Though poet Velliyangattan fed his family with the paltry sum he earned as a tailor, what he attempted to do was to sew a society that had been torn into pieces in the name of caste, creed, class, and religion.
A pall of gloom descended on the world of writers in Coimbatore, when Nalini, a Tamil writer, and noted literary enthusiast passed away last Sunday. A daughter of the yesteryear Tamil poet Ramasamy aka Velliyangattan of Coimbatore, Nalini lived much of her life carrying the merits of her father's literary works to new horizons across the country. An affectionate admirer of her father's erudition, Nalini spoke in many literary meetings and her speeches were never without the memories of her father - the poet who eked out a living as a tailor and took care of his family.
There were many occasions when Nalini broke down on the dais when she narrated how this society turned deaf ears to the clarion call of the poet for its reformation. A girl who experienced untold hardships in her family, Nalini drew inspiration from her father's poetic talents and societal concern. The wise lady, who had hardly worn any ornament about her neck, would often cite her father's line that the honest life of a poor poet is greater than that of a wealthy man.
Nalini's father Velliyangattan also took odd jobs, as the school hostel warden, garden supervisor, and proofreader in the yesteryear Tamil daily Nava India. However, he could not stick to the jobs and often had to quit them whenever things at his workplace were at the cost of his self-respect. Though the poet fed his family with the paltry sum he earned as a tailor, what he attempted to do was to sew a society that had been torn into pieces in the name of caste, creed, class, and religion.
Besides penning verses in Tamil, he translated a miscellany of short stories, novellas, and poems from Kannada to Tamil when he migrated to Mysore in search of a job. An ardent reader of Philosophy, Velliyangattan wrote detailed commentaries on the Upanishads. Though he struggled hard and got some of his poems published as books in his lifetime, they did not meet the monetary needs of his poverty-stricken family.
Recalling an indelible memory, Nalini would say:
"Due to abject poverty in our family, my father, on an occasion, had to sell the copies of Echarikkai - his newly-printed book of poems to a scrap dealer by the kilos. He told us that the money we receive by selling copies of the book could help us manage the meals for at least a week. The scrap dealer bought the copies at a rate of six anas per kilo. As the wrappers of the book were not taken for sale, my father asked me to tear them off. When I wept and shed tears while doing so, my father consoled me by saying that his next book of poems was sure to win laurels"
The pains of poverty in her childhood left a deep scar on Nalini that she later collected her father's manuscripts, compiled them, and got them published as two hardbound voluminous books with a print length of 1716 pages under the title Velliyangattaan Padaipugal with the help of the late Kovai Gnani, a visually-challenged Marxian literary critic. The monumental work was nationalized by M.Karunanidhi the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Nalini also carried copies of the book wherever she went, presented them to the academicians in universities and colleges, and requested them to include her father's writings in the curricula.
Due to the hard-up situation in her family, Nalini could not pursue schooling beyond class four and she worked as a labourer in the Lakshmi Mills. Nevertheless, she would cite several Sangam lyrics by heart, and being a writer, she authored two books of short stories to her credit and was a regular contributor to several literary magazines.
"The literary works of Velliyangattan were included in the curricula of the University of Kerala, Bharathiar University, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, P.S.G College of Arts and Science, and Hindusthan College of Arts and Science" informs V.Vellingiri, who authored a book on Velliyangatttan in comparison with the late eminent poet and lyricist Pattukottai Kalyana Sundaram.
Historian, eminent orator, and author Pulavar Senthalai. Na. Gowthaman is yet to publish the letters written between him and Velliyangattan. Interestingly, the letters were not in prose, but in the meticulous Tamil verse form venba!
Despite poverty, Velliyangattan never gave up his passion for poetry. Elders in the village of Velliyangadu still recall the scene of the poet reading or writing by the night under a kerosene lamp, while all were asleep in the dark on the hilly hamlet.
There were many occasions when Nalini broke down on the dais when she narrated how this society turned deaf ears to the clarion call of the poet for its reformation. A girl who experienced untold hardships in her family, Nalini drew inspiration from her father's poetic talents and societal concern. The wise lady, who had hardly worn any ornament about her neck, would often cite her father's line that the honest life of a poor poet is greater than that of a wealthy man.
Nalini's father Velliyangattan also took odd jobs, as the school hostel warden, garden supervisor, and proofreader in the yesteryear Tamil daily Nava India. However, he could not stick to the jobs and often had to quit them whenever things at his workplace were at the cost of his self-respect. Though the poet fed his family with the paltry sum he earned as a tailor, what he attempted to do was to sew a society that had been torn into pieces in the name of caste, creed, class, and religion.
Besides penning verses in Tamil, he translated a miscellany of short stories, novellas, and poems from Kannada to Tamil when he migrated to Mysore in search of a job. An ardent reader of Philosophy, Velliyangattan wrote detailed commentaries on the Upanishads. Though he struggled hard and got some of his poems published as books in his lifetime, they did not meet the monetary needs of his poverty-stricken family.
Recalling an indelible memory, Nalini would say:
"Due to abject poverty in our family, my father, on an occasion, had to sell the copies of Echarikkai - his newly-printed book of poems to a scrap dealer by the kilos. He told us that the money we receive by selling copies of the book could help us manage the meals for at least a week. The scrap dealer bought the copies at a rate of six anas per kilo. As the wrappers of the book were not taken for sale, my father asked me to tear them off. When I wept and shed tears while doing so, my father consoled me by saying that his next book of poems was sure to win laurels"
The pains of poverty in her childhood left a deep scar on Nalini that she later collected her father's manuscripts, compiled them, and got them published as two hardbound voluminous books with a print length of 1716 pages under the title Velliyangattaan Padaipugal with the help of the late Kovai Gnani, a visually-challenged Marxian literary critic. The monumental work was nationalized by M.Karunanidhi the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Nalini also carried copies of the book wherever she went, presented them to the academicians in universities and colleges, and requested them to include her father's writings in the curricula.
Due to the hard-up situation in her family, Nalini could not pursue schooling beyond class four and she worked as a labourer in the Lakshmi Mills. Nevertheless, she would cite several Sangam lyrics by heart, and being a writer, she authored two books of short stories to her credit and was a regular contributor to several literary magazines.
"The literary works of Velliyangattan were included in the curricula of the University of Kerala, Bharathiar University, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, P.S.G College of Arts and Science, and Hindusthan College of Arts and Science" informs V.Vellingiri, who authored a book on Velliyangatttan in comparison with the late eminent poet and lyricist Pattukottai Kalyana Sundaram.
Historian, eminent orator, and author Pulavar Senthalai. Na. Gowthaman is yet to publish the letters written between him and Velliyangattan. Interestingly, the letters were not in prose, but in the meticulous Tamil verse form venba!
Despite poverty, Velliyangattan never gave up his passion for poetry. Elders in the village of Velliyangadu still recall the scene of the poet reading or writing by the night under a kerosene lamp, while all were asleep in the dark on the hilly hamlet.