At many homes a few old calendars are retained on the walls thanks to the images printed on them.
This calendar, brought out with sketches of 287 martyrs of linguistic States by Madurai-based Thazhi Research Centre and Mother’s Grace Offset on Eswaran Koil Street too is such a collector’s item.
From old books storeAccording to A. Arivan, director of the Centre, which specialises in re-producing old books, the photos were found at an old books store in Madurai.
These are sketches of persons who fought for Tamil Nadu and there are two persons from Puducherry too. They are A. Perumal Bhagavathar of VOC Nagar and S. Velu of Muthialpet.
“Though there are over 3,000 persons who fought for an united Tamil Nadu we could get only these photos. It was the idea of Mother’s Grace to bring it out in the form of a calendar, which contains names of the martyrs, the places where they hail from and their occupation.
They have printed and distributed copies free of cost. There are more copies that can be had from their office in Puducherry,” he said.
New face for AvvaiyarArtist R. Rajarajan, who has sketched the images of Avvaiyar and Thiruvalluvar for the calendar, said that his aim was to create a new face for Avvaiyar.
It took him 250 sketches and a month and half of research to get it right.
“There have been three Avvaiyars but the most famous of them was the one from Sangam time. She was a brave person and used to sit equally with kings,” he said.
Mr. Rajarajan explained that according to a book Aayirathu ennooru aandugalukku munbu Murpatta Thamizhagam by V. Kanakasabai, she used to sing and play the parai drum.
“I have depicted her as a person having tattoos all over her body as was the practice in times of yore,” he said.
The sketches of the martyrs have been made by artists Somu, Markandan and Muthukrishnan.
