Are we all corrupt?

 I have been  pondering over this much talked about topic of corruption, trying to find  out the root cause for corruption in our society.  I find that a man’s greed, impatience  and his unwillingness to follow rules of thland helps corruption to spread like cancer. Besides corruption in our country is a part of our culture. It startswith our system of `bribing` the God to get what we want. For the last 42 years I have been offering the elephant God (Vinayaka) 108 coconuts whenever I am facing a crisis or before I get involved in a major project.

 Each one of us in our own small ways is contributing  to corruption. Let me explain. Take the simple case of a traffic offence.  While your vehicle is stopped by a traffic constable for some offence and he tells you that if he books the case against you and  you have to go to the court,  you will end up paying `X` amount; but if you agree to pay him `X` minus `Y`amount on the spot  he will let you go, without registering the case. What do you do? Most of us  would obviously take the second alternative because it is hassle free and costs less. The cop is happy and you are happy because you have no time to waste! You have inadvertently contributed your bit to corruption.

Similar thing happens when a person applies for a driving license or goes to a Registrar`s office for registering some document, or when Corporates have to close any kind of tax related issues  be it income tax,, sales or service tax. The list is endless. To escape the harassment  and accompanying waste of time, people  agree to pay the bribe demanded by the officers concerned, albeit after some negotiations.  Even if our  books are in perfect order and as per the rules; we  have no patience to fight the system because of the hassles involved.  We are in a hurry to get over a problem fast , at any cost!

 It is this inherent unwillingness of the public to fight the unreliable system and the delay in meting out severe punishments to those who indulge in corrupt acts,  which  is  the  cause  for all types of corruption.

Ultimately the giver of a bribe is as guilty as the receiver when we talk about corruption. It is wishful thinking to believe that `Lokpal Bills` or enactment of Laws will eradicate corruption. As I said earlier, as long as  a human being wants to cut corners or break rules to achieve his goals, there will be corruption. Indians by and large  do not consider giving or taking bribes a great sin!

While I have followed the `No give No Take ` policy in doing business, I must confess that I am equally guilty of going with the system when it comes to a simple traffic offence, which I seem to commit more often these days because of old age. And even today, as a faithful Indian(!) I continue to bribe my `Gods` seeking special favours!

Introductions- The Madhu Model

 A Lifelong journalist and editor who has made the introduction of speakers into an art- S.R.Madhu has atlast come out with his first book. Titled `Windows to the World`, it has a selection of his famous circulars about the speakers at the weekly meetings of Rotary Club of Madras South (RCMS) . He has been organising these meetings  for the last 18years  as the Club`s Programme committee chairman and enticing members and their guests with the circular.

While Madhu is famous for his introduction of speakers, I had the privilege of introducing Madhu to RCMS twenty years ago. I have had a ringside view of the tremendous time & efforts he puts in to identify a good speaker, gets their biodata and talks to them about the topic to be covered, does his own reasearch on the topic before he shoots of a circular to the members  each of which is a master piece in effective communication. Since a copy of these circulars also go to the speakers, it is not uncommon for many speakers to start their talk with a  note of thanks to Madhu for the  introduction but also complain in jest  that Madhu has stolen the thunder out of their talk by covering several points from their presentation in the circulars.

While many Clubs complain about their inability to get good speakers, Madhu believes that “there is no dearth of good speakers in Chennai. This is a happening metro, it`s an intellectual capital, a film capital, a music capital. It has businessmen, economists,  entrepreneurs, scientists lawyers, sportsmen, writers,  singers,   & dancers. It is a vibrant city politically, economically , socially. It has scores of achievers young & old. It has a little army of former IAS officers,  plus thousands of youth with stars in their eyes and fire in the belly. Besides most of Chennai-ites are loquacious and they love to talk”

No wonder Madhu has been able to get excellent speakers week after week to address the Club.

Madhu`s book was first unveiled at an Installation meeting of Rotary Club of Madras South at which Natarajan Nagoji, a member of the RCMS was installed as the District Governor. Madhu credits Nagoji for motivating him to come out with the book. The book is an excellent reference book not only for Rotary and other Clubs who are looking for good  speakers but is also in a way a mini directory of `whose who` in Chennai.

To give you an idea about the contents of the circulars let me give you a couple of  excerpts from the book.

About Sandeep Narayan:

“ Sandeep is as fluent and mellifluous a speaker as he is a singer. The American upbringing is obvious but the emotional content is Indian- nay Tamil!. The Indian influence on Sandeep was enriched last year when he married Radhe, a beautiful Bharata Natyam dancer and daughter of Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev. Story-telling, public speaking, music. Sandeep excels in all three. Good reason for you to dump other priorities on Tuesday and listen to Sandeep Narayan”

About Dr.Anurdha Uberoi who gave a talk on Punjabis in Chennai;

`And Punjabis? Vibrant, Boisterous. Loud. They work hard, play hard, sing with zest and dance  with energy. They live  life king-size. The women? svelte, smart, slim ( till they get married), milk and roses complexion, articulate. They exude confidence & charm. Kushwant Singh put it better,” Punjab is known for lusty men and busty women`

Anuradha thinks that Chennai-ites are bit distant and reserved compared to the folks back at home. Make sure to give her a warm welcome.”

About Srikala Varma who spoke on `Know Your eyes`;

“You would not associate royalty with Opthalmology. And not Bharata Natyam training either. But Srikala is no common princes. You will agree when you meet and listen to her.”

As N.Ram says in his Foreword, `the book is a continuing essay in the science and art of communication`.

A Post Graduate diploma Holder in Journalism with a Gold medal from Rajendra Prasad College of Mass Communication , Mumbai, Madhu started his career with Times of India, Mumbai in 1964. After spending 15 years in mainstream journalism with TOI and American embassy in Mumbai & Delhi as deputy managing  editor of the SPAN  magazine, he switched over to development journalism when he joined the `Bay of Bengal` project of FAO- United Nations in India dealing with fisheries. As the International Information Officer of the project he wrote,  edited and produced scores of reports, books, brochures and video films , creating a new benchmark in U.N. field journalism.

It has taken over 50 years for Madhu to come out with his first book. “ a book that gives an idea of the abundance and variety of the talents active in Chennai. A book that is  also a tribute to Chennai”. I am glad to learn that he has a couple of more books in the pipeline.

The above  article has appeared in the Madras Musings issue dt. 16-31,2016

Religion and Children

Media is full of stories about `Honour Killings` of boys and girls of different castes and religions to protect the reputation of the families involved. The heinous crimes are committed not by outsiders but by the near and dear ones of the victims; mostly belonging to lower or middle income  families.  On the other hand inter religious/caste marriages are quite common in the upper strata of society, especially  among boys and girls  going abroad for studies and finding their life partners from other religions and countries across the world; and the parents have no choice but to grin and bear it.

I know of a friend, an orthodox and conservative Tam Brahm, who told his daughter when she was going abroad for further studies, not to get trapped in a marriage with boys from other religions.  ` Please ensure that you only marry a Hindu` he told her. The girl in due course not only came out with flying colours in whatever course she was pursuing but also fell  madly in love with a Pakistani Muslim and wanted to marry him. My friend was devastated, but considering the intensity of love of his daughter and looking at her future happiness, he reluctantly agreed to the match. He consoled himself when he met his friends saying that `After all marriages are made in Heaven. `

My question is what happens to the children born out of such inter-religious marriages - Hindu & Christian, Christian & Muslim or Hindu & Muslim? Which religion will the children follow?  Father`s or Mother`s? It is a difficult choice to make for the children. While many take the easy route of following both religions to keep both parents happy I know of a case where the children made a conscious and well considered decision.

  A boy and a girl born to a South Indian Christian father and Tam-Brahm mother were exposed to both  churches  and temples in their growing years.  The Pooja room in their house had a corner devoted to the picture of Christ and Mother Mary and another corner where scores of pictures of several Hindu Gods were on display. The  parents did not force any one religion on their children. When the children came of age , the father asked them which religion they would like to choose.  The daughter responded that she  preferred  the church to  a temple because the churches were so clean whereas  temples in most places  are dirty and don`t even have toilets! The son preferred to remain agnostic.

I also know of cases where parents try to impose their will on the children confusing them in the process. Many intelligent children however, have their own take on the subject. They say, ` I don`t believe in any religion. I believe in the Supreme Being that controls the Universe. It has no shape or form.  I believe in my conscience and myself`

After all isn`t that what every religion teaches - Look for God within You. Aham Brahmasmi!

Feedback welcome on rvrajan42@gmail.com

A tribute to Rtn P. Vijaykumar

I was in Cochin on Saturday 9^th July, when I got the news about the demise of Vijay Kumar - after a prolonged fight with the dreaded `C`.  Vijay, a Past President of Rotary Club of Madras South was my good friend  for nearly 40 years. Just two weeks earlier I had spoken to him when he was still in the hospital, where he got admitted for  an emergency procedure. He sounded cheerful as he was being discharged  that evening. I promised to meet him the following week. Before I could keep up my promise, Vijay has left this world. I feel miserable for missing my date with him.

I joined Rotary Club of Madras South in  December, 1977 when Vijay was the Vice President. When he became the President for the year 1978-79 he persuaded many green Rotarians like me  to get involved in the activities of  the Club.  He held  several important positions at the District level  in Rotary before he was selected  to lead an all-women  GSE team to RI districts in USA & Canada . Blessed with a deep resonant voice he was a popular MC at our Club functions and also a Commentator at all the events of the Madras Motor Sports Club- a sport which was dear to his heart. He had won prizes  in several car races.  He was also an avid trekker. A fitness freak he was a regular practitioner of Yoga.  During my year as  the president of our club in 1990-91, I produced an A/V film on Yoga, as a service project of the Club for which he not only modeled,  demonstrating  the different Asanas  but also lent his voice for the commentary portion of the film. My year`s Secretary`s report presented in video format had Vijay lending his voice for the commentary.

A charismatic  leader,  Vijay was a tall , fair & handsome, Madrasi -Punjabi ,  whose parents had migrated  to Chennai in early forties . He did his  engineering degree  from the  Guindy Engineering College  and was running his own company called `Accurate products` manufacturing  automobile components.  He was a very popular boss . ever helpful, known for his compassion and love,  His staff   simply adored him!

 He lost his first wife Santosh, a popular member of the Inner Wheel club of Madras South to a  debilitating skin disease. Vijay was a tremendous support to her  during her protracted illness. After her demise  he married Charan. a truly devoted companion who  was a pillar of strength to Vijay in the last leg of his journey in life. His two sons Arvind & Sumith are well settled in USA.

 Vijay was known as much for his wit & humour as for his feats in business and Rotary.. He always said that his years with Madras South were the best years of his life. He left RCMS in 2005  because of his frequent international travels but remained in constant touch with his friends in Rotary. I am going to miss him and his occasional telephone calls , encouraging me in my writing efforts.

May his soul rest in peace!

Rtn PP  R.V.Rajan

Feedback on rvrajan42@gmail.com or 9840392082

Tamilvanans- II- Brothers in Arms

  There is an old adage in Tamil, ‘ Thaai ettadi paanja, kutty padinaru adi payum`. Freely translated it means if the mother jumps 8 feet , the child will jump 16 feet. Brothers in arms , Lena & Ravi, the multifaceted sons of the legendary Tamil writer Tamilvanan have proved the adage right by taking the legacy of their father to great heights. Lena as a writer & Ravi  as a publisher.
 

When Tamilvanan died at the age of 51 of a heart attack, both Lena and Ravi had to discontinue their studies temporarily to take over the reigns of the business their father so assiduously built over 30 years. While Lena, with  a Masters degree in Tamil literature followed the footsteps of his father as a writer, Ravi, a qualified Chartered Accountant with a sharp busines acumen took over the family`s publishing business- Manimekalai Prasuram.

Lena remembers that he was only 23 studying for law and already married when his father passed away. While his father was still alive he had written a few essays in Tamil which were published in Kalkandu- a magazine targeting the Youth, of which  his father was the editor.His father not only appreciated his writing but also rewarded him with a small  honorarium.  He never imagined that one day  this small brush with writing will land him an editor`s job when S.A.P.Annamalai, the founder editor of Kumudam , owner of Kalkandu magazine, invited him to take over the editorship of Kalkandu, on his father`s death.  Lena was very apprehensive about stepping into the larger than life shoes of his father, but seeing the confidence that Mr Annamalai had in him, he accepted the challenge. Though initially the circulation dropped from 1,80,00 to 1,40,000, it picked up  when the readers found that Lena was `a chip of the old block` and could dish out informative and inspirational issues of Kalkandu week after week, just like what his father did for 30 years. Within four years the circulation  reached 2,20,000. Lena never looked back  and was to continue as the editor of Kalkandu magazine for the next 37 years until he retired in 2014 .

Lena ensured the continuity of Brand Tamilvanan, not only by wearing dark glasses like his father, but  continued  with  the features made popular in Kalkandu by his father.  He  also introduced new ideas in the magazine.  His one page  essays on self improvement were lapped by a whole new generation of youth. His travelogues, based on his visits to all continents ( except Antartica)  not only were  read with great interest by his readers but also  earned him a prestigious Award from Tanjore Tamil University as the Best Travelogue writer in Tamil. The Q & A feature covering all subjects bagan to appear under a new title `Junior Answers~. He also wrote short stories  and novels. `Meendum Sankarlal` a novel series, featuring the fictitious  detective character Sankarlal made popular by his father , which he wrote were well received. When one of his well wishers asked, ` When do you get the mood to write?` he replied, `There is no question of mood. When I put the pen on paper to write the ideas simply flow`.

Lena has been as popular  a speaker as he is  a writer. His speaking assignments have taken him to all the countries where Tamils reside winning him legion of friends and admirers, across the globe. He  is also associated with the family`s publishing business as the Chairman of the editorial board of Manimekalai Prasuram.  Apart from helping in the  editing of the books published by Manimekalai Prasuram he also helps his brother Ravi in deciding about the choice of books to be published.

xxxxx

Ravi Tamilvanan, younger to Lena by just 15 months is singularly responsible for making the 60 years old Manimekalai Prasuram as one of the topmost publishing houses in Tamilnadu. While his father started the publishing business only to publish his own  books, better business sense  made Ravi decide to extend the reach to cover all authors. 

Ravi recalls an incident in his life when he was just 10. When his father brought home a big bottle of Quink  ink ( Don`t say ink, say quink`) , it seems Ravi remarked, `Appa, by the time you finish writing with this ink, you would have earned a lakh of Rupees, no?`. His father was impressed with his son`s  business acumen and hugged him.  In later years, his father would encourage him to give his views on some of the financial issues  he was concerned with. He had so much confidence in  Ravi`s ability to manage a business, that he asked him to supervise the running of a family restaurant, located in their own complex in Anna Nagar, when the original owner handed over the restaurant to his father as a settlement for some  money owed. Ravi was still in college then and remembers managing the affairs of  the restaurant, after returning from college every  evening. Business was obviously in Ravi`s blood. No  wonder Manimekalai Prasuram has published over 10000 titles over the years covering 6000 authors. 3600 titles are still actively on sale.

While both brothers travel abroad regularly, Ravi`s trips  are strictly business trips for launching new books, organizing exhibition and sale of books.  Among the hundred  countries that he has visited , Srilanka is one of Ravi`s favourite destination. He is proud of the fact that he  has helped Srilankan Tamil writers to publish over 450 books.

Manimekalai Almanac covering 95 years ( 1926-2020) is very popular among Astrologers. Equally well known is the Directory of `Whose who` ` of Tamilnadu, providing contact details of well known people from different walks of life,  published by the group. Among the many awards Ravi has won from the industry. he values the Honorary Doctorate that he got from Washington Tamil University the most.

Both Lena and Ravi have inherited their father`s qualities of charming people with their simplicity, sincerity  and friendliness. They are both highly focused and work hard to achieve whatever they set out to achieve,. On a visit to their home I was amazed to see a joint, well-knit family, living in complete harmony. In these days when nuclear families are the norm. where even children don’t want to stay with their parents, it is heartening to see two brothers` families living together under the same roof  even after their marriages  forty years ago.The contribution of their respective spouses cannot be under-estimated in this successful  joint family experiment.

The brothers take the projection of unity in thoughts one step further. Every day , through a prior understanding, they dress in the same colour outfits, when they go out. Unlike their father who never looked after his health and died young, right from their younger days the brothers have been health freaks. In their early sixties now, both the brothers have serious workouts every morning- Lena plays  badminton and Ravi plays tennis. When some one asked Lena, ` “While you look very  fit for your age, how is it that, your father who preached the world how to live longer died young?` Lena replied,` What my father achieved  in 51 years of his life was  much more than what many people  achieve in 100 years.`

I am sure that the `Rock Star` brothers of the publishing industry will live to see a Century and  cross many more milestones in their lives! Far more than what their father achieved.

( concluded)

This article appeared in Madras Musings issue dt. 15-31 July,2016.

Cooking- An essential Life skill

`Boys as young as six are signing up for cooking classes to pick up an essential life skill` said  an article appearing in  Times of India a  couple of days ago. The same article also quoted a study in USA in 2013, according to which `Men spending time cooking has doubled as against women spending half the time`

I was happy to learn about this because I  strongly believe that everyone, especially men who believe that cooking is a girly activity, must know some basics in cooking- so that they can whip up a simple meal in case of an emergency due to illness or absence of their spouses  from home for any reason.

 It might be a good idea for men  to give some relief to their better halves  at least once a week, when she is spared the tension associated with cooking three meals a day, every day, 365 days of the year!  I was a Sunday cook at home when my wife was alive and after she passed away three years ago, my cooking skill helps me in looking after myself. Besides depending on outside food regularly is not only expensive but also is a health hazard.

I took my baby steps in cooking when I was only 8.  Once  my father was away on office work. My mother could not enter the kitchen because she was `impure`. Since we could not afford to buy food from a restaurant  , she taught me how to cook a simple meal. Standing at a distance she instructed me how to light up a coal fired `aduppu` ( Sigdi), make rice and dhal, and a rasam.  With some roasted  `appalams` to accompany, a three course meal was ready for the family. The appreciation I received for my maiden effort hooked me to the art of cooking at a very young age. Over the years I learnt to cook simple South Indian  vegetarian meals, comprising a variety of Rasams, Porials ( dry  vegetable curries), Sambhar or Vattha kuzhambu or More Kuzhambu ( kadis). I am confident of cooking for 15 to 20 people. 

 

Unlike modern day girls, who are more than happy to surrender the kitchen to their better halves, my wife, who belonged to the old school, always used to resist my entering the kitchen because according to her I always messed  up the kitchen. So, I had to constantly fight for my right to enter the kitchen.

Since I now have a whole kitchen to myself, without anyone breathing down my neck I have even started experimenting with new recipes. The urge to experiment was there right from the early days. I remember being featured in Femina magazine in June,1984 with` Stuffed idlies` for which I had sent the recipe to the magazine. I was thrilled to find that  my photo, holding a plate of idlies I had cooked  appearing   along side the mug shot of Kushwant Singh, the well known author who had also sent a recipe.

Cooking is a creative hobby and a great stress buster. Like every other soft skill that is being taught, cooking is an essential life skill which every child- boy or a girl- must learn. I  look forward to the day when Basic cooking is taught in schools  as a compulsory subject to be learnt through special classes over the weekend or holidays.  In today`s world where both the husband and wife are working and lead a very stressful life, knowledge of cooking by both helps in sharing an essential responsibility.

(This article has appeared in Adyar Times issue dt 17-23^rd July,2016)

Tamilvanan`s of Chennai-I - Brand tamilvanan

       A few months ago at a meeting of the South India Heritage series,  Lena Tamilvanan, the elder son of the legendary Tamil writer Tamilvanan,  talking about  his father ,  asked the audience,

“ How many of you know about Tamilvanan and have read his writings`. 

More than half the audience , comprising senior  citizens in their 60s and 70s raised their hands. A  clear indication of  the popularity of Tamilvanan in the `50s & `60s. `A master of all subjects`, as he was known, Tamilvanan had a huge following  among the Tamil reading youth of the time . The impact that he made on them through his motivational and inspirational writings was unbelievable.  He was almost a cult figure. Based in Mumbai, I was also one of those who got hooked on  his writings and adopted  his famous slogan  `Thunivey Thunai` ( Courage as companion), as a`Tharaka Mantram` of my life.  Even my autobiography  is titled  `Courage My Companion`.

Born in a large family of 16 children, at Devakottai in Tamilnad, Ramanathan alias Tamilvanan had to discontinue his studies because of his involvement in the `Quit India` movement  during his student days. He started his working life as general assistant in a  company making `chalk pieces`. His interest in writing got him a job as an Asst editor with  `Grama Oozhian` a magazine edited by Vallikannan. A voracious reader  he  was keenly interested in Tamil literature. This interest took him to Chennai in 1946, where he managed to get a job as an Assistant editor in a children`s magazine called `ANIL`. His column became so popular that he was called `Anil Anna`. While working he was also trying to improve his knowledge of Tamil  by learning at least 10 new words every day under the tutleage of  the  well known Tamil  Pandit V.Kalyanasundaram ( Thiru Vee Ka). The  Tamil word  `Vanan` meaning `a person who lives life` caught his imagination. He decided to combine his love for Tamil with  his zest for life and coined  the word `Tamilvanan` which he wanted to use  as  a pen name for himself. Prof Kalyanasundaram approved of his idea.  He did not know at that time that `Tamilvanan` would  soon become a household name among the Tamil reading public.

When S.A.P.Annamalai,  the founder editor of `Kumudam` weekly was looking for an editor in 1948,  to start a new Children`s magazine called Kalkandu,  he invited `Tamilvanan to come up with his ideas.The dummy prepared by Tamilvanan impressed him so much that he was immediately appointed as the editor of the new magazine.  Though he started as a writer for children, thanks to the total  freedom given by SAP , Tamilvanan  started targeting his writings towards the youth through essays and stories covering a wide variety of topics promoting general knowledge among his readers. The words `Thunivey Thunai`  , his `tharaka manthiram`  was featured prominently   on the front  cover of every issue of  Kalkandu. The Question  &  Answer feature that he started became a big hit so much so that he had to spend a lot of time at the Connemara library to find answers to the sometimes difficult questions posed by his readers. His Answers,  essays and generous sprinkling of useful `tidbits` in the magazine covered topics ranging from  media, religion, politics, literature,yoga, medicine, films and many more. His self improvement  essays giving tips  for improving life became very popular not only with the youth but the entire families. His detective serials appearing week after week, featuring an  unforgettable character like detective`Sankarlal` and his assistants `Kathirikkai` & `Manikkam` became famous. It seems the suggestion for starting a detective novel   came from a reader from Kerala called Sankarlal,  who wanted  Tamilvanan to feature  a super detective like `Sherlock Homes` In his stories. Tamilvanan not only acted  on the suggestion but also decided to call the detective  by the reader`s name –Sankarlal.

While he was gaining  popularity  as a writer/editor he found that he had to do something to improve his finances.  `Manimekalai  Prasuram`, named after his wife was started in 1956 to publish his own books.  While he continued as the editor of Kalkandu for 30 years until his death, he also  published over 500 books during his life time

 Tamilvanan was perhaps the only Tamil writer who consciously built a brand image for himself. Breaking away from the stereo type of a  Dhothi clad Tamil writer with a  Jolna pye and keeping in mind his youthful audience, he was always impeccably  dressed   in white trousers and white shirts in addition to donning a hat and dark glasses  . In fact over a period to time the Hat and dark glasses became his symbols.  It is said that if a reader sent a letter featuring only the hat and dark glasses marked Madras, on the cover, it would reach  him without fail.

He was as popular  as the film stars of those days. Whenever he went  to address any meetings, he was invariably mobbed by his enthusiastic fans. It was not unsual for him to exit through the back doors of the auditoriums after the meetings, to esacape  his  overzealous fans.

Like many  other writers, he also got the film bug. In his later years he tried to dabble in film production. He produced  two films , Tamil versions of two popular telugu films, titled `Pillai Pasam` and `Thudikkum Thuppakki`.  

Tamilvanan was very close to the top political leaders and film stars. Though he knew MGR  well as a friend, he did not hesitate to criticize him through his writings, whenever he felt that MGR was wrong.  This earned the wrath of MGR  and he filed a defamation suit for Rs.2 lakhs against Tamilvanan.  MGR realized that Tamilvanan would not bow down to the threat,  when he published the news as a cover story in Kalkandu. He quietly withdrew the suit. Another big controversary involved Tamilvanan challenging the importance given to `Veera Pandia Kattabomman` as a Freedom fighter, which took the Tamil literary world by storm.  He argued that Katta Bomman was actually known as `Ketty Bommu` and that `Pooli thevan` was the real freedom fighter of the time and not Kattabomman.

Tamilvanan was equally  popular as a speaker .His talks were always laced with humour and insightful ideas. Unfortunately for a man who wrote inspiring and motivational  essays  like  `How to live longer?` he never looked after his own health,  landing himself with a serious heart condition.  He took enormous risk, when he went to pay his respects to his mentor S.A.P Annamalai  on the Diwali Day in 1977, like he always did on every Diwali day though SAP had   offered to visit him  instead  of Tamilvanan visiting him. He was determined to pay his respects to SAP at his house,   much against the advice of his doctor and family .Unable to stand the strain he collapsed soon after he returned home after  the  fateful  visit and died. It was 10^th November,1977 and he was only 51.  Among his four children, two of his sons Lena and Ravi had to discontinue their studies to carry on with their father`s legacy, against all odds. How they rose upto the challenge and kept the  brand `Tamilvanan`going makes for interesting story by itself. (To be continued)

Appeared in Madras Musings issue dt.1-15^th July,2016