Festember 2010
September heralds grand festivals to the three great sons of India. V.O. Chidambaram, popularly called as V.O.C, was born on September 5th. Thanthai Periyar Ramasamy, known as Periyar, and Arignar C.N. Annadurai, who endeared as 'Anna', were also born in this month.
V.O.C, the stormy petrel of the south, in the Indian National Congress Movement, was an exemplary blend of nationalism, Saivasiddantham, Scholarshp, and moral courage and rectitude. V.O.C factor acted as a great anti-dote to compromise-politics. He had the invincible audacity to call spade, a spade, and possessed unbounded love for freedom of expression, speech and practice. He never bowed before the citadel of power howsoever great. The present generation will draw much inspiration from this great source of knowledge, wisdom, and nationalism. Your Editor had the great privilege of writing a commentary on his Saivasiddhantha, in Kappalottia thamilan, run by the late V.O.C Shunmugasundaram. God has blessed your editor to write the epic of V.O.C in chaste Tamil. The work is nearing completion and expected to be released in January 2011.
Your editor had the boons of getting closer to the two great sons of Tamilnadu, Thanthai priyar and Arignar Anna. Thanthai Periyar showed utmost respect to every human being. He used to address even youngsters in plural, endearingly. Howsoever mighty a man might be when he hears Periyar's speaking to him he woud be mellowed. Whenever Periyar visited Madurai he would invariably call on Mr Govindarajan, a staunch believer in rationalism, residing at North Avanimoola veedi. Mr Govindarajan would send word for me, resting at Vidwan Ponnusamy Pillai street near by. I used to rush and pay my respect to Thanthai Periyar, and carefully listen to his conversation with the visitors. Memory of him draws faithful tears in my eyes.
Arignar Anna, the Bernard Shaw of the south, the gem from Kancheepuram - where I had the fortune of serving as The District collector - had shone in all fields of lives affecting the Tamils. He would come to see his friend Dr Arunachalam, during his Madurai Visit. We frequented Dr. Arunachalam's house on such occasions. My late friend Manoharan, pen named Senguttuvan, was a patron of Madurai Writers' Association. As a matter of fact Anna was instrumental in forming the Madurai writers sangam. It began like a weekly meeting of friends discussing useful literary and political matters. Then it expanded like a great Pipal Tree. If any one wanted to be reckoned as a writer or a poet, he had to necessarily participate in its proceedings. The Sangam was adorned by giants like Navalar Somasundara, Bharathiar, Avvai Doraisamy pillai, Dr A.C Chettiar, etc.
A word to the young folks:
"Please draw your sustenance from the writings and speeches of these three great sons of Tamil Nadu, and act according to your conscience - which will be roused by the words of the great three - then only you can save yourselves as well as your culture, country, and language, and Nationalism. May you be blessed."
The Grand 3's Festember
(Metre sitigotyo/aa bb)
by Kavignar Bacon
(1)
"V.O.C the South's Tilakar,
The stormy petrel
The Tamil's National Pride,
Welcome from astral!
Infuse your spirit to the youth,
To fight all evil
To correct the guilty,let them,
Their whips crackle!"
(2)
"Arignar Anna,the quick witted!
The Shaw of the South!
Thanthai Periyar was well known,
The Ingersoll worth!
Grand sire stormed the bastion,
Of the castes' base!
His sons Anna, Kalaignar, razed it,
To the ground enmasse"
(3)
"We invoke the blessings of You,
To preserve our land,
Of Culture Dravidian,
Our Dear home ground!
Of Fearless living with,
Right to livelihood!
From each as much as able,
To each as per his need"
(4)
"All the three of you were born,
In sweet September!
We will call this month,fondly,
A good Festember!
May your indomitable ,
Courage `nd bravery,
Dawn on our land!,we do need,
To rewrite History"
Dr. P. Pandian I.A.S (Retd)
(Kavignar Bacon)
My tryst with The Cankam literature in translating into English
By
Dr. P. Pandian, I.A.S (Retd)
Paper presented at the International Classical Tamil World Meet
On English Translation of Cankam works
Organised By The Centre For Classical Tamil Under The Aegis Of The Government Of Tamilnadu
At Coimbatore, 23rd to 27th June 2010
Download the full paper (PDF file)
Download the presentation (PPT file)
Click below to view the photo gallery from the International Classical Tamil World Meet
Editor Dr. P. Pandian at the inaugral function.
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Dr. P. Pandian presenting his paper in the conference.
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Editor discussing with Singapore delegates. Here Amaladas is discussing with Dr. Pandian.
Editor Dr. P. Pandian is discussing with Thol Thirumavalavan, the future plan for a better society.
Dr. P. Pandian (IAS) discusses with Dr Ramasamy, officer in charge of Classical Tamil, and Mr R. Krishnamurthy, Editor Dinamalar and an eminent numismatist.
A word with Dr. Avvai Natarajan.
Dr. Ramasamy with your Editor.
Dr. P. Pandian (IAS) congratulates Dr. Askoparpalo for his rich contribution to Tamil language and culture. Dr Kalaignar Award was conferred on him most fittingly.
Dr. P. Pandian and Sarathanambi Arooran with the Canadian scholars.
One of the most ancient statues.
The five faced drum of the ancient Tamils.
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