In the
wedding parties of Coimbatore, enjoying a concert or an instrumental programme
is not something uncommon. In the digital era, there are a number of service
providers, who would arrange such shows of entertainments if contacted. But, around
three decades ago, when quality Tamil poetry was let loose to be recited as Pudhukavithai (Free verse) in Kaviarangams (Poetry reading sessions) and
comedy shows conducted in the name of Pattimandrams
(Debates), there was a man, who
claimed himself as a poet and orator. Like
a service provider for a Nadaswaram –
Tavil programme for a wedding party, he distributed even his visiting cards,
which mentioned his name with the ‘poet ‘tag’ and a line below it informing
that he would ‘arrange’ Kaviarangams and
Pattimandrams. This curious act of
the man in the then literary world of Coimbatore annoyed some serious writers,
who commented on him asking “Is he a poet or a broker?” But in reality, such ‘poets cum brokers’ still
exist on earth.
Before
the advent of social networks like Facebook, WhatsApp and Blog, a city-based
Tamil poet, who hailed from a poverty-stricken family, was writing verses just
out of his passion for Tamil literature. With his exceptional talents in
composing both traditional and modern Tamil poetry, he had a wish to share the
dais with ‘eminent’ litterateurs and read out his beautiful verses in a Kaviarangam. Nevertheless, the poet was
at the mercy of one such ‘poet cum broker’, who would recommend only his yes-men
to take part in the literary events. This
middle man of the literary world created even a profession for himself by
swindling much money out of the sponsorship. The ‘poet cum broker’ threw meager
sums as ‘honorariums’ at his puppets.
But the ardent
poet cherished a long time dream of participating in the Coimbatore’s popular
literary festival ‘Kamban Vizha’. As any Coimbatorean knows, the gala literary
fest would be filled with sessions of discussions, debates and poetic tributes on
the great Tamil poet Kamban.. With the audience of the festival being mostly
the well off, the poor poet longed to win their hearts. By doing so, he
believed that he could carve a niche for himself in the Tamil literary world. At last, his participation in the Kamban Vizha
Kaviarangam was a dream come true. But
the price he paid for the opportunity was his ‘yes-man service’ to the ‘poet
cum broker’.
Though many
innocent poets in the past and present failed to discover the commodity value of
the concepts in Tamil literature, the ‘poets cum brokers’ did it. They sell the
concepts from the eternal works as Thirukkural
and Sangam literature by quoting them in their speeches delivered for
lucrative remunerations. Such sellers of
Tamil are sometimes conferred upon ‘honorary doctorates’ by certain renowned
universities, whose addresses can hardly be found even by Google!
The
small- scale sellers of Tamil are open about their venture and earnings. May the classical Tamil language pardon them
for their honesty! But there are some, who attempt to sell even the land of
Tamils, and that too using the philosopher –poet Thiruvalluvar.
Eminent
linguist Devaneya Pavanar, who traced the history of Thiruvalluvar, says that the
philosopher-poet must be a wise man with astounding knowledge of Astronomy. As
the expression ‘Valluvan’ drops a hint to Pavanar, the linguist says that
Thiruvalluvar must have been in the profession of writing almanacs and horoscopes.
Like
Thiruvalluvar, Sangam age poet Kaniyan Poongundranar too, who is famed for his
line ‘Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir’ (All towns are ours. Everyone is our kin), must
have been a writer of almanacs and horoscopes, as his title ‘Kaniyan’ reveals. Still,
he failed to predict the fate of the two minor ‘citizens’, who were killed in
police firing during the anti-CAB protests in Guwahati.
B.Meenakshi
Sundaramhttps://simplicity.in/articledetail.php?aid=1063
