In many organisations, be it social, cultural, or even political, there are sizable number of individuals who support physically and fiscally strive silently and steadily to achieve the objectives of the organisation. Yet they do not expect anything in return for themselves. Though, we find this number dwindling over the last 75 years, we had thousands of such role models in every province during freedom movement. We can find one such shining example in Shri Parali Subramaniam Nellaiyappar. (Parali henceforth)
Yours faithfully feels that it is the need of the hour (Amrit Kal) to motivate the upcoming generation by reviving the spirit of the sacrifice and service by recalling the noble life of Parali on this memorial day, 28th March.
Subramaniam Pillai was born on Monday 18th September 1889, in Paralikottai, Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. He had his education up to school final.
In spite of a tumultous life, right from childhood he had a desire to serve and a taste for literature. First, we will see his contribution to freedom movement. Through his elder brother, he came into the contact of all the three towering personalities, Triumvirate of Freedom Struggle in the then Madras Presidency, namely V O Chidambaram Pillai first, Subramania Siva next and Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharati. Subramania Siva used to address him as Vande Mataram Pillai. He was literally a Man Friday, to support the activities of the Triumvirate. He was arrested several times for his participation in the freedom struggle.
Look at his attitude of total surrender to the cause. When Chidambaram Pillai was imprisoned in Coimbatore jail, Parali too moved to the city renting a minimal house, to be at beck and call as Lakshmana followed Rama.
Parali repeated the same when Bharati moved to Pondicherry. Those who have studied the works of Bharati, know that his years in Pondicherry and constant companionship of Maharishi Aurobindo brought forth to this world his celebrated poems namely Kannan Paatttu, Kuyil Paattu, and Panjali Sabatham. To that extent, he took care of the day-to-day requirements of Bharati and his family. Seeni Viswanathan, an octogenarian who sequenced chronologically the works of Bharati confirms that Parali was a witness when these works were evolving. Bharati used to always address him as Tambi (younger brother). Parali’s patronage extended to Bharati’s family even beyond Bharati’s demise. He was the one to publish first the poems of Bharati. He played a leading role in the government getting the copy rights of Bharati’s works which only enables the whole world to appreciate the greatness of the Mahakavi.
Apart from these, he was a multifaceted personality in the sense, poet, writer, journalist, publisher in his own might. The magazine, Lokopakari (see the very name captures the essence of his life), is verily a treasure house who want to study and imbibe the spirit of freedom movement during 1930s and 40s. Notable of his several contributions to the Tamil literature is his translation of the two novels of Bankim Chandra Chatterji. We do not wish to repeat the long list of his literary works which have been thankfully documented and made available in the public domain by the writer Ethoroli Viswanathan and his associates who in turn took care of Parali when he migrated to Chromepet, Chennai till his final moments in 1971.
Ethiroli Viswanathan, though he himself is 80 plus in age has motivated the next generation in carrying out the activities in memory of Parali Su Nellaippar. May the flame remain alive forever.
Photo Courtesy: Elasai Krishnamurthy
–M.R Jambunaathan
