Biographical Sketch
Uttamadhanapuram Venkatasubbaiyer Swaminatha Iyer
born: 19 Feb 1855 at Curiyamulai, Tanjore Dt.
1868: Marriage
1871 Began Tamil Studies with Meenakshisundaram Pillai
1880 Tamil Pandit, Govt. College, Kumbakonam
1903 Professor of Tamil, Presidency College, Madras
1924: Principal, Sree Meenakshi College, Chidambaram
Awarded title "mahAmahOpAthyAya (1906); D. Litt, Univ. of Madras
(1932)
died 28 April 1942
Dr.
SAmin^Atha iyer ((Uttamadhanapuram Venkatasubbaiyer Swaminatha Iyer
Tamil: உத்தமதனபுரம் வேங்கடசுப்பையர் சுவாமிநாத ஐயர்),
was one of the illustrious students of MahA VidwAn MInAtchi sun^tharam PiLLai.
He lived to the ripe age of 87 and was affectionately referred to as the 'Grand
Father of Thamizh'
.
He held senior academic positions in Thamizh at the Madras Presidency
College. This was the time when the British were at the peak of their power and
it was rare, if not impossible, for a native son with expertise in the
vernacular language to be elevated to these high positions. He was conferred the
honorary doctoral degree (D.Litt.) by the University of Madras. In recognition
of his outstanding literary accomplishments and contributions, he was also
honoured with the title, "MahAmahOpAthiyAya'
- greatest of the great
teachers.
He has written 91 published works including the editing of several Sangam
texts, epics and grammatical works. He will be remembered for his style of prose
including two biographies, one on his mentor, MInAtchi sun^tharam PiLLai and the
other on the musician, GAnam KrishNa iyer and a long list of essays and
reminiscences. His famous Autobiography is regarded as a legacy he bequeathed to
posterity providing a liaison between older schools of thought and modern
Thamizh literary trends. His other works include the following:
நான் கண்டதும் கேட்டதும்,
பழையதும் புதியதும், நல்லுரைக்கோவை,
நினைவு மஞ்சரி
Dr.
U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, Tamil scholar and literatus , whose 141st birth
anniversary fell on February 19, showed a keen interest in Tamil literature,
even when he was young.
His father, Venkatasubbiar, a musician, observing the
child's aptitude, made all efforts to educate the boy,
putting him in the care and tutelage of Tamil scholars.
Venkatasubbiar earned his living by giving discourses on the
Ramayana, and by the nature of his profession, travelled a
lot. Although he wanted his son to follow in his footsteps,
he realised that the boy should not be forced into anything.
In Ariyalur on the support of the Zamindar, his son was
taught by Satagopa Aiyangar, a scholar in Tamil who was
equally proficient in music. As the Zamindar was running
into debt, his support to Venkatasubbiar's family dwindled.
At that time, his friend Kunnam Chidambaram Pillai, revenue
accountant and Tamil scholar, came to his rescue.
Chidambaram Pillai persuaded them to move to Kunnam, where
Venkatasubbiar gave discourses at Chidambaram Pillai's house
Chidambaram Pillai's friendship was valuable in more ways
than one.
A Tamil scholar, he specialised in ``Tiruvilaiyadal
Puranam'' and such other works; Iyer started learning from
him. He also trained under Pillai as an assistant to a
revenue accountant so that he could get a job. Iyer also
came under the influence of Kasturi Aiyangar, who
specialised in the Kamba Ramayanam.
Iyer learnt Tamil grammar, known as Nannool from him. It
was after his marriage that Iyer was introduced to
Chinnappannai Vridhachalam Reddiar, a rich and eminent
scholar. From him Iyer learnt the prosody, the rules and
laws relating to the art of poetry. On the advice of
Senganam Chinnappannai Vridhachalam Reddiar and others,
Iyer's father took him to Meenakshisundaram Pillai of
Mayavaram to gain more knowledge of Tamil literature.
In Mayawaram, Iyer was assigned to a senior student of
the Mahavidwan Saverinatha Pillai. Iyer was taught Naidadam
by him. Though Saverinatha Pillai was a good scholar and
taught well, Iyer hankered for direct lessons from the
Master. Pillai taught him Tirukkudanthai Tirupandadi, the
poem he composed in honour of Sri Kumbeswara. Iyer studied
several works under the Mahavidwan. These include a number
of antadi and Pillai-t-tamil poems.
After some months, Iyer accompanied Pillai to
Tiruvavadurai. Melakaram Subramania Desikar was then Head of
the famous math in that place. Widely respected for his
scholarship. Desikar asked Pillai to stay on at the math for
some time as many of his tampirans wished to have advance
lessons in Tamil.
When Pillai introduced Iyer to him, Desikar made the
usual enquiries and asked the boy to recite a verse. He was
delighted when Iyer recited the verse musically and gave a
word-for-word explanation as well. He was gratified to know
from Pillai that the new student was deeply attached to
Tamil literature at a time when love for English learning
was sweeping the education scene.
Tyagaraja Chettiar was the head of the Tamil Department
in the Government College, Kumbakonam. He was a man of great
erudition and was held in high esteem by the pupils as well
as the public. He was a student of Meenakshisundaram Pillai.
When Chettiar retired, he recommended Iyer in his place.
Iyer was appointed to that post on February 16, 1880. During
that time one Salem Ramaswami Mudaliar joined as District
Munsiff at Kumbakonam on transfer from Ariyalur. On the
advice of Desikar, Iyer met Mudaliar.
The friendship between them proved to be a turning point
in Iyer's life. Mudaliar was responsible for persuading Iyer
to edit and publish the ancient Tamil classics. Iyer had
till then confined his enjoyment of Tamil literature to
medieval works. Mudaliar also gave a handwritten copy of
Jeevaka Chintamani for publication.
As Chintamani was a Jain classic, Iyer went to the homes
of Jains in Kumbakonam to get some doubts cleared. He also
read the Jain epics and collated several manuscript versions
and arrived at a correct conclusion. It was due to his
efforts that the Jeevaka Chintamani was published in 1887.
From that time onwards he began to search for Sangam
classics with a view to editing and publishing them. After
Chintamani, Pattu-P-Pattu was published.
Often it was difficult to make out what was inscribed on
the palm leaf. He was able to bring out the publications
with his thorough knowledge of the literature. During his
life time, Iyer edited and published a hundred books Sangam
works, Kavyas, Prabhandhas, Sthalapuranas, etc., with
introductions, critical notes, glossaries and indices valued
for their thoroughness and depth of research. When
Srinivasachariar, Tamil Pandit at the Madras Presidency
College retired, Iyer was transferred to Madras from
Kumbakonam in 1903. He retired in 1919 at the age of 64.
His research work increased several times after
retirement. He travelled from place to place in search of
palm leaf manuscripts so as to edit and publish them. From
1924 to 1927, Iyer was the Principal of the Meenakshi Tamil
College in Annamalai University, Chidambaram. On health
grounds, he resigned the post, came to Madras and continued
his research.
The title Mahamahopadhya was conferred on him by the
Madras Government in recognition of his services, in the
year 1906. The same year when the Prince and Princess of
Wales visited Madras, a function was arranged where several
scholars were given titles and awards.
Iyer was honoured with a golden bracelet. In 1925, the
title ``Dakshina Kalanidhi'' was awarded to him by Kamakoti
Pitathipathi Sri Sankara Swamigal. In 1932, the Madras
University awarded the title ``Doctor'' to him in
recognition of his services in the cause of Tamil. Dr. Iyer
died on April 28, 1942. It was due to his efforts, that the
world came to know the wonderful literary output of the
ancient Tamils and their glorious past.
Thamizh Thaathaa
U.Ve. SAA. (Tamil): Bharati Kaavalar Dr. K. Ramamurthy,
Gangai Puthaka Nilayam, 13, Deenadayalu Street, T.Nagar, Chennai-600017. -
Book Review by T. A. Srinivasan, 12 March 2002
U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer,
affectionately called as "Tamizh Thaathaa" for his untiring efforts to trace
ancient Tamil literary works, spent all his years in the service of Tamil
language and literature. It was given to him to visit every nook and corner of
the Tamil country by all modes of transport and also by foot in the earlier part
of the last century and rescue and resurrect Tamil classics right from those
belonging to the Sangam age to later day works like Ula, Kalambakam and
Pillaithamizh.
Ancient Tamil works, in palm leaf manuscripts, were kept in
far corners of many village houses in those days and due to long years of
neglect they were mutilated. He went after these works and gave them anew to the
world through his scholarly, precise and exact editions.
The book under
review, in about 100 pages, gives the life history of the great scholar, right
from his childhood to his education under the late Tirisirapuram (Tiruchi)
Mahavidwan Meenakshisundaram Pillai, his contemporaries, his publication of
numerous works, the titles earned by him, his meeting with Gandhiji, and
Subramania Bharati's tributes to him. But for him the Tamil country would have
lost many works. Though there were five great epics known as
"Aimperumkappiyangal", only three of them — Jeevaka Chinthamani,
Silappadikaram and
Manimekalai — could be retrieved by him. Even he, despite his best efforts,
could not obtain the other two works, Valaiyapati and Kundalakesi.
Besides
his publication of rare works, Swaminatha Iyer gave to the Tamil world two new
forms of literature — a biography and an autobiography. The former, titled
Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai Charitharam, presented the life-history of his mentor.
He also wrote En Charitharam which was serialised in the Kalaimagal and it
presented an account of his life and also the men and matters during his time.
The book is in easy-to-read Tamil. It makes only a passing reference to the
honour conferred on him by the Madurai Tamil Sangam, whose founder,
Pandithurai Thevar,
helped Iyer monetarily to publish many ancient classics and
also gave him numerous palm leaf manuscripts and also published the works edited
by him through the Sangam's literary journal, Senthamizh. These facts need to be
included at least in the future edition.
"This biographical article was written as a tribute to one of the greatest
Tamilians of all time - The Grand Master of Tamil - Thamilzh Thaathaa
U.VE.Saaminatha Aiyer.
It was first published in the Mayil magazine of Malaysia. The occasion was
the birthday of the Grand Master on the 19th of February, 1992. It was
serialised and came out in weekly segments over a period of 10 weeks.
The
series came to a finish on the 24th April, 1992 - which by a coincidence
happened to be the 50th memorial anniversary of the Grand Master.
The article
has been written in a very simple and lucid language for the consumption of the
average Tamil-educated Malaysian Tamilian. I have taken the pains to explain
many terms, personalities, traditions, etc, which the average Malaysian Tamilian
would be unaware of. The section on the prevailing circumstances during the
times of UVS was descriptively written by me. So was the section covering the
Sanggam Literature - especially PuRa nAnURU.
I considered this endeavour as a
thoNdu - humble service to Tamil and the Grand Master of Tamil. The more than 10
weeks that I took to write and send the segments were done in all reverance - as
a penance - tapas.
The crowning glory paid to that endeavour were the letters
of praise given by the grandson of UVS - Mr.Subramania Aiyer, the presiding
SannidhAnam of ThirupananthAL, and the KalaimagaL literary magazine.
I
followed up by celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the publishing of the
'PuRanAnURu' book by U.VE.Saminatha Aiyer, in 1994. It was a grand occasion in a
town called Sitiawan and it was marked by my marathon speech which lasted 6
hours on Tamil Literature. One of the high lights of the occsion was drama on
SEran Sengguttuvan.
This is a very comprehensive biography of the Thamilzh
Thaathaa.
The patriarch of Tamil
- A tribute, on his 150th birth anniversary. S. Viswanathan, Frontline 26
February 2005
TAMILS across the globe recently celebrated the government's
decision to confer the `classical language' status on their mother tongue. This
recognition, which puts the ancient language on a par with Greek, Latin and
Sanskrit, is not only owing to its antiquity but also its rich literature. What
has happened now, say Tamil scholars is only the "official reiteration" of the
international academic community's recognition of Tamil literature as
`classical', particularly the works such as Paththuppaattu (ten idylls) and
Ettuththogai (Eight anthologies) of the Sangam era (from the first and second
centuries of the Christian era), besides the better known Thirukkural and
Tholkappiam.
Interestingly, the original texts of a significant number of the
much-acclaimed literary works of the Sangam period came to public notice only
towards the end of the 19th century, when they appeared in print with
commentaries. Until then, works such as the Aymperum Kaappiangal (the five great
epics) - Silappathikaram, Manimekalai, Kundalakesi, Jeevaka Chintamani and
Valaiyapathi, were in the form of palm leaf manuscripts in the possession of
scores of families living in various parts of Tamil Nadu.
They did not have the skill to read them, and, therefore, did not realise
their literary worth. Tamil scholars were aware of the existence of such texts
as references in the available works.
All that the people knew until then as Tamil literature comprised Bhakti
literature, historical works and minor poems. Although very few literary works
were available for studies, they did draw the attention of European scholars
such as Bishop Robert Caldwell (1814-1891) and Constantine Joseph Beschi (known
in Tamil as Veeramamunivar). However, during the same period, Sanskrit literary
works attracted more Western attention because of their availability and easy
access.
IT was under these circumstances that the need to hunt for the missing palm
leaf manuscripts and bring to light the hidden treasure of Tamil literature was
felt. Foremost among those who undertook this formidable task was
Mahamahopadhyaya Dakshinathya Kalanidhi Uthamadhanapuram Venkatasubbaiyer
Swaminatha Iyer (1855-1942), popularly known as "Tamizh thaththaa" (the grand
old man of Tamil). A Tamil professor and literary scholar, Swaminatha Iyer's
150th birth anniversary was celebrated on February 19.
He took upon himself
the arduous task of collecting the palm leaf manuscripts of great literary works
that lay scattered not only in Tamil Nadu but even outside. As part of this
mission he undertook long journeys, interesting and fruitful sometimes and
unrewarding at others. Ultimately, he succeeded in gathering palm leaf
manuscripts of many immortal Tamil works.
With the objectivity and detachment of a scientist and the imagination of an
artist and critic, he made comparative studies of various manuscripts. Starting
with Jeevaka Chintamani in 1887, he printed and published Manimekalai (1898),
Silappathikaram (1889), Paththuppaattu (1889) and Purananooru (1894), all
appended with scholarly commentaries. Although he brought out about 100 works in
all, including minor poems, many of the manuscripts that he gathered remain
unpublished.
BORN in 1855 into a poor family at Uthamadhanapuram, near
Kumbakonam in the old Thanjavur district, Swaminatha Iyer had his early
education in Tamil under some teachers in his village. Although his father
Venkatasubbaiyer, a musician, wanted his son to learn music, Swaminatha Iyer was
inclined to concentrate on Tamil.
When he was 17, he became a disciple of Mahavidwan Meenakshisundaram Pillai,
a Tamil scholar, who was in the service of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam in the
old Thanjavur district. It was one of the wealthy Saiva mutts in Tamil Nadu,
which patronised Tamil teachers and men of letters and propagated its religious
philosophy through them. Swaminatha Iyer learnt Tamil under the guidance of
Meenakshisundaram Pillai for five years. During this period, he earned the
goodwill of the mutt head, himself a Tamil scholar.
After
Meenakshisundaram Pillai's death, Swaminatha Iyer was retained in the mutt as a
vidvan (scholar). In 1880, he joined the Government Arts College at Kumbakonam
as a Tamil teacher, at the instance of the outgoing teacher Thiagaraja Chettiar,
also a former student of Meenakshisundaram Pillai. In his autobiography, En
Sarithiram, first serialised in the Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan, from January
1940 to May 1942 and later published as a book in 1950, he gives a graphic
account of the rigid selection process he had to undergo before being appointed
a Tamil teacher.
"Thanks to his erudition in Tamil, skill to explain anything in an
interesting manner, training in music and profound love for others, he could
easily attract the students," said K.V. Jagannathan, one of his students, in his
short biographical note published in En Sarithiram. He was loved and venerated
by the students. This was no mean achievement, considering the fact that
Swaminatha Iyer had little grounding in English at a time when the craze for
English was at its peak, and Tamil teachers did not enjoy the same status as
teachers of English and other subjects. After 23 years of service at the
Kumbakonam college, he joined the Presidency College, Chennai, in 1903. Even
after his retirement in 1919, he continued to teach Tamil. From 1924 to 1927, he
was the principal of the Meenakshi Tamil College. He spent the rest of his life
as a publisher, which immortalised his name. He died on April 28, 1942, after a
brief period of illness, at Thirukkazhukundram, now in Kancheepuram district.
SWAMINATHA IYER's search for Tamil manuscripts began even as he joined the
Kumbakonam college as a teacher. Many influential persons who took keen interest
in Tamil studies were in touch with him. His meeting with Ramasami Mudaliar,
District Munsiff of Salem, proved a turning point in his life. Swaminatha Iyer
readily responded to the Munsiff's request to read the palm leaf in his
possession and explain it to him.
When he knew that the manuscripts were that of Jeevaka Chintamani, which he
had been looking for, he was overjoyed. He transcripted the palm leaf
manuscripts, a Buddhist work, into paper and edited it with utmost care. He
printed and published the epic with notes and commentaries in 1887. It was an
instant success. He mobilised funds from all available sources to continue the
task of publishing the other invaluable literary works. Donations from Tamil
lovers poured in. He also launched a `pre-publication sale' campaign with
success.
Then began Swaminatha Iyer's long search for the original texts of
ancient literary works. It was a search that lasted until his death. Many people
voluntarily parted with the manuscripts in their possession. Swaminatha Iyer
visited almost every hamlet and knocked at every door. He employed all the
resources at his command to get at the works.
As a result, a large number of literary works which were gathering dust as
palm leaf manuscripts in lofts, store-rooms, boxes and cupboards saw the light
of day. Of them, Silappathikaram, Purananooru and Manimekalai were received by
Tamil lovers with a lot of enthusiasm. Purananooru, which mirrored the lives of
Tamils during the Sangam period, prompted scholarly research on the subject. In
a span of about five decades, Swaminatha Iyer published about 100 books,
including minor poems, lyrics, puranas and bhakti (devotional) works.
Referring to the high quality of Swaminatha Iyer's publications, Jagannathan
wrote in his biographical note: "What he published was not a mere transcription
of the manuscripts in palm leaves. If publication is so simple as that, many
others could have done it with success long ago. What Swaminatha Iyer did was to
edit and publish these works with detailed footnotes, commentaries and indices,
besides biographical notes on the authors. This was very useful and many readers
desired to preserve these books for posterity. All this is evidence of not only
the scholarship of the editor but also the hard work he had put in."
ANOTHER
significant contribution made by Swaminatha Iyer is in the realm of Tamil music,
wrote Dr. Arimalam S. Padmanabhan, a researcher and academic, in a paper on the
Tamil scholar. Until Swaminatha Iyer came out with his publications of
Silappaathikaram, Paththuppaattu and Ettuththogai, music was a grey area in
Tamil research.
During the previous four centuries, Telugu and Sanskrit
dominated the music scene in Tamil Nadu in the absence of any valuable
information on Tamil music. Swaminatha Iyer's publications threw light on the
glorious presence of Tamil music in the earlier centuries and paved the way for
serious research on the subject.
Abraham Pandithar's Karunamirda Sagaram was
the first major research work and it was followed by Vibulaanda Adigal's Yaazh
Nool. Both these authors acknowledged the fact that it was Swaminatha Iyer's
publications that inspired them to do further research.
"Silappathikaram is
the best among the ancient Tamil literary works that provide vast information on
Tamil music," observes Prof. V.P.K. Sundaram, another noted Tamil music
researcher. "Without Swaminatha Iyer's publication there could have been no
Karunamirda Sagaram," he observes. As the son of a famous musician of his time,
Swaminatha Iyer learnt music from Gopalakrishna Bharathi, an outstanding musical
exponent and the author of Nandan Sarithiram, an immortal work on a Dalit saint.
FOR his invaluable service to Tamil literature, Swaminatha Iyer was honoured
with several awards and titles. The government honoured him in 1906 with the
title "Mahamahopadhyaya" (Great Teacher). While the Bharatha Dharma Mandal
awarded him the title of "Dravida Vidya Bhooshan", Sri Sankaracharya of Kamakoti
Peetam honoured him with the title "Dakshinadya Kalanidhi". A doctorate was
awarded to him by the University of Madras in 1932.
Tamil poet and
nationalist
Subramania Bharati,
who inspired the freedom movement with his powerful songs, was a distinguished
contemporary of Swaminatha Iyer. Paying glowing tributes to Swaminatha Iyer in
one of his poems, Bharati called him "Kumbamuni" (the saint from Kumbakonam) and
said: "So long as Tamil lives, poets will venerate you and pay obeisance to you.
You will ever shine as an immortal."
Edited version of many Tamil works of Sangam period
civakacinthAmaNi (1887); pattuppAttu (1889); purananUru (1894); maNimEkalai
(1899); aingurunUru (1903); pathiRRuppathu (1904); paripAdal (1918); perunkathai
(1924); kurungthokai (1937)
Dr.
SAmin^Atha iyer ((Uttamadhanapuram Venkatasubbaiyer Swaminatha Iyer
Dr.
U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, Tamil scholar and literatus , whose 141st birth
anniversary fell on February 19, showed a keen interest in Tamil literature,
even when he was young.