Stories from India — 6
Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai
We pay homage to the great scholar and writer who is the author of the first modern Tamil novel.
He was born on 11 October, 1826 at a village called Kolathur in Tiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu in a Roman Catholic family. His Christian name was Samuel. His parents were Savarimuthu Pillai and Arockia Mariammal. They belonged to high ranking dominant sub-group of the elite caste of landlords called Vellalars. The Vellalars identified with ruling authority and were lords in the predominantly wet-land villages which they controlled. His parents owned a majority part of the land in Thanjavur. His parents gave great importance to education. His father was his first tutor and later he learned Tamil and English under a tutor named Thayagaraja Pillai.
On completing his basic education, he got a job as a Record Keeper at the judicial court of Trichinopoly. After working for some time, because of his proficiency in Tamil and English, he was promoted to the post of Translator. Working in a court inspired him to study hard and clear Law examination. He had a flair for languages and he mastered Sanskrit, French and Latin during these years. He became the District Muncif of Mayuram (presently Mayiladuthurai) and served there for thirteen years. He left his job because of a sad misunderstanding. A new District Judge was appointed and at that time he was physically not well. He had not gone with the other sub-judges of the district to welcome him. This was not liked by his superior and he resigned from the job.
After leaving the job he engaged himself in writing and Carnatic music. Vedanayagam had a flair for writing from early age. He translated several law books from English to Tamil. He wrote a book on ethics titled Neethi Nool (The Book of Morality) which was well appreciated. The book was written in Tirukkural style, its couplets are on moral behaviour.
He wrote 16 books. In 1879, he wrote his masterpiece, the novel Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram which is regarded as the first Tamil novel. The writing reflects his ideals of women’s liberation and education. He wrote passionately about independence in woman and feminism. His thoughts were far ahead of his time. In a preface to later editions, he wrote, “My object in writing this work of fiction is to supply the want of prose works in Tamil, a want which is admitted and lamented by all.” He also wrote that his previous books were rich with “maxims of morality”; in this he was illustrating them with examples from life. This lengthy book focuses more on instruction in values than entertain as a romance. In 1887, his second and last novel, Sugunambal Charitram, was published.
His literature is celebrated and still practised by famous poets and theologians worldwide.
He was also a poet and his contribution to Carnatic music is highly commendable. He had good knack in music and played Veena. He used many Sanskrit words in his Tamil compositions. He brought moral education through his huge collection of songs. He composed more than a thousand songs. His songs were praised by the great Tamil composer Gopalakrishna Bharati. It is said that Vedanayagam used to sing all his songs in front of Bharati after composing them to get his feedback.
He was also a great social worker. During1876–1888 famine in Tamil Nadu, He distributed all his wealth and material resources to rehabilitate the victims. This nature of Vedanayagam made Gopalakrishna Bharati to compose the song, ‘Neeye purusha merit’ in his praise. His songs fascinated even the conventional and rigid specialists of Tamil music.
His poetry “Thembhavani” was very popular in colonial Tamil literature. His songs, composed to no particular deity, are still popular in Carnatic Music concerts. Famous singer Sangeet Kalanidhi award winner, Sanjay Subrahmanyan not so long ago gave an entire concert featuring his Carnatic compositions. Some of his popular songs are:
Naale Nalla Nall
Nee Malaikkade Nenje
Tharunam, Tharunam
He wrote “Manam Peridha, Varumanam Peridha?” on the lines of Tyagaraja’s “Nidhichala sukhama”.
One of his compositions Nayagar Pakshamadi, (a ragamaliga — Saama / Shanmugapriya / kedara gowla) was included for a dance scene in the 1955 popular Tamil detective film Doctor Savithri.
His work appeared in many recent Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films and songs. His great grandson is the notable music composer and actor Vijay Antony
His ancestral line now largely remains mostly in Malaysia, India and Singapore. He was survived by his son Samuel A. Pillai who was subsequently survived by his sons Maria Joseph (MJ) Francis Pillai and Maundy Jacob (MJ) Francis Pillai. His last known heritage remains to be Roach Francis Pillai.
Vedanayagam Pillai left us July 21, 1889. After his death a newspaper paid homage to him by writing, “Only a few men deserve the name of ‘gentlemen’ and if the word can with perfect propriety be applied, it is to this great man”.
