P N Appusamy was famous for his articles on science in Tamil press. There was no branch of science that he left untouched. Physics-Chemistry-Medicine-Geography-Space exploration- Human Physiology-Botany-Zoology. One wonders if any one can write this much. He has the ability to write in an understandable manner not only for the intellectuals but also for laymen and children. He prophesied the emergence of and significance of computers in our country almost two decades earlier.
Immersed in literature like Shelley, Wordsworth, Keats, H.G. Wells, he did not fail to love indigenous writers such as Kalidasan, Bhoja, Subramaniya Bharati, Kavimani Desika Vinayakam Pillai. He is a scholar who has studied their works.
He was the one who translated literature from Tamil to English and vice versa. For example, he brought the fifth century Muththollaayiram (A Tamil compilation of two thousand and seven hundred verses- 3X900 verses) to English. He brought the famous work of H.G.Wells , Time Machine into Tamil (Kaala Yantiram).
He is P.N.Appusamy. Parents Narayana Iyer – Ammani Ammal. He completed his schooling from Hindu High School , Chennai in 1908. He did his BA from Madras Presidency College and BL from Madras Law College. Proficient in Tamil, English and Sanskrit. He was fond of reading from an early age.
In 60s and 70s, when we were in schools and colleges, we had the privilege of reading his articles in various magazines like Kalaimagal, Ilam Vignaani and Kannan school and public libraries. When we recall those days, certainly we can say that those articles kindled our interest in learning the basic science and its applications in various walks of life.
During the British rule, the missionaries blasphemed and slandered the wisdom of India by claiming that they were bringing science to our countrymen. The same trend continued with the science, it is writers who came after them. However, an admirable change can be seen in the writings of Pena, who wrote under the pen name Pena (means pen in Tamil) . He did not castigate everything connected with Hindu rituals and customs. Similarly, he did not blindly support everything. Literateurs hail him as a ‘bridge between old and new’ because of his approach.
Hundreds of his articles continued to appear in the 1960s in Tyaagabhumi , Tamil magazine- a nationalist weekly that is Vijayabharatam’s earlier version. Another source of pride is that more than 60 of the ‘P.N.Appusamy 100 Essays’ published by Tamil Inaiyavazhik Kalvikkazhakam’s (internet based Tamil academy) in their Tamil Digital Library named Minnulagam website are that were published in Tyaagabhumi. For several years, Tyaagabhumi readers use to turn to pages 6 – 7 and later 10-11 because P N Appusamyji’s articles were occupying them. It is also interesting to note that P N Appusamy’s son-in-law S G Subramaniyam was Sanghchalak of Tirunelveli district, in Tamil Nadu
“We (our countrymen) must also play leadership role in science. We must earn our due recognition and pride of place in the global arena accruing out of dedicated and focused striving”. Is it not true that his desires are being fulfilled by the current generation of scientists, technocrats, entrepreneurs and start -ups?
Jambunathan
