The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : ‘There is hardly any Gandhism left in the country’

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Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

‘There is hardly any Gandhism left in the country’

— Photo: M. Periasamy

K. Palanisamy.

On listening to him, none would believe he has had no vision for the past more than two decades. Not only all his thoughts are radical but also are forthright regarding the current economic and social scenario in Tamil Nadu.

His love for Tamil and socialism remains green even at 75.

The most fascinating feature of Gnani, whose original name is K. Palanisamy, is that his handicap has failed to deter his voracious reading and writing. With the help of an assistant, he keeps on reading and writing with unfailing regularity. He has already authored more than 25 books on a variety of subjects, including a couple on religion, and any number of pieces of literary criticism. “Kadavul en innum saghavillai” and “Naanum kadavulum 40 aandugal” are among them.

Livelihood

A compilation of his essays “Nenjil Thamizhum, ninaivil desasmum” has been published by Abudhabi Tamil Sangham. In his two-room house, his books have usurped one whole room. How does he manage to get his books and also the magazine published despite living just on the pension of his wife and himself?

“It is all thanks to the friends, subscription and donation”, comes the reply.

S.A. Balasubramaniam, one of his admirers, likens him to renowned art and music critic Subbudu for his forthrightness.

However, Gnani dismisses that comparison saying he has hardly anything to do with Subbdu’s subjects. Of course, he admits with a chuckle that he also is accustomed to calling a spade a spade.

In a chat with G. Satyamurty, he outlines his thoughts on socialism, God, deterioration of Tamil, et al.

Egalitarian society

“I am not in the elite circles. I am neither a theist nor an atheist. God is a grand concept and quite a lot of people are making money using this concept. I do not want to be classified into any definite category. My only mission is socialism and my dream is an egalitarian society”, avers Gnani who took voluntary retirement in 1988 due to failing eyes after being a Tamil pundit for 28 years.

Born at Somanur in Coimbatore District, he had his education at Government Arts College , Coimbatore , and Annamalai University. After his B.O.L in Tamil Literature, he post graduated in Tamil and also had teachers’ training.

Even as a Tamil pundit of the CSI Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore , he dabbled in writing since 1965, especially in what is called “little magazines” ( that appeared once in a month or two without any regularity).

He was thus associated with magazines like “Pudhiya thalaimurai”, “Parimaanam” and “Nigazh”. He also took part in the poetic movement called “Vaanambadi”. Since 1998,he has been editing another little magazine called “Tamil neyam” ( love for Tamil) and recently brought out its 38th issue as well.

He has studied not only the literature of the olden days but also the current ones. One of his essays “Pazhaya ilakiyangal: pudhiya paarvai” ( old literature and new insight) is a telling testimony to his innovative thinking.

Unconventional views

His knowledge of politics, economics and also philosophy is enviable. He has concrete but unconventional views on many a subject. He is one who is categorical that the emancipation of women alone means the freedom for the nation (pen viduthalai, mann viduthalai). He has a very high regard for writers like S.N. Nagarajan and S.V. Rajadurai.

A staunch Marxian, he asserts that Marxism has not suffered any defeat due to the happenings in Soviet Union. Nor is it endangered. “Marxism can absorb various concepts including Periyarism, Dalitism, Feminism, Post-modernism”.

Socialistic thoughts

Tamil literature has any number of “socialistic thoughts”, he observes.

“How about the saying ‘yaadhum oore, yavarum kelir’ (all are our village, and all people are our kith and kin).This shatters all the barriers including caste, creed and religion”.

Citing the Thirukkural couplet beginning “oorani neer niraindhatre”, he explains that Thiruvalluvar conceived a public well filled by rain water and used by every one. It is virtually similar to the wealth of “perarivalan”( one with a great heart) which is meant to benefit everyone.

Even in Silapathigaram, when Kovalan goes to Madurai to sell “silambu”, just because he looked like a poor man in search of a job, he was deemed a “thief”.

When Kannagi curses the King of Madurai for the unjust killing of her husband, she destroys Madurai city itself because the “sanror” (good men) have also failed to stop the injustice meted out to her husband.

Thus it speaks of justice for all irrespective of the social status.

Deterioration of Tamil

Socialist thoughts abound even in Sangham literature, Siddhar poems, Bharathi, Bharathidasan and also Periyar, he observes. For the deterioration of Tamil, he not only faults the politicians but also Tamil professors and pundits.

“What a fall for Tamil teaching. I recall the phenomenal service of the savants of Tamil like U.V.Swaminatha Iyer, T.P. Meenakshi Sundaram, Mu.Va, Va.Suba. Manickam, to name a few. But the current crop of Tamil professors and pundits have no love for the language. They have failed the language at the altar of money and power.” He does not spare the top politicians as well. Besides, the State Governments have permitted establishment of too many English medium schools thus endangering Tamil.

Sri Lankan Tamils

He is extremely worried about the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka saying they are subjected to inhuman treatment..

“Unbridled globalisation has also played havoc and we have lost our self-respect”, he laments.

Above all, corruption has become all pervasive, he points out. “Thus there is hardly any Gandhism left in the country”, he concludes.

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