Apartments – new venture at T.D. Road, Ernakulam.
13. Ratan Apartments – on T.D. West Road, Ernakulam.
Irrespective of the cast, creed etc., Vadhyar had constructed churches, mosques, gurudwaras and temples with all their ethnic beauty and without claiming any monetary benefit. Kuladevatha Mandir Complex is considered as a prime achievement of Sri. Vadhyar. This temple complex is situated in the picturesque and serene hills of Ambalamughal, Kochi. This eight domed mandir complex was designed and constructed by Yasoram in 1994, is a piece of art as accepted by all in general.
‘Yasoram’ never stopped here, but moved further to create a charitable Trust “Yasoram Charitable Trust” aimed at helping the down-trodden in the society, during 1989. The trust took up new housing project for the poor in Tripunithura. 46 houses were constructed in an area of 1.79 acres of land and the construction of this housing colony was done according to plan and were handed over to genuine beneficiaries, in 1990 on ‘no profit, no loss’ basis. The foundation stone of this new venture was laid by the then finance minister Sri. V. Viswanatha Menon. A “Bhoodhan Bhavandhan” project was implemented in 1999 by handing over eight housing plots to the selected needy people by the then Hon. Chief Justice of Kerala Sri. A.R. Lakshmanan..
Yasoram Charitable Trust imparts free training to youth in construction and allied activities under the able guidance of A.R.S. Vadhyar. The trust also offers free technical assistance to social and religious organizations which plan to construct low cost houses for the poor. The Trust also extends financial assistance to poor children for their education, treatment and also for marriages in some deserving cases.
The Trust conducts house-designing competition every year for the students of various schools, and prizes distributed to the best design and trophies awarded to the best school of the winning student. Every year the response from schools and the pupils is over whelming.
Charitable Trust has now submitted a detailed project report to the Central Government under CAPART for assisting the Agriculturists in their agricultural activity in Cheppanam Panchayat, a small village of Kumbalam in Vyttila Block. The trust also plans to adopt the Cheppanam village under Village Adoption Scheme, for overall development of the village, under the able guidance of A.R.S. Vadhyar.
Sri. Vadhyar himself is an Agriculturist, as could be seen from the vegetable garden he had created on the roof top of Yasoram Building. He had constructed the permanent beds on the terrace, suitable for fruit and vegetable garden, where vegetable from yam and colocasia to lady’s fingers and drumsticks, from tomatoes and Capsicum to every type of beans and greens are grown. Articles regarding this roof top garden with photos have appeared in most of the leading news papers and also telecasted in the ‘Jeevan T.V.’ many a time in the programme ‘HARITHA KERALAM’.
His successful carrier gives inspiration for young aspirants. Several agencies and Government bodies recognize his contribution to the construction of low cost houses and free services rendered for construction of houses for public and charitable purpose. Some of the prestigious awards won by Sri. Vadhyar are :-
1. The Excellence’94 award, Instituted by the Bangalore based International Integrity, Peace and Foundation Society.
2. Rashtriya Gaurav 1994 award instituted by the All India Achievers Conference, New Delhi.
3. Priyadarsini Indira Gandhi Award 1995
4. SNDP Temple Award
5. N.S.S. Award
6. G.S.B. Award. and
7. Gandhi Peace Foundation Award for the year 2003.
With all these, Sri. Vadhyar does not stop here. Now he is in the making of a new Elevated Transit System for Kochi. The project has already been submitted to the government and it is under their consideration. This is a unique project that does not find a place in the map of any other country. This Elevated Transit System or Flyover will contain multistoried shopping complexes and commercial hubs at vantage points. The complexes will be dotted with shopping malls, amusement centers, super markets, community halls, entertainment multiplaces, restaurants, hotels, hospitals etc. Besides these, two and four wheeler show rooms, educational institutions, government show rooms, jewellery showrooms will also find a place here. Peppered with car parking on both sides and gas stations, this will rival the most modern of its
kind in the world. Below this engineering marvel, warehouses, storage points and other related amenities are also envisaged. This Elevated Transit System, his brainchild can make life easier for many in the Cochin city, by saving valuable time and fuel.
With more than 38 years of this one man mission Sri. Vadhyar has traversed a long way, both as a pioneering businessman and visionary. His entrepreneurial skills and his determination against odds have always been path breaking stuff. Unlike the usually accepted builders attitude, Sri. Vadhyar has made a commitment to himself long back to contribute something good to the society at large. Underlying this, he has made his mark in many social activities cutting across class and creed.
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