He was known by the epithet ‘ Tamizh breeze ‘ (தமிழ் தென்றல்) and popular by his initials Thiru. Vi.Ka which stands for his full name Thiruvarur Viruthachala Kalyanasundaram. Today, on his birthday (26th Aug), we Viswa Samwad Kendra team, feel proud on recalling his services to Tamil Literature, Modern journalism, National Independence Movement, Bhakti tradition, Labour movement, Women emancipation so on so forth. He was born in the year 1883 to Viruthachala Mudaliyar and Chinnamma in Thullam (presently known as Thandalam) village, in Kancheepuram district.
Viruthachala Mudaliyar was a trained expert both in music and Tamil literature. He was serving in Thiruvarur as school teach and hence got prefixed his to name. Thiru Vi Ka was initiated to schooling by his father and later when the family moved to Madras (presently Chennai), he joined in 1894 in 4th standard in Aryan School in Royapettah. During that year, he suffered a serious illness which crippled one leg and one hand. With that his formal education came to an end.
Later, his Tamil studies continued under the tutelage of Yaazhpanam Na Kathiraiver Pillai and Mylai Tanigachalam Pillai. With his sustained efforts, quickly gained mastery of Tamil literature and bhakti (especially Saiva Sidhanta) scriptures.
He was multi-talented Tamil scholar, spiritualist, writer, journalist, publisher, social reformist, labour leader, nationalist, and freedom fighter. He is esteemed for the strong humanism of his essays, the analytical depth of his commentaries on classical Tamil Literature and philosophy, and the clear, fluid style of his prose.
In 1906, he joined in Spencers group as Accounts Assistant. However, he was inspired by speeches and writings of Bal Gangadhara Tilak. Therefore, he quit his job and participated in independence movement. In 1909, he joined Wesley School as Tamil Teacher and later in 1918 he became Head Master of the same school. Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant were his political mentors and later followed Mahatma Gandhi.
In between, in 1912 he married Kamalambikai and they were blessed with two children. However, within six years the mother and the two children passed away. As second marriage was common in those days, his relatives pressurized him to get married again. However, he did not yield to them and remained single till the end.
His active interest in social life in the form of independence movement, labour movement, swadeshi movement and women emancipation coupled with his mastery over literature, public speeches and authoring books, made him to blossom as journalist and editor. He served as editor of then famous journals like Desabaktan and Navasakthi.
He was the editor of the Tamil Nationalist daily “Desabhakthan. In 1920, Thiru. Vi. Ka. started a new Tamil weekly magazine, titled Navasakthi. Navasakthi would be the vehicle for his thoughts for much of the rest of his life. Thiru Vi. Ka. sought to make his magazine a beacon to the Tamil people. His writings reflected his political and philosophical views. He published one of the first Tamil interpretations of the thought of Mahatma Gandhi, which is still regarded as an important milestone in Gandhian studies. He wrote a number of works on the religious and spiritual thought of Ramalinga Swamigal, an influential Tamil Saivite philosopher-saint of the 19th century. He wrote commentaries on a number of works of classical Tamil literature, which appeared as serials in Navasakthi. He has authored more than 50 books such as Bhakti, social movements, travelogues, biographies, literature, patriotism. In his writings, Thiru Vi. Ka. developed a prose style which built on the inner rhythms of the Tamil language and produced a rhythmic, flowing text. The field of Tamil prose was still relatively new, and the style he developed was extremely influential. His works are today seen as having given new energy to the Tamil language and regarded as part of the foundations on which the modern Tamil prose style has been built.
He followed Gandhian principles (very often translated Gandhi’s speeches whenever Mahatma traveled in Tamilnadu), actively associated with Saiva Sidhanta groups and as well as Brahma Gnana Sabha with the guidance of Annie Besant.
He had strong views and profound thoughts which were expressed in gentle breezy words.
He served the cause of growth of modern Tamil and national liberation simultaneously.
He was deep rooted in practicing the traditions in personal life and open to follow the changes needed in tune with the requirements of the modern time.
He was equally admired by all from nationalists to Dravidian party leaders and labour unionists. Thiru.Vi.Ka was revered and respected, and lived a simple exemplary life. He had cordial relations with every political party and other organization. He was never after power, fame or money.
Declined the offer of his followers who wanted to build house for him, lived his entire life in a rented house in Royapettah in Chennai. In a fitting manner several localities, streets, schools, colleges parks, an assembly constituency and industrial estate were named after him.
“He was the Gandhi of Tamil Nadu, the father- guardian of Tamil and Tamil writers and the mother of the workers,” as famous writer Kalki Krishnamurthy lauded once.
