MB#1:๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ 100-๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ค๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐.
- www.suryanarayana.com
- Nov 7
- 4 min read
[MemoirBlogthon#1] Join me in commemorating the centennial of my beloved father Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry (1925-2015), a wonderful man noted for his integrity and commitment to traditional Hindu vegetarian ideals. His reputation as a brilliant mechanical engineer in the Andhra Pradesh government continues to inspire. Participate in this unique Memoir Blog Challenge and a three-part celebration of his life and values on this particular day.
Happy 100th Birthday, Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry garu!
Today, November 7, 2025, marks the monumental centenary birthday of my revered father, Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry (1925-2015). A true pillar of honesty and integrity, he was a senior mechanical engineer in the Andhra Pradesh state government. His ethical approach and constant adherence to core Hindu traditional vegetarian values defined his extraordinary life.
To honor his lasting legacy, I am thrilled to officially launch our unique multi-phased celebration program today, anchored by this ambitious writing project.
โ๏ธ Declaration: The MemoirBlogthon Challenge
This post, MemoirBlogthon #1, is the official start of the Centenary Birthday Celebration and the kick-off for my ambitious Memoir Blog Challenge!
I am calling this series the MemoirBlogthonโthe name itself blends Memoir (the content) with Blogthon (the "-thon" suffix implying a marathon or sustained challenge), perfectly capturing our goal.
I am attempting a 31-day memoir blog writing and posting challenge, aiming to publish 100 episodes and set a world record for the most blogs published in a month in the Memoir category! The content will cover my personal experiences, the life lessons I learned from him, cherished family stories, and inspiring quotes from friends and colleagues.
What is a memoir?
To be clear for the world record attempt, each post is a memoirโa collection of my personal memories, life incidents, and reflections. Unlike a full biography, a memoir focuses on specific moments and lessons learned, allowing us to deeply explore the principles that defined my father's life and values.
Why the Father's Day Challenge? (Transforming Screen Time and Passing on Legacy)
This blogthon is an attempt to channel screen time into meaningful writing time, sparking curiosity and imagination in this digital age.
Crucially, this memoir blog also gives you fair ideas on how to write about your parents (whether living or deceased), how to organize a large-scale family celebration like a 100th birthday, and how to effectively pass on your legacy to the next generation to emulate. The specific goal of 100 episodes aims to motivate consistent engagement and productivity throughout the month.
๐ A Tribute in Sanskrit: A Blessing for a Century of Life
To mark this auspicious day, I request you to join me in paying tribute by listening to a beautiful birthday song in the sacred Sanskrit language.
The song is "Janmadinamidam" (เคเคจเฅเคฎเคฆเคฟเคจเคฎเคฟเคฆเคฎเฅ), a blessing composed by Swami Tejomayananda that is perfectly suited for this centenary observation.
| Sanskrit Phrase | English Meaning |
| เฐถเฐ เฐคเฐจเฑเฐคเฑ เฐคเฑ เฐธเฐฐเฑเฐตเฐฆเฐพ เฐฎเฑเฐฆเฐฎเฑ | May it always bring you auspiciousness and joy.
| เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐพเฐฐเฑเฐฅเฐฏเฐพเฐฎเฐนเฑ เฐญเฐต เฐถเฐคเฐพเฐฏเฑเฐทเฑ | We pray that you live for a hundred beautiful years. |
| เฐชเฑเฐฃเฑเฐฏ เฐเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฃเฐพ เฐเฑเฐฐเฑเฐคเฐฟเฐฎเฐฐเฑเฐเฐฏ | Earn fame through your virtuous deeds. |
| เฐเฑเฐตเฐจเฐ เฐคเฐต เฐญเฐตเฐคเฑ เฐธเฐพเฐฐเฑเฐฅเฐเฐฎเฑ | May your life be fulfilling.
(Note: You can find versions of the Sanskrit song "Janmadinamidam" on YouTube, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bonVLoDx390 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bonVLoDx390
๐๏ธ Recap: The Centenary Celebration Phases
I officially announced this celebration on October 7, 2025. [ Link:-https://www.suryanarayana.com/blogs-post/centenary-memoir-blog-challenge-announcement ] Here is a brief recap of the remaining phases:
Phase 2: The Centenary Birthday Observation (Today, Nov 7, 2025)
The day begins with a traditional puja at the Hanuman temple, followed by a community service project (a lunch for local staff) that reflects my father's value of giving back.
Today is the official start of publishing our multiple daily blogs!
Phase 3: Celebrating His Legacy (November 23, 2025)
This grand event will focus on the values he embodied, featuring Vedic chanting (live or recorded), a symbolic tree planting to symbolize longevity and hope, and a family and well-wishers reunion. The event will conclude with the release of a postal stamp replica commemorating his incredible legacy.
Phase 4: The Conclusion (December 7, 2025)
The month-long memoir journey will culminate with a final post where I will announce the outcome of the 31-day writing challenge.
๐ข Call to Action: Help Us Achieve the World Record (Win Prizes!)
The success of this world record attempt depends entirely on your subscription and daily engagement. Public views and comments are counted alongside the content's quality.
Please subscribe to this blog link and check back daily for new postings. As a tribute to my father, please view, like, and give your comments.
I've added a quiz mechanism to boost participation and reward our loyal readers!
At the end of every blog, there will be quiz questions. Subscribers who participate are eligible to win prizes across three categories:
1. Quiz Champion: Awarded to the subscriber who answers the most questions correctly across the 31-day blogthon.
2. Lucky Draw Winner: A prize awarded via a lucky draw to anyone who attempts the daily quiz, regardless of whether the answer is right or wrong.
3. Most Active Participant: Awarded to the subscriber who provides the most constructive comments and also consistently participates in the quizzes.
Important:
(1) Only subscribers of the blog are eligible for prizes. Anonymous answers will not be counted.
(2) If you haven't already subscribed, click https://www.suryanarayana.com/blog#subscribe to take the quiz and leave a comment!
The prizes will be announced on the last day of the Blogthon (December 7, 2025).
Thank you for being a part of this historic celebration and for helping us honor a century of a life well-lived!
MB#1 Quiz Time
MB#1 Question: What was Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry's professional role in the Andhra Pradesh state government?
A. Senior Civil Engineer.
B. Senior Electrical Engineer.
C. Senior Mechanical Engineer.
D. Senior Administrative Officer.
MB#1 Quote
"A wonderful soul serves everyone all the time. A magnificent soul never dies. It brings us together again and again." โ Maya Angelou
Dear Mr Suryanarayana S V,ย
"Happy is life when sound health, pure feelings,rational thoughts, and noble deeds, combine to exalt its earthly course. Then man almost reveals in himself the image of the Deity, and his home becomes a Paradise."
I wish to offer my hearty and reverential greetings to all members of Susarla Family on the occasion of Centenary Birthday celebration of Late Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry Garu.ย I am a bit late in doing so.ย As I am on foreign tour your post escaped my notice.ย But the inspiration provided by it is enduring.ย I sat down to answer it, several days ago; but I began, on a larger scale, than I was able to accomplish.ย
Late Sriโฆ
A wonderful endeavour to share with posterity the achievements of your father. A great man and a life well lived. May his blessings always be upon all of us. I congratulate you on this endeavour.
A Very sincere and highly respected Senior Engineer of our times Sri S S Sastry garu, S.E, Govt of Andhra Pradesh. I am happy that I have seen him and interacted few times. My classmate Suryanarayana following foot steps of his great father. God bless the family.