This summer, near the first anniversary of the massive, deadly earthquake that hit China’s Sichuan Province, Somasundaram Soma, an Indian management consultant in Tokyo,
plans to hold a charity concert in the capital to raise funds to build schools for children in the devastated region. Soma recently launched Professionals for Children, a support group for kids in need around the world. Supported by colleagues and friends, he wishes to help out people struggling without proper infrastructure and to demonstrate to the world that Japan can contribute to needy people through their activities. Born in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Soma first came to Japan as a computer software engineer. Since 2001, he has been with business risk management consulting firm KPMG Business Assurance Co., where he currently holds the post of senior managing director. In Hong Kong on business a few days after the deadly China earthquake last May, Soma saw photos in the local newspapers depicting the plight of the disaster-struck children. According to news reports, about 10,000 children died and 7,000 schools collapsed either partially or fully in the temblor. A frequent visitor to China, Soma felt it was his duty to help out.
According to the Indian philosophy he learned as a child, “The smallest help provided in a timely manner to someone in need, is larger than the universe.”