Love is bliss …! – Professor Solomon Pappiah

In the year 1980, Tamil teacher poet Selvaganapathy requested me to be the judge for a debate to be held at the Amman temple near his house. He said the residents were very poor people and that they desired to have a ‘Pattimanram’. When I asked for the topic, he said “Who brings honor to the family? Man or wife?”I was instantly struck with the idea. I wondered at the Tamil teacher’s simple but valuable choice. But at the same time I wondered whether scholars would approve of such topics. When I told the orators about the topic, they also hesitated. But eventually they obliged and the program received huge appreciation.

Then, I organized the poets and the scholars in Madurai into a group. The topics interested the commons and received tremendous response. The orators started getting money and recognition. People recognized them by their name. Mr. Natarajan, the then director of Madras Doordarshan gave us opportunities by including debates in their programs. The topics were chosen to suit occasions like Diwali and Independence Day. At this juncture, I recall my associates Perumal, Sakthi Perumal, Thamarai, Rajam Maragatham, Durairaj, Thamizhkudimagan, Kanthimathi, Subramanian and Rajaram. All of them were professors, scholars or Tamil teachers. My ‘Pattimanrams’ were well received because of the cooperation and hard work of all my associates. I recall how people benefit by the debates that are being telecast on Sun TV. Today, ‘Pattimanram’ has become part of Kalyanamalai’s functions and television programs. New talents and new topics are given opportunities and exposure. Invariably, all the ‘Pattimanram’ programs become hits.

I want to share an important incident with you here. Raja, the noted orator is my relative. He is a gold medalist in B. Com. He is a bank employee. He used to accompany me to all the programs. A debate on “Is it the man or the wife who shoulders the family?” had been organized at Madurai. One of the orators was unable to come. The organizers were very strict people. I asked Raja whether he could speak on the topic. When he obliged, I asked him to change to dhoti. I am always particular that our dress and conduct should be decent and in conformity to our tradition. Raja’s arguments received thunderous applause. He became part of our group subsequently. Bharathi Baskar, a bank employee is another asset to our group!