A NEW INNINGS

 

25^th of January 2025 will remain a memorable day in my life.  The date was fixed for the launch of the two translations – #THIRUKKURAL-108, translation of 108 chapters of Aram and Porul in Thirukkural from Tamil into two line couplets in English and Ul Oli Prapanja Thyanam, translation of the English book Inner Light Cosmic Meditation of Dhyana Guru Kumar Krishnamoorthy into Tamil.  The date was fixed after ascertaining the availability of Nanjil Nadan Sir.  He was subsequently called for a flag hoisting on 26^th at Virudhunagar.  He declined it because he had already accepted the date at Coimbatore for 25^th evening.

Though the translation work of Thirukkural had begun in 2002 and in different sessions was completed in 2020 and the translation of Inner Light Cosmic Meditation started somewhere in 2007 was completed in 2008, they had decided to come out only together on the same day. 

And when I informed Shri. Kumar Krishnamoorthy about the launch programme at Coimbatore, he immediately booked his tickets.  He then descended on Coimbatore with 8 of his angels.

On 24^th evening he said, whoever has chosen the date, had chosen a date of celestial importance.  I said, I did not know anything about it.  At 8.30 pm on 25^th, he said 6 planets were to fall in a straight line, some phenomenon known to happen only once in 144 years.  It is all a cosmic design he said. 

His speech made in the function on 25th left people spell bound.  ‘He is at a different level’, many in the audience felt.

Dr. Olivannan, came down from Chennai, in spite of his busy schedule at Chennai on several counts.  He gave a marvelous speech. I should also thank Mrs. Nalini and others at Emerald Publications who have been a silent and constant strength in bringing out the THIRUKKURAL 108. 

Dr. N.V.K. Ashraf, who lives now in Trichur, was having a programme at Chennai that week till 24^th, came to Coimbatore, inspite of having the reception of CR Sir’s son’s to be attend at Chennai on 25^th.  To ensure that he will be able to come here, he had attended the marriage of C.R sir’s son’s wedding at Hosur in the previous week itself.  When I had also gone there, his wife was very happy on seeing me and gave me her good wishes for the book launch.  When I apologized for their inconvenience because they could have had avoided the journey to Hosur, but for the date of book launch clashing with the reception date, she said ‘no, no, that is also important’.  Before leaving, she was repeatedly wishing me all the best for the launch. Her love for the Thirukkural was really moving.

CR sir who had agreed to take part if the launch of Thirukkural 108 was to be held at Chennai, later could not do so due to the date clashing with the reception date of his son.  The launch schedule at Chennai was avoided since Nanjil Sir was to do it at Coimbatore and Dr. Olivannan said that it may not be appropriate to do it earlier when such a big writer was to do it at Coimbatore.

That renowned writer Ahila mam and Dr. K. Sathyanarayana, the Secretary of Manis, where I had studied agreed to come to receive the first copies of the book on being launched, sat through the entire proceedings and gave very good speeches was another blessing.

Even my father’s colleagues had come to bless me on the occasion.

Seniors from my department had also come and silently attended the proceedings, not wanting to gain lime light.

Nanjil sir, as is his usual habit, had painstakingly prepared his speech – a deep and well researched one provoking deep thought. 

Justice D. Raju had sent his wishes which was read out by Shri. Thangavelu.  Susila mam had also sent me her wishes personally. She had also asked me to convey her enquiries to Dr. Olivannan and Ahila mam.

I do not want to repeat what I had said in an earlier fb post or in my speech at the launch.  The links of the launch are provided below, in the order in which the speeches happened.  Only in the last video, along with the acceptance speech, other speeches some others have also been added.

Friends had come from far off places like Chennai, Tirunelveli, Palakkad and Pollachi for the event.  I was very much moved.

I got a new friend, in person, since he was already known to me through fb. Shri. Kannan, who happens to be from the same school that I studied from – Manis and had been a blue eyed boy of my own Jogee Master who had been fond of me also.  It was from him that I understood from a very early age of 12 that being intelligent and scoring marks were different things. Dr. Ashraf had mentioned Shri. Kannan in his speech as another translator of Thirukkural into English, which was yet to be published. 

Several other writers like Shri. Jeeva and Shri. Aravind Vadaseri were also gracious to come for the event.  Also Shri. RAAC Ravindran had silently participated in the event till the last.

There are many other friends of mine who had taken pains to come, leaving aside their holiday programmes, tours and from their native places, just to participate and conduct the programme.

Shri. Prakash of Siruvani Vasagar Mayyam had along with Shri. Thangavelu pain stakingly charted out the entire programme right from the date of its launch, fixing the venue, deciding the menu, deciding upon the time for each speaker, etc and also anchoring the entire proceedings. Friends like Balu, Kannapiran and Mahendran took care of the dinner arrangements completely that everyone who attended the dinner were highly satisfied.

Friends who had conducted the programme and been gracious to shower their love and affection on me have asked me to write about my own experiences.  I told them I do not know whether one’s experiences really have any benefit for the others and then, I am in a dilemma as to in which language, Tamil or English that I should write, if I decide to write at all. 

I should thank Smt. Rajeswari Sowrirajan, for having been gracious enough to get her students sing the invocation song, translation of Vaishnava janatho, in Tamil for the occasion. It was soul stirring particularly when rendered in the language that all of us could understand. And it was relevant for both the books being launched.

One person whom we missed in the event was Shri. Manohar, the person who toiled with the DTP work, lay out and wrapper making of UL OLI PRABANJA THYANAM. He could not attend due to personal reasons.  

Shri. Thirichangu, who had also been behind the project in supporting me, also could not attend due to being under treatment.

Another person who was closely associated with the project of THIRUKKURAL 108 was hoping to join at Chennai, but could not come to Coimbatore since he was undergoing treatement, was Shri. V. Gopalan.  But his entire heart was here.

 Vijaya Padhippagam Velayudham Ayya also called up the very next day morning and appoligised for not being able to come due to health reasons. The call itself was a gracious gesture. 

 Dhyana Guru Kumar Krishnamoorthy speech

Dr. Ashraf speech

Dr Olivannan Speech

Speeches of Writer Ahila and Dr. K. Sathyanarayana

Nanjil Nadan Speech

Welcome address, AKK speech, Acceptance speech and Vote of thanks

Vaishnavajanatho in tamil and acceptance speech

Thanking my parents, teachers, family and friends, well wishers and the forces of the universe, once again.

-Manimohan

28.01.2025