Love is bliss …! – Prof. K. Gnanasambhandan
Amudha Sambhandan: He delivered the judgment in our favor because my arguments were valid. It is only the woman of the family who knows the names of all the relatives and their wards. There’s no doubt that women are responsible for the unity among families. I might say that men are supportive in this regard. My husband can be taken as an example. Whenever he goes outstation, he would remain in constant touch with us enquiring about all of us. He would immediately find out if my voice doesn’t sound enthusiastic and he would ask about my health repeatedly. I had studied only up to 10th std. at the time of my marriage. I was very much interested in studying further. He got me the application form for M. A. (Tamil) and put me at the class. He would take lessons in Tamil literature for me after I returned from the class. He would drop me at the examination center and would encourage me a lot. He made me study Hindi also and I wrote the examination for the highest level. Also, he made me study B. Ed., and B. Lit. He takes me along with him whenever he goes to foreign countries like Malaysia and Singapore and to the other metros in India for presiding over debates. Recently, we had been to the premier show of ‘Manmadhan Ambu’. Rajini was also there with his family. Kamal didn’t notice me and asked my husband whether I had come. To this, my husband replied in a lighter vein that even if he went on ‘Sanyasam’, he would go along with his wife only! And, it took a long time for both Kamal and Rajini to stop laughing at his timely humor.
Q: You were ‘Four’ then, you’ve become ‘Five’ now. I mean after your daughter got married, your son-in-law had also allied with you. Tell us about your family …
A: Now, we are ‘Six’. Our son-in-law is like our son. We are really very fortunate to have him. His name is Karthikeyan, my daughter is Archana. The new addition to our house, our grandson has been named Logavarman. He would ask us to call him Logi! My son Guru is doing animation course in Singapore. Logi was born on 6th January 2009; our wedding was celebrated on 6th February 1984. When we celebrated the Silver Jubilee year of our wedding day in 2009, the ‘naming ceremony’ for our grandson also was celebrated alongside. Those were the happiest moments in our life. I am proud to say that it is entirely because of my wife that we are having a very happy married life exceeding 25 years now! Minimum five friends of my literary circle would visit me daily. My wife would cook and serve them tasty food. On these occasions, I would thank God for giving me such a nice wife. My friends have ‘awarded’ my wife the title ‘Woman Vallalaar’! Many popular personalities including lyricist Vairamuthu had taken food at my house and had appreciated my wife’s cooking.
Q: Your friends-circle includes great people like Kamal Hasan, Sujatha and Vairamuthu. You must surely have had many interesting and happy moments with them. Please tell us about some …
A: A: The book release function for his two books ‘Vaazhviyal Nagaichuvai’ and ‘Cinemaavukku pokalaam vaanga’ was held at the Bharatiyar House at Chennai. Kamal released the first copies. During his speech, he said that it was his family function. I was really moved by his words. Kamal and I used to talk for hours over the phone and enjoy exchanging ideas. He made me participate in the story discussion for his film ‘Virumandi’ as Madurai was the backdrop for the story. And, he gave me a role also in that film. Many VIPs including Vairamuthu, Kamal and Iraiyanbhu attended my daughter’s marriage. I am an ardent admirer of Sujatha’s writing. He too attended my book release function.