Kadhar Venkatta

An eMagazine for TDRites

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முதன்முதலாக TDR  TIMES -க்கு கட்டுரை எழுதினேன்.

 

திருவிடைமருதுரின் வாழ்ந்த, எனது நினைவுகளில்  அப்பொழுது வந்த  தியாகிகளை பற்றி...... 

 

நினைவில் வராத தியாகிகள் மேலும் பலரும் உண்டு......

 

அன்று நான் எழுதியது  இண்டுஜுவல் சாரின்  ஊக்குவிப்பால்.

 

இன்று மீண்டும் எழுத வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் .....

ஒரு பெரிய தியாகியின் மறைவால்.........

ஆம்..... வேப்பத்தூர் தியாகி கதர் வெங்கட்டா என்ற கதர் வெங்கட்ராம  அய்யர் காலமாகிவிட்டார் 
 தனது பால பருவத்தில் வ உ  சி தலைமையில் திலகர் அணியில் இருந்த கதர் வெங்கட்டா,   வவுசி மறைவுக்கு பின்னர் காந்தியின் அணியில் சேர்ந்து சுதந்திர போராட்டத்தில் சிறை சென்றார்.

அருணா ஆசப் அலி புனேயில் கலெக்டர் அலுவலகத்தில் நடு இரவில் மூவர்ண கோடி ஏற்றி கைதானார்.

கதர் வெங்கட்டா திருவிடைமருதூரில் துணை தாசில்தார் அலுவலகத்தில் மூவர்ண கொடி ஏற்றி கைதானார்.

1931 - ல்  மகாத்மா காந்தியின் அழைப்புக்கிங்க காங்கிரஸ் தொண்டர்கள் ஹரிஜன மக்களை  வீட்டிற்கு அழைத்தனர்.

வேங்கட்டாவும் அதையே செய்தார்.

1931  முதல் 36  வரை அவரது குடும்பம் சமூக பகிஷ்காரம் செய்யப்பட்டது.

1931 முதல் 1944  வரையிலான கால கட்டங்களில் வெள்ளையைனே வெளியேறு உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு போராட்டங்களில் கோவை, அலிப்பூர், பெல்லாரி, வேலூர் பவானி உள்ளிட்ட சிறைகளில் சிறைவாசம்.

1944  - ல் வார்தா சென்று 15 நாள் தங்கியிருந்த வெங்கட்டாவிடம் மகாத்மா ஒருநாள் மாலையில் பிரார்த்தனை முடிந்தவுடன் 

நீ உயர் ஜாதி தானே 
வசதியான  குடும்பதிலிருந்துதானே வந்திருக்கே
விடுதலை போராட்டத்திற்கு நிறைய பேர் இருக்கிறார்கள்
ஊருக்கு திரும்பியதும் ஹரிஜன சேவை தொடங்கு..... இல்லையேல் மத மாற்றம் தான் நடக்கும்
கண்டிப்பாக, உனது பகுதியில் கதர் துணி நெய்து கதர் பிரச்சாரம் செய்
அதுவே என்னுடைய விருப்பம் என்று ஆணை இட்டார்.

தனது வாழ்நாளின் கடைசி வரையிலும் காந்திஜியின் கட்டளையை நிறைவேற்றுவதில் கவனமாக இருந்தார் கதர் வெங்கட்ராம  அய்யர் அதனால்தான் அவருக்கு கதர் வெங்கட்டா பெயரும் வந்தது.

 ஊருக்கு திரும்பினார். ....தனக்கு இருந்த நிலங்கள்  80 ஏக்கரில் 8  ஏக்கரை  மனைவிடமும் மகன்களிடமும் கொடுத்து இனி குடும்ப நிர்வாகத்தை அவர்களையே    நிர்வகிக்க சொன்னார்.

வேப்பதுரில் தனக்கு இருந்த 2  ஏக்கர் திடலை அதனை ஒட்டியிருந்த ஹரிஜன மக்களுக்கு வீடு கட்டி கொடுத்தார்.  தெருவின் பெயரே ......வெங்கட்டா  தெருவானது.

மீதி 70 ஏக்கர் நிலத்தையும் விற்று பை நிறைய பணத்துடன் சென்னைக்கு சென்று அன்றைய காங்கிரஸ் தலைவர் ராஜாஜி முன்பாக நின்று காந்திஜி இட்ட கட்டளையை கூறினார்.

ராஜாஜி கூறிய அறிவுரையின் பேரில் அங்கிருந்து திருச்செங்கோடு ஆசிரமத்தில் வாசம் செய்ய தொடங்கினார்.

ஒரே ஒரு நரிக்குறவ இனத்தை சேர்ந்த சிறுவனுடன் தொடங்கிய   திருச்செங்கோடு  விடுதியில்   இன்று சில நுறு  மாணவ மாணவிகள் ...........பெரும்பாலும் ஹரிஜன சமூகத்தை சேர்ந்தவர்கள்

அந்த நாளில் திருசெங்கோட்டில்   அவரது வீடு சத்திரம் போல் இருக்கும். அரசியல் தலைவர்களை பொறுத்தவரையில் சித்தரஞ்சன்தாஸ், பாபு ராஜெந்திரப்ரசாத், ராஜாஜி, அருணா ஆசாப் அலி, கிருபளானி  காமராஜர், பெரியார் போன்றவர்கள் அவரது வீட்டில் வாசம் செய்திருக்கிறார்கள்  .

ஆனால் அவரது செயல்பாடு அன்றாட அரசியலுக்கு அப்பாற்பட்டது.

தினமும் கதர் துணியை தலையில் சுமந்துகொண்டு தெரு தெருத்தெருவாக விற்பனை செய்வார். திரும்பியவுடன் திருச்செங்கோடு காந்தி ஆசிரமத்தில் ஹரிஜன மக்கள், கைவிடப்பட்டோர், முதியவர்கள்  ஊனமுற்றோர்  அனாதைகளுக்கு அவரவர் திறனுக்கு ஏற்ப வேலை.  இப்படியே அவரது வாழ்க்கை.

நகர்மயமான திருசெங்கோட்டில் பஸ்ஸிலிருந்து இறங்கி கதர் அய்யரு வீடு   எங்கே என சின்னக்     குழந்தையை  கேட்டால் கூட அவரது விட்டுக்கு அழைத்து சென்றுவிடும். சுற்று வட்டார பகுதிகளில் அவருக்கு அவ்வளவு பெயர், மதிப்பு, மரியாதை

சுக துக்கம் எதுவானாலும் அழைப்பு வந்துவிடும் அவர் அங்கேயே இருப்பார்.

சுதந்திரத்திற்கு பின்னர் அரசியலை விட்டு ஒதுங்கி இருந்த பின்னரும்
அவரை எப்படியாவது திருவிடைமருதுருக்கு அழைத்துவரும்படி எனது தகப்பனாரை திரு. தியாகராஜ அய்யர் (விஜி அப்பா ) 1972 ஆம் ஆண்டு கேட்டுக்கொண்டார்.

சுதந்திர தின வெள்ளி விழா 1972  ஆண்டு திருவிடைமருதூரில் மிக சிறப்பாக திரு. தியாகராஜ அய்யர் ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்தார்

 

ஒரு மாபெரும் ஊர்வலமும் ஏற்பாடானது. 

 

அதாவது காந்தி சிலையில் தியாகி அணைக்கரை மஜீத் அவர்களால் தொடங்கி வைக்கப்பட்டு நான்கு வீதிகள் வழியாக சென்று மீண்டும்  காந்தி சிலையிலே ஊர்வலம் முடிந்தது.

 

அன்று கதர் வெங்கட்டா அவர்கள் நிண்ட நாட்களுக்கு பின்னர் சிறப்புரை ஆற்றினார்.  அங்கு பின்னர்  திருவிடைமருதூர் சுற்றுவட்டாரத்தில் இருந்து வந்திருந்த சுமார் 100  சுதந்திர போராட்ட தியாகிகளுக்கு கதர் மாலைகளை  அணிவித்திவிட்டு
தியாகிகள் குடும்பத்தினர்கள் கூட தனது வாழ்நாள் முழுவதும் கதராடை அணிய வேண்டும் என்று வலியுறித்தினார். 

தனது கடைசி கால கட்டத்தில் கதர் வெங்கட்டா மீண்டும் குடும்பத்தில் வந்து இணைந்தார்.
  
அதிகாலை அவர் காலமான செய்தி எனக்கு வந்தது. மறைவு சேதி கேட்டு அவரது இல்லத்திற்கு சென்றேன்.

 அவரது பூத பார்த்த உடன்  எனக்கு  சோழ   சாம்ராஜ்யத்தின் பட்டத்து யானை இறந்து கிடப்பது போல் உள் மனதில் ஒரு எண்ணம்

உறவினர்களையும் சேர்த்து சுமார் ஒரு 20  பேர் இருந்தனர்.

பொதுவாக 90 வயது தாண்டியவர் மரணத்திற்காக  அவ்வளவாக அழமாட்டார்கள். 

ஆனால் கதர் வெங்கட்டாவின் சடலம் கிடத்தி வைக்க பட்டிருந்த  போது ஒரே ஒரு பெண் மட்டும் கடைசி வரை கதறி அழுது கொண்டிருந்தாள்

அவள் வெங்கட்டா அய்யருக்கு பணிவிடை செய்து வந்த ஹரிஜன பெண்.

 1921 - ல் மகாகவி பாரதி மறைந்த போதும் மிக குறைவானவர்களே வந்திருந்தனர் என்பது வருத்ததுடன் நினைவு கூறப்படும் ஒரு வரலாற்று  செய்தி.
 

வரலாறும்..... இந்த சமுதாயமும் மறக்ககூடாத...,  ஆனால் மறந்துவிட்ட எத்தனையோ விடுதலை போராட்ட தியாகிகளில் கதர் வேங்கட்டாவும் ஒருவராகிவிட்டார் என்பதுதான் ஒரு கசப்பான உண்மை.

இன்று இந்தியாயிலேயே கையெடுத்து கும்பிடகூடிய தியாகிகள் தற்போது குறைவு

ஆடம்பரத்திலும் சுய நலத்திலும் விளம்பரத்திலும் உள்ள இந்த கால கட்டத்தில் காலாவதியாகிப்போன ஒரு தியாகியின் சாவுக்கு செல்வதில் என்ன ஆகி விடபோகிறது.

ஆனால் ஒன்று........ இப்படியாகிவிட்ட இந்த சமுகத்திலிருந்து மீண்டும் ஒரு கதர் வெங்கட்டா போன்ற ஒரு தியாகி உருவாகமுடியுமா.,.....

 

காத்திருப்போம்   ......கனவு நனவாகும்

 

பாரதி போல்

 

  கனவு மெய்ப்படவேண்டும்!

        கைவசமாவது எளிதில்வேண்டும்!

               என்று நினைவில் கொண்டு

                            மனதில் உறுதியோடு!

 

G Sridhar 

S/o Ganesan Sir

 

A Saga of Sacrifice

An eMagazine for TDRites

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From Sridhar’s cupboard

Morals,…..Values……Ethics…….Dharma……

In the recent feedback, our Individual Sir has mentioned that the entire life of our parents with limited resources….still successfully managed……is “ A Saga of Sacrifice “. Almost, many of us are from a big family, joint family, dependent and inter dependent and we have achieved everything including forming of TOSA. We were taken care of by our parents, our brothers and sisters, our teachers, our school, our place and our temple. Genuinely, it is felt that every TDR ite is taking care of his / her parents, brothers and sisters. Given in this backdrop, Individual’s statement to the effect that

 “ Sugamaana sumaigalai sumandhu saadhanai padaitthavargal Naam “

…..Sathiyamaana Vaarthaigal.  This gave me a spark to share some of my thoughts. Shall we go ?

Sacrifice and compromise are the key words of the middle class society, but for that, it would be difficult to survive in this competitive world. I am sure, you will agree with me. This is the under current of our society and a driving force for us to lead a happy life. It existed from the yuga kaalam, even in earlier yugams also. Even now it exist and it will continue to exist. Because of the simple reason “ it is a dharma “, when we protect the dharma, the dharma will protect us. I would like to go for a rewind of Maha Bharath.

After the Wax Palace Incident, the Pandavas escaped and  started living like Brahmins under disguise and were with a Brahmin family. The family structure (host), was of a father, mother, daughter, son and a small child in a small kingdom known as “ Ekachakrapuram “.

The Pandava brothers were doing Biksha in and around the places and use to hand over the same to Kunthi. Of course, half of the collection would go to Bheema and the rest will be shared among others. Even after getting the Lion’s share….Dharmaputhra was somehow worried on seeing Bheema turning slim.

During one particular night, there was commotion, in the host family, with signs of weeping coupled with argument which went as under. Kunthi could hear all the conversations from the adjacent room which were later told to Pandavas :

Father  : When I am not in a position to protect my wife and my children, I am not the right person to live in this world. I, therefore incline to sacrifice myself, for and on behalf of the family.

Mother  : What ? What ? What you have told ? Do you recollect and remember……. when you married me, you vowed before the Agni Kundam, at each step among the seven steps…… that is at sapthapathi…..Throughout the life, I will protect you, I will feed you, I will have children through you, I will perform all the yagyams along with you..……Now you are telling that you will leave me. I will tell one thing to you…..you permit me to sacrifice myself…..Thereafter, you can remarry to take  care our children.

Father   :  No.. No.. No.. I will not permit you to do the same. I vowed before the Agni while marrying you to protect you and to have children through you.

Daughter : Dear Father and mother, please allow me to sacrifice myself for the sake of our family. Being a women what is the purpose of my living ? .

Father and Mother  :  No. No. What you are telling? Though you were born to us, you belong to some other family as Mattru pen (daughter-in-law). You are expected to do the Dharma to that family. Our responsibility is to grow you and get married to a suitable groom. Thereafter, you belong to that family and hence, we don’t have the right to sacrifice you.

Son :  Dear Father and mother, kindly permit me to sacrifice myself for the sake of our family. Through this step, I would like to protect you, mother, sister and the child.

Father : No No. why you are talking foolishly? When I performed Bramhmopadesam to you, it tantamount to giving the Power to you to perform all the ritual to us including our forefathers. You are the kulakozunthu of our family. Hence I don’t have the right to permit you to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the family.

Child : Why can’t you allow me to sacrifice myself ?

Everybody laughed among themselves on the uttering of the child.

At that point of time Kundhi entered in to the room of the family and asked what is the problem in your family ? Can I be of some help ?  

Then the Brahmin narrated the fate of the family to Kunthi as under:

We are all living in this small kingdom….. “Eakachakrapuram”

Our king is incompetent. He is not taking care of the people. His rule is a total mis-rule. One Asura called as Bhagasuran is living in this area.  He used to come to the villages at his will and smash all the belonging of our citizens. He is a man eater,. he will also eat everything including our cows. As our king is incompetent, we all went to the Asura and pleaded before him…..Do not destroy our belongings ….You need not visit our village often. Instead, we ourselves undertake to arrange food for you. Through this understanding, one family from the village, will arrange two buffaloes, one full bullock cart of food and one human, every week to take care of your need.

Now, the weekly turn has come to our family. I have already made all the arrangements except the human being and that’s what, we have been discussing……..whom to send ?

Kundhi after hearing entire thing expressed her desire to the Brahmin that she will come forward to sacrifice one of his five sons to the Asura. The host family, bluntly refused stating that you are our guest,…. equivalent to GOD. It is my responsibility to protect and look after the well being of the Guest, according to the Dharma. Kundhi, however, told them that if you permit me to do so, you will be doing an yeomen service to the people of the entire kingdom. You will come to know about everything by tomorrow evening. Our Dharma also permits the Guests to do good things. Some how, Kundhi managed to convince them and got their concurrence. She, thereafter narrated everything to Dharmaputhra and Bheema.  Right Choice…..Bheema was selected to go to the Asura. A Bullock cart full of Food was prepared and Bheema was driving the Cart and moved forward to meet the Asura at his place. Bheema….is…..Bheema. On the way itself, he was eating the food meant for the Asuran and half of it was over. On seeing, the Asura got agitated, took a big rock and threw towards Bheema. I repeat….Bheema is Bheema,.. Got down…caught hold of the rock…..returned with full speed, just aiming the head of Asura. There was a fierce fight between them and ultimately Bheema killed the Asura.

 

Is it a story from Maha Bharath ? No…not at all. It is a sheer telling tale about Dharma, authority, duty, rights and responsibilities of  father, mother, son, daughter, wife, even a kid, king, host, guest and what not. That is called “ Saga of sacrifice “. We mean that….live like that….that is the neatly woven fibre of our society, transformed into the society, into our blood, heart, body, mind and soul.

Father takes care of the family, fulfill parental responsibility, sons grow…..takes care of the parents,  Eldest of the siblings takes care of the younger ones, sister’s marriages, education….everything. Younger ones see their elders in the form of parents....That’s how…our way of life goes. Yes, every individual is being taken care of by the society at large. Morals, values, sacrifices, compromises, Dharma is our way of life. It is the way of our Punya Bhoomi….Bharath. Perhaps,  that may be the reason we need only 10 policemen for 10000 people unlike 10 to 100 in Western countries. 

Bye….for the time being…

Sridhar

S/O Ganesa Iyer.

Feedback: tdrtimes@gmail.com;gsn1000@gmail.com 

Anandha Bhairavi…..Thyagarajaa…..Tiruvidaimarudur…..

An eMagazine for TDRites

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From Sridhar’s cupboard

My dear TDR ites,

Hope this letter finds you in the pink of your health and happiness. Yes….we are the happiest persons in the earth, right now. We have lavishly enjoyed the memories of Thai poosam through Ramji’s Photos and Videos. This time, due to the hype created by TOSA and TDR Times, many have visited TDR and part of the great moments like, Ther….Rishabha Vaaghanam….Theertha vari….Velli Radham…..reunion of many friends…..Vijay’s house Graha pravesam, first one from our friends circle, etc,.  etc,.

I would like to multiple your happiness, further, through sharing of the following event about Thyagaraja, one of the Sangeetha Mummoorthigal. Of course, this is the right time as banners at many places at Chennai are still green with the photos of Mummoorthigal in the programmes of “Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru…..Tharangam”  (Singing only Sriman Narayana Theerthar Songs) etc. etc.

The Bhisma Pithamahars of ever green Sashthriya Sangeetham is  now getting further fillip through the efforts of Carnatic music current day veterans. I heard during my school days about the TDR link of Saint Thiyagaraja and Saint Muthuswami Dikshidhar and like to share the same about Thyagaraja now.

One of the Great Sangeetha Scholar, Chonti Venkata Ramanaiya  was the Kavi in King Sarafoji’s court. He was staying with his son at his old age at Thiruvaiyaru. I could not recollect his son’s name. Thyagaraja was the  student of Chonti Venkata Ramaniya during his childhood days.  Due to the same age group, Ramanaiah’s son happened to be the close friend of Saint Thyagaraja.

In those days, traditional way of life at Thiruvaiyaru was going to  Panchanathiswara Swamy Temple for Saayam Sandhi, after performing the daily rituals (sandhyavandanam) at Koil Tirukkulam. After having dharshan, they will take food in the evening itself, before sunset. An wooden bench will be there in every house which will be put in the Vaasal so as to have comfortable talk with neighbours till night. If you so desire, you can call it as “Arattai”.

On many occasions, depending upon the festivals, Dramas, Theru koothu and / or music programs will be there for thorough enjoyment and comfortable sleep thereafter, say at around 2 a.m.

In those days, in Tiruvidaimarudur, a Weaving community of Saurashtra Origin was there and each Saurastrian family will have 12 to 15 members. Yes….more than a Raavana’s family in the words of our Individual Sir (Raavana family means…..10 thalaigal). They are all from Somnath and the official cloth makers to the somnath Temple. Due to various historic reasons, they were driven out of the place at that time. Some of the family members escaped from the place and started coming towards southern part of our country and sought asylum to the then king Rajendra Chola. A part of such Saurashtrians settled at Chola Mandalam and remaining at Madurai.

In Chola Mandalam, based on their skill, they were all made to settle in various places, palaces and temples and Rajendra Chola accommodated them with full honours.  

Thus, a section of Saurashtrians settled at Tiruvidaimarudur, where a palatial palace was there. They used to make Silk Dhotis, Silk Umbrella to Mahalinga Swamy and other deities. They were accommodated in the temple, palace etc,. They are the masters in performing Folk Dramas, known as Theru koothu. During festival season they will do the work at the temple and in remaining period, they used to propagate the art of drama, music, theru koothu in various places.

Once, they went to Thiruvaiyaru to perform a drama for about fifteen days.

Now the real picture starts with above backdrop.

Chonti Venkataramanayya’s son met Thyagaraja at the temple…After dharshan, he told about the skill and special calibre of the folk artist group which camped at Tiruvaiyaru, particularly about one artist from Tiruvidaimarudur who is an exponent in rendering “ Aanandabhairavi Raga” in his own enviable voice, in a beautiful manner, every day at mid night. Lot of people, irrespective of the status, used to hear his performance, visiting from nearby places and enjoy the Raga Aalapanai, especially his Anandabairavi and plead to him for repeat singing. He requested Thiyagaraja also to come and enjoy the same.

Thyagaraja, an orthodox, highly religious man, running a vedic way of life, scholarly man, a famous composer of songs in and around Thiruvaiyaru…..normally will not come out and mingle with others. Nevertheless, he conveyed to his friend about his inclination as he was carried away by the sweet words and his love for music. He, however, told that  “ I will come in disguise ‘. You don’t tell anybody. I am keen to listen to the Anandha Bhairavi Raga Aalapanai tonight. Accordingly on that night, Thyagaraja started from his house by covering his head and most of the face through cloth (mundaasu)     and went to the theru koothu to witness the concert.

In the late night, Drama started….the artist started the Raga Aalapanai and continued for about two hours, past mid night. Mesmerizing voice with full command and during the entire stretch, Chondi Venkataramaiya’s son saw his friend Thiyagaraja with tears rolling down through cheeks. After the conclusion of Aalapanai, Thyagaraja went to the backside of the stage along with his friend and asked one of the artist in the troupe about the artist who gave Aanandha Bhairavi.

The artist showed the singer to Thiyagaraja who came from Tiruvidaimarudur to perform.

Thyagaraja removed his head turban…..The artist was shell shocked to see the Great Thyagaraja

Sami…. Sami… You have come here…. You have come here….. Before you I am nothing sami. How dare…I sang before you ?

Thyagaraja, with emotional tears, with a pat on his shoulder said,  No… No…  I was totally involved in your Anandha Bhairavi Raga Aalapanai. What a great voice and command you are having…..Konjam kooda pisiru illai.    Wonderful…..Appa……Appa…….  Naradhar is living in your body. I never heard this type of  Anadha Bhairavi.

I am in real Aanandham, now. My joy knew no bounds. Peranandham.

The artist put his forehead on the feet of Thiyagaraja, offered Namaskaram and attempted to tell something to Thiyagaraja….but words are not coming out.

Tell me…. Tell me….. What do you want? What do you want?.

A small request Sami….

Tell me…. Tell me……. If possible, I will do,. Even other wise, I will try to make it possible.

Sami….This is enough for me….your presence, praise,. everything moved me. Words are not adequately enough for me to express what I want to say. Can you please do me a small favour ? What you told me here, I beg you to utter before the audience for whom I have surrendered myself through this art. They are the living GOD for me. Can you ? Can you ?

Thyagaraja…..Ok…. then what do you want……….

Sami, I am a humble street folk artist.

You are a great composer. Your songs are sung by most of the singers without exception, throughout Chennai Rajadhani, particularly in Chola Mandalam.

Now you have blessed me that I am also doing something in Raga Aalapanai in Anadha Bhairavi.

Thyagaraja told……Yes….. come to the stage along with me.

When Thiyagaraja appeared on the Stage, everybody was surprised, taken aback with eyebrows up, to see him on the stage. For some time, total silence prevailed.

There….on the stage, Thyagaraja declared to every body

My dear patrons,

I Thyagaraja declare that I heard the Raga Aalapanai of Anadha Bhairavi of this Great artist from Tiruvidaimarudur. Nobody can do Raga Aalapanai of Anandha Bhairavi like this..…….Perfection to the core….beauty to ears through his mesmerizing voice with total involvement…..At his request, I am on the stage now. As a fitting tribute to the man’s voice and calibre, I declare that, hereafter, I will not compose any song in Anadha Bhairavi.

What ever I have already composed in the same raga, I will not teach to anybody. This artist has attained saturation level in Aanandha Bhairavi. No body, in the earth can match him.

I have taught only five songs in Aanadha Bhairavi to my Sishyas. I shall order them…… not to sing the Aanandha bhairavi raga….hereafter. I shall also order my Shisyas not to teach the songs to anybody hereafter, this is my vow after hearing the sweet raga here. This vow is the recognition to this Tiruvidaimarudur artist of Saurashtra origin. Thiyagaraja came down from the stage with tears and went to his house.

One folk artist from Tiruvidaimarudur made the giant …..not to sing a song in a particular raga…. as a tribute to the command and devotion of the artist from Tiruvidaimarudur…….

Cauvery thanneer endral summava ?

By Sridhar

S/O Ganesa Iyer, TDR.

 Feedback:gsn1000@gmail.com;tdrtimes@gmail.com

Cricket in TDR by Individual

An eMagazine for TDRites

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Dear TOSA ites, 

Excellent rewind and flashback by Murthy. Many may not be knowing, .....his grandfather, Great Sivasamba Iyer was an ardent follower of Cricket with all the statistics in his finger tips. He used to listen the Radio commentary with school boy's interest. TDR Cricket  is a great phenomenon and transformation will be there in every 10 years. I do have with me the memories of TDR Cricket ......in my proud possession.  Let me also share.....By the by, I think, by now, Murthy would have completely enjoyed his teens while writing the column.

The king pin of TDR Cricket during my days was none other than Kittappan, the Bhisma Pitamahar of TDR Sports activities. On Saturdays, we have 5 periods and used to start playing from 3 p.m.  Sundays....the game will start from 9 a.m. Lot of aspirants will be there and the Selection Committee will have only one man,.....  just one man...... and that was Kittappan. 

In Mahadana street itself, we used to play between North and South. Upto Bhajanai madam is known as South and after Bhajanai madam.....it is North. Thrilling and real fighting strategies, placements, batting, fielding placements, selection process.....everything will be chalked out some 2 days early. I used to play for North, whether it is Kabaadi or Cricket,  although I was residing at 181, Mahadana Street.  Those days, I always used to be in TG's house, (87, Mahadana Street), and carried the identity of North. I do not know, perhaps, that may the reason, the Destiny decided that I have to work in North. I was in Jaipur for 4 years and at Lucknow, this is my second tenure....about to touch third year. My first tenure at Lucknow lasted three years. Be it that be.....let me come back to the main subject. 

The very reason which prompted me to touch upon this area is to bring to light the tough competition we witnessed to have a berth in the TDR team.....team means....to be in the daily playing eleven. My days veterans were Singidi, Sundaram (both Writer Jayarama Iyer's sons, Seshasayee, his brother Mali, Sundaram Dr. Mali, Vasu, Ramani, Ramamurthy...(TVR's sons), Kicchu (Vaanchi's brother), paramasivam. Ganesan, Suppuni (TG), Mohan, Ramesh (Thiagaraja Iyer's family) to name a few,. (I might have missed some names,.... those veterans may kindly forgive me). Besides, friends from school, Madavilagams and other 4 veedhis will be there.  Virtual war will be there to find a place in the playing 11. We should be at the mercy of Kittappan who will select players for both the teams.  Of course, he will select two balanced teams. Whether it is basket ball or volley ball or Cricket.....he is the permanent selection committee chairman. 

Once, I played very well and scored 32 runs. It is a big score those days. When the selection process came up on the next day....I told Kittappan

Kittappa.....Take me.....Kittappa....take me.....Yesterday my individual score was 32.....my individual score was 32.....He has got no answer and took me in to the team. Yes....my performance spoke louder.....Unfortunately, on that day, I scored only 4 (அமாவாசை பருப்பு ...சும்மா ..சும்மா  வேகுமா?).  Next day, selection process came up. Kittappan ignored me stating that " Yesterday, your Individual score was only 4. I retaliated stating that ....my team won by 3 runs and that is because of my individual score of 4.  On that day also, I got a berth in the team.

 

On that day, I took a spectacular catch at the deep point,,,running some 15 yards (even now, I could not believe... how I took that catch0. Thus, gradually with my individual performance, I cemented my place in the team.  In the process, kittappan used to call me ...always...as Individual. Thus, one

 " Individual"  was born.

 

In TDR, there were 4 or 5 Suppunis. தடி சுப்புணி, வின்சென்ட் சுப்புணி, மகாலிங்க சுப்புணி, ஆத்தங்கரை சுப்புணி, it went on like that.  After passage of time, even my teachers used to call as Individual....particularly Drill Master Ganesa Iyer. During Sangamam II, many friends asked me, why you are being called as Individual ? I was not having time to explain the full story. But, now Murthy gave me the opportunity to share this.

 

This is nothing but to highlight the difficulties we faced in getting a place in TDR playing 11 and the dearth of players we had at that time. Once myself and Mohan (Thiagaraja Iyer's son) batted for more than 90 minutes.......went for lunch....came back and again batted for another one hour. Great மலரும் நினைவுகள்.  

 

In kabaadi also, we were a winning combination.....Suppuni, Ganesan (TG's brothers), kulla Baalu (தற்போது உயரமாக இருக்கிறான்), Amirdhalingam(88, Mahadana Street), Sundaram Dr. Mali, அடியேன் and Akkarai Durai......this was the team combination.....Continuously, we won the tournaments for 6 to 7 years. On more than one occasion, I came to the rescue of the team,  as a last man or last but one man.....went for a ride....brought back all the players and won. TG  சும்மா இருப்பாரா?  He also told everybody....the match was won, out and out by Individual., individual performance.  Somehow, the name stands even now.

 

I have received mails from some friends requesting me to reveal the reasons for the " Namakaranam " and its backdrop. I have to thank Mr. Murthy for giving me an opportunity to share this by opening the TDR Cricket episode.

I really pity Murthy that he could not get a batting chance till he left TDR.....we have to fight for it....Then only we will get.  During Sangamam IV, let us play Cricket for one hour.....Murthy will be the opening batsman and his long cherished dream will be fulfilled.  By the by....the Ground where Murthy was mentioning is none other than our Dwarakapuri, where our TOSA friends are constructing houses. 
வாழ்க .....வளர்க....வளமுடன்...
Regards
Individual Subramanian.     

-- 
Regards,

Individual Subramanian

Cricket in TDR

Cricket has become the most passionate game in India today. Many people as well as some scribes say that Sachin Tendulkar should be honored with Bharath Ratna, the highest civilian award. Cricketers have become the highest money makers in our country. More than half a lakh people congregate in a cricket match and sit patiently throughout the day. Indian cricket team has become a wining combination these days.

While at TDR, in the sixties, test victory by Indian team was an infrequent event. We, as cricket watchers, were used to Indian defeats. There may be some outstanding performances here and there by Indian players. We would gloat over these performances. We used to sit and discuss Chandu Borde’s century against West Indies, led by Alexander and bemoan how narrowly he missed scoring century in both innings. We celebrated the famous Kanpur test victory against Richie Benaud’s mighty Australian team. In that match a left arm spinner named Jasu Patel claimed 14 wickets. Those days, a sport magazine named Sport & Pastime from Hindu group, was a weekly issue. There were wonderful photographs and interesting cricket articles by S.K.Gurunathan and Jack Fingleton. We used to read these articles in depth and more discussions on them would follow.    

We were not content being arm chair critics. Unfortunately, there was no cricket in school. Slowly, our interest turned into forming a cricket club. As all are aware, cricket is an expensive game. The kit costs a lot. Most of us were students.

We badly needed a patron. Gangadharn, brother of Pattabhi Sir turned out to be one. Lot of debate took place about the christening the club. We finally named it National Cricket Club. Thus was born the first ever cricket club in TDR.

The membership fee was fixed. Initially, Gangu and his two brothers Badri and Venkuttu, my uncle Mahalingam and my brother Rajagopalan, Devanathan, living in  two houses away from Bajanai Madam, Sundaram, the laundry man and Abhimanyu, alias Abhi Mohammed the betel leaf vendor, KVG,living in Veraku kadai Mottai’s house opposite Bajanai Madam were the primary members of the club. Some more boys wanted to watch the progress and become members.  Ramu, Kalyanam (Ramji’s cousin) and I were under aged and waited for a year to go by to join the club.

Then we combed for a suitable place in the

Mahadana Street

. We inspected a number of backyards in the street. We wanted some place which can be called a ground. We did not mind a mango tree in the square leg or a coconut tree in deep mid on. At last we selected a place behind No.49,

Mahadana Street

.  It was exactly three houses away from Ramu’s house towards Veera Sozhan. The place had an easy access from the Thondarampettai Sandhu. We started cleaning the place to make a small ground. We destroyed small bushes and in the process some saplings too. The owner of the house, a new resident of TDR, was furious on seeing his backyard being plundered. He complained to Dr.Sundaram and my grandfather and wanted compensation for the saplings destroyed by us. From that day we called that owner of the house ‘Vatti Pillayar’. Fortunately, he would lock his house from behind much before the sunset. Our cricket would go uninterrupted.

We started with cork ball and dry Thennai mattai chiselled in the shape of the bat. In the course of a week there were broken teeth and bandaged fingers. Our surreptitious cricket adventure slowly surfaced in our houses. To avoid bad injuries, we realized that we should use cricket bat and balls. But we did not know how to avoid strong protests from home against our cricket. “You are all staying in Thondarampettai after dusk. Those are the places where ghosts emerge in the dark” my granny would wail. “Protest or no protest at home, we will continue our cricket adventure” we decided.

A day was fixed to go to Sialkot, a sports goods shop in Kumbakonam to purchase the kit. Three people came back with the kit. 

We were present in the first day of practice in cricket ball and bat. The five and half ounce ball, wrapped in glassy polythene, emerged from a bag Gangu was holding. He dropped the red cherry on the ground and started to describe the trials and tribulations he underwent to start the club. He also extracted a promise of loyalty from each member. It was all short of oath taking.

Two teams consisting of five players each were formed. Both the teams would field. Bowling would be done from one end. I was perennially sitting outside waiting for an opportunity to at least field as a substitute. This would give me a chance to get into the team fast. It would be dusk before the second team starts batting. The second bating team would go on in semi darkness. Some would get injured. After the day’s play ended, Gangu would against address he team, who would form a line. The day’s practice always ended with three cheers for National Cricket Club--- Hubbub – Hurrah

One day, two new boys who had come to TDR, perhaps from Chennai on a holiday, if I remember correctly, came to the ground. On seeing Gangu bowl, they commented that he was throwing. From that moment Gangu gave up bowling.

After consistent protests from the house owner, we shifted the ground to three houses southward from Gangu’s house. In fact a small milk diary was functioning there. Kittappa used to come for practice now and then. Due to his athletic prowess, he was drafted into the eleven, along with Kalyanam whose bowling skills were recognized, while Ramu and I continued to await our turn. The irony is, I never got a chance to bat even once, even in practice, till I left TDR. I was content in fielding all the time.

Finally after practicing over a year, we decided that we could play a match. Gangu’s brother-in –law, Sri.Krishnamurthy, who lived in Veppathur, arranged a match with his team. It was played in Veppathur, in the Kalathumedu in the midst of Sri.Krishnamurthy’s vast lands. Today my memory fails to say who won the match. But one event in the match is still green in my memory. It is the catch Kittappan took in the deep mid wicket position, running back about 20 metres. The entire batting team congratulated him for that test standard catch. Great catches not only win matches, they win the hearts too.

By  Murthy

Feedback: tdrtimes@gmail.com;murthyt5@gmail.com

An eMagazine for TDRites

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கலியுகத்தில் கடவுள் By RBI Sridhar

An eMagazine for TDRites

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