Weaving his way through the history of clothes

Coimbatore: While writing about the colours of shrouds prescribed by different religions and ethnic groups across the world in his book on the origin and development of clothes, Chidamparam had little chance to imagine what colour his shroud would be minutes before he left the world last Saturday.

For a writer blessed with comfort and tranquillity, penning voluminous books on the subjects of his or her interest is never a herculean task. But for Chidamparam, a retired mill worker, literary enthusiast, artist, and trade unionist, the only Tamil book he wished to publish in his lifetime was the fruit of his tireless decade-long labour.

With the central idea of Chidamparam’s comprehensive work being the origin of clothes in human society, he had to go through many books on history and literature. It is amazing to know from his work that he traced the quotes referring to clothes in the corpus of Sangam literature, Tamil bhakti literature, epics including Silapathikaram, Seevaka Cinthamani, Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Soolamani, the Bible, and the Koran. Besides, to hunt information on the history of clothes he delved deep into the religious and philosophical pieces of writing in Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

A man, who protected the Pulikuththikal (A hero stone, which depicts a warrior stabbing a tiger) and a few Mudhumakkal Thaazhis (Burial urns) from getting damaged at his native village, the archaeologically-rich Irugur, Chidamparam has traced the history of clothes even in several archaeological findings from the ancient Sumeria and Indus Valley.

" While working as a labourer in the Cambodia Mills on Trichy Rood. I was

an active trade unionist. But the idea of writing about the origin of clothes struck me only when I read books on the history of trade unions. Cloth, being the most important commodity produced by man throughout ages, shaped human history!" Chidamparam used to say.

Chidamparam could have brought out his stupendous work, 'Maniithan, Samookam, Aadaiyin Thotram (Man, Society, and Origin of Clothes) a little earlier. Sadly, he suffered a stroke and had to be housebound. Nevertheless, poet Elancheral, one of his disciples in politics and literature, published Chidamparam’s work into a book titled Aadai Anikalan Thotramum Valarchiyum – Paagam ondru (The origin and development of clothes and ornaments – Volume 1) a couple of years ago. Elancheral also got the book reviewed in the presence of Chidamparam in a monthly meeting of Kovai Ilakkiya Santhippu, a literary organization which he, with his poetry peer, Pon. Elavenil has been running in the city.

Chidamparam had experimented with writing poetry and short stories when he was a youth. But it was difficult for a poor mill worker to become a 'full-time' writer.

"For a man like me, who earned a little and lived from hand to mouth, sparing time for reading and writing is very difficult. The everyday struggles of life do not allow it. Nevertheless, I have been able to get the manuscript of my book ready after spending around a period of 10 years. Though a few publishers came forward to publish it, I fell ill a few years ago and was house-bound" Chidamparam would say.

"Also, going through my manuscript. Iakoka N Subramanian, an industrialist, Tamil poet, and philanthropist, presented me Rs. 5000 and encouraged me to get my work published soon" Chidamparam remembered.

Chidamparam’s comprehensive work narrates the history of clothes along the course of human history. The author's tireless labour in collecting information is clear from many references which he cites then and there from literature, history, and archaeology to substantiate his points.

Reminding of the line in a poem by William Wordsworth 'Let Nature be your teacher' Chidamparam, who was also the secretary of the literary organization Noyyal Ilakkiya Vattam in lrugur, says in his book:

"Early man developed the art of weaving clothes by watching a bird build its nest and a spider spin its web. You must have seen birds weave grass and twigs using their beak to build their nest. This is the basic principle behind human beings weaving clothes" 

Presenting his readers a well-knit book, Chidamparam has indeed woven his way through the history of clothes, but being just one among the little-known writers of the world.