Taekwondo instructor S Rogaraj and his father S Sekhar are on a mission to curb alcohol and drug use. (Photo | Express)
CHENNAI: If you ask S. Rogaraj from Royapettah, Chennai, what is the success formula for becoming a skilled fighter, he will without hesitation say, “A healthy family background.”
It's true that being the son of a Taekwondo instructor has allowed Rogaraj to pursue his passion without much effort. “But discipline has to come from within, and for that you have to live in an environment that is physically and mentally comfortable,” says the Taekwondo black belt and instructor.
From an early age, he paid attention to the lives of underprivileged people. Little Rogaraj has seen children his age unable to attend classes due to poverty and unhealthy home environments.
“I have seen alcoholics who think nothing of spending money on alcohol but are reluctant to pay their children's school fees. I was reminded again by my father, who has been campaigning against its use,” says Rogaraj.
Rogaraj's father, S. Sekhar, has been involved in awareness-raising activities in villages and schools, and Rogaraj has been involved with them since he was a child. So far, the duo has conducted hundreds of such campaigns in and around Chennai, mostly for free.
“Drug addiction is a problem in society that kills talent. It's the only thing we can do for a healthy life other than teaching martial arts,” said Rogaraj, who won a state-level gold medal in taekwondo at the age of eight. To tell.
Expressing concern about the premature aging of young people and the social exclusion caused by drug addiction, Rogaraj said: “We were able to rescue a few people, but we are scared by the sheer number of them.” . Our efforts will continue no matter what. When alcohol and drug use decreases, crime rates also decrease. In addition, there will be a generation of healthy people and well-functioning families. ”
Rogaraj shared that parents have a big role to play, saying, “If parents are honest with their children and understand how they feel, children are more likely to follow the rules. We need to talk to our children about their negative effects and that will help keep them away from drugs to some extent. However, we should advise our children not to use drugs and later avoid smoking or drinking alcohol in front of them. It is a bad example to do so.”
According to the taekwondo champion, channeling your energy into constructive activities such as sports can also help you stay away from or break free from addiction. Undeterred by the magnitude of the challenge, Rogaraj embarked on a vigorous expedition and has taught martial arts training to hundreds of students. Workshops at schools feature awe-inspiring demonstrations to show the innovative potential of martial arts in combating drug abuse.
Additionally, this father-son duo are also writers. Sekhar's Modern Self-Defense and Rogaraj's Kargarin Tavam focus on martial arts.
“Courtesy, honesty, patience, self-control and fortitude are the mantras of Taekwondo and are also essential in everyday life,” Sekhar, 58, told TNIE. Sekhar entered the field under the guidance of Vietnamese refugees, and he subsequently trained hundreds of students.
“During my morning jog, I came across several young people who had become addicted to drugs and suffered great damage to their physical and mental health. My martial arts background came in handy here,” says the father.
“In 2007, we were appointed as trainers for Melvasarai village in Madurantakam, Chengalpattu under the SDAT action plan. We have trained over 100 students and created awareness against alcohol and drugs. ” recalls Sekar.
Rogaraj and his father dream of a society free of drug addiction. They know this is a nearly impossible mission, but that doesn't stop the duo from doing their part.
