M. Palanisami’s life has been dedicated to one of the most acclaimed classics of Tamil literature: the Thirukkural . As the founder-president of the Thuvakudi-based Thirukkural Parappu Maiyyam (Centre for Propagating Thirukkural), Mr. Palanisami has made it his life’s mission to spread awareness about the work, written in the form of 1330 couplets by Thiruvalluvar over 2000 years ago.
This month will see the Maiyyam’s annual contests in Thirukkural recitation, drawing, elocution and essay-writing being held on July 13 and 20, a much-anticipated occasion for thousands of school children in Tiruchi and the areas surrounding Thuvakudi. The contests are open to students from Lower Kindergarten to post-graduates, and are judged by school teachers. Contestants who are not native speakers of Tamil are also welcome to participate. In fact, among last year’s winners were Montfort School, Kattur, students Diya and Aarav K. Vora, whose mother tongue is Gujrati.
Humble origin
Mr. Palanisami, 73, known fondly as Thatha (Grandpa) by his fans, however refuses to take his place in the limelight.
“Compared to what many others have done to promote the Tamil language, I don’t think I’ve achieved anything,” he says.
Mr. Palanisami’s literary journey had a rather humble origin – he dropped out of school and became a gardener and then a watchman to make ends meet.
Born in 1941, in Nadupatti village, Mr. Palanisami graduated from high school in Manapparai.
He held a temporary post at the Cotton Development Office there before giving it up for farming. When this too failed, he came to Tiruchi in 1988, and worked briefly as a gardener in Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).
As his urge to study the Thirukkural grew, he became a watchman at the BHEL Matriculation School, Kailasapuram, in 1993. “Once my work at the gates got over, I’d have plenty of time to read and write,” he says. “I felt being near an educational institution would be ideal for an avid reader like me.”
He began to take tuitions for students on Thirukkural (part of the syllabus) after school hours, at home. What started off with five students in 1993 became a three-centre Sunday class venture in Thuvakudi by 1996, by which time Mr. Palanisami had coached around 180 children in the opus.
“All the classes were free, and I used to keep my costs down by walking to each venue,” he says.
Contests for all
In 1996, students of the schools in and around the BHEL township, Kailasapuram, were encouraged to take part in a Thirukkural recitation contest organised by Mr. Palanisami. Some 834 children participated. Last year, the number of contestants was 1200. As many as 17,636 people have taken part in these contests from 1996 to 2013, even though the prizes are very modest in comparison to other competitions.
A decade ago, Mr. Palanisami, assisted by S. Veeramani, a milk vendor (and current Vice-President) decided to establish an office for the Thirukkural Parappu Maiyyam. “We have managed to build a small hall in the Thuvakudi Corporation premises, using donations, but we had to meet a lot of opposition at first,” says Mr. Veeramani.
“Around 200 people wanted the Maiyyam to be a library rather than a centre dedicated to the Thirukkural. There was also the fear that we’d take the state-given property for ourselves, but our determination won in the end,” he adds.
At first, a half-hour broadcast on the Thirukkural used to be held from 5-5.30 a.m. everyday from the office building by Mr. Palansami, a practice that has been discontinued due to his advancing years.
“We don’t earn anything from this centre. We are audited by the government for our expenses. In case we are not able to continue, we will return the building to the Corporation,” he says.
For more details on the contests, contact Mr. S. Veeramani (Mobile – 9488828459, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
Speaking up for integration
Like many multi-tasking school kids these days, Montfort School students Diya K. Vora (Std V) and younger brother Aarav (Std II) seem to have time for a whole range of extra-curricular activities from summer camp to music and martial arts.
Their packed schedule includes a regular attendance at the annual Thirukkural Parappu Maiyyam’s contests, even though Gujrati is their mother-tongue.
Diya has won 12 prizes in the Thirukkural Oppithal (recitation) and Pechu Potti (oratory) events in the past five years. She stood first in both categories last year as well. Her brother has won three prizes in recitation so far, including his first year at the BHEL Muthamil Mandram.
“My grandfather [Tiruchi Gujarathi Samaj President Mr. Jayantilal M. Vora] writes my speeches for me (in Tamil). I then practise the pronunciation and expression with my tutor Ms. Priya,” says Diya, whose exposure to Tamil also comes through lessons in Carnatic vocal music and bhajans.
This year, Diya has memorised 50 kurals out of the prescribed 70 couplets. “We will be on stage for 10 minutes. If we forget one kural, we jump to the next,” smiles Diya.
The results, judged by teachers deputed by the participating schools, are announced after a month.
Diya is looking forward to the contests this year. “It’s okay if I don’t win a prize. We have to say everything in Tamil, and this is what I like about the event,” she says.
“It’s a great opportunity for children to learn public speaking skills and build their confidence,” says Ketan J. Vora, Diya and Aarav’s father, and director of Project Komal, floated by Young Indians Tiruchi chapter (affiliated to the Confederation of Indian Industry). “By recognising my children’s talent, despite them not being native Tamil speakers, the Thirukkural Parappu Maiyyam has shown how kids can really speak up for national integration.”
