Chennai – Feb 27, 2012 – This year on the 101st anniversary of International Women’s day, Global Adjustments presents ‘The Outstanding Woman Award 2012’ and hereafter every year to honour women who go the extra mile for the betterment for their communities’ culture and heritage. The award has been instituted by Global Adjustments Pvt. Ltd. to mark the International Women’s Day by honouring a lady who has made an outstanding contribution in upholding values and ethics and preserving India’s culture, heritage and traditions.

Global Adjustments, an eighty percent women’s company is very conscious of its corporate social responsibility and works especially towards women’s empowerment and promoting cultural understanding. The Outstanding Woman Defending Culture Award – 2012 was  conferred on Ms. N. Priya Ravichandran, Divisional Fire Officer, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services by H H Maharaj Gaj Singhji II of Jodhpur in recognition of her extraordinary courage and leadership qualities in preserving culture and heritage of the 224 year old Kalas Mahal of Chepauk Palace, erstwhile home of the Nawabs of Arcot.

Ms. Priya Ravichandran had once said: “This is not a job where you can sit in a corner while a tragedy takes place and draw a plan and debate. It calls for a lot of spur-of-the-moment intelligence”. On the night of January 16th, 2012, she demonstrated what she meant.  Ms. Ravichandran led from the front and, along with some of her colleagues, entered a burning Government office building in the city, disregarding the danger to her own life, in a bid to douse the flames. In the process, she suffered fifty percent burns.

Forty days later we gathered on the 27th of February 2012 to honour her action, while she recovered in a hospital. Ms. Priya Ravichandran was represented by her mother Mrs. Soundaram Nalliappan and her two daughters, Saathvika 5 years and Samhita 8 years, representing the high potential of a girl child.

The awards committee comprimised Mr. Steve Borgia, who promotes the preservation of heritage, through his INDeco Hotels, His Royal Highness, Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur, Dr. M Rajaram, IAS, Secretary, Department of Tamil Development, Religious Endowments and Information, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Ranjini Manian, CEO, Global Adjustments.

Mr. Borgia nominated Ms. Ravichandran as the most deserving candidate for this award, H H Maharaja Gaj Singh II congratulated her act of bravery while saving a national treasure, Dr.M Rajaram conferred his blessings on a woman from his home state for her selfless act, and Ms. Manian saluted her for being a role model for all women by showing that the baton of culture has to be passed on from one generation to another at all costs, even at the risk of one’s life.