I consider it a great previlege to start my write up with one of the great sons of Tambraparni. Shri Gomathi Sankara Dikshitar, known to me as 'Thatha' (the grand father and a grand seer), was a true Gandhian throughout his life and lived as an iconic replica of the Father of the Nation. For persons like me who did not have the opportunity of seeing Gandhiji, Shri Dikshitar was a great source of inspiration. I had the great fortune of knowing him personally, as a friend and classmate of his grandson, and had spent a few hours each day in his house. That had given me some idea as to how Gandhiji would have been and would have faced situations. I am proud of being not only his contemporary but someone who had seen and moved with him in close quarters.
Shri Dikshitar belonged to Kallidaikurichi but moved and settled in Sermadevi (Cheranmahadevi). I was born in Kallidaikurichi and my family moved and settled in Sermadevi, in the same street where Shri Dikshitar lived. And there ends the comparison! Shri Dikshitar took part in the freedom struggle and followed the principles of Gandhiji. Clad in his white Khadi dhoti and shirt he lived a simple life and depended on his feet for transportation. After India became a Democratic Republic Shri Dikshitar was the Member of the the Madras Legislative Assembly for three terms. Though an independent represented the Ambasamudram constituency from 1952, ever since Shri Dikshitar contested the election in 1957 representing the Congress Party under the stewardship of Shri Kamaraj and later Shri Bhaktavatsalam, he got elected with a thumping majority each time and served the constituency for three continuous terms (1957/1962/1967) of 5 years each. It is to be noted here that during the 1967 election when DMK swept the electioneering proceeds and formed its own government, the Ambasamudram constituency rested its faith on Shri Dikshitar.
Shri Dikshitar led a spartan life and worked for the constituency, unlike a few politicians in those days and a majority of them in the present day who consider politics as an easy route to feather their nest. Shri Dikshitar's children or grandchildren did not bask under his glory but lived true to the the grand person's ideals and worked hard and made their life according to their own personal abilities. One of his sons Shri Mahadevan was managing, in the capacity as a warden, the "Harijan hostel' in Cheranmahadevi that was originally started by Shri V.V.S. Iyer, a freedom fighter that came later under the trusteeship of Gandhiji after the untimely death of Shri Iyer. Presently it is being run by Shri Ramakrishna Tapovanam with the title "Bharadwaja Ashramam".
The popular phrase ' vox populi vox Dei ' (the voice of the people is the voice of God) had only remained as a political slogan to many politicians to wrest the benefits by mesmerising the gullible public with catchy slogans and empty promises. But it was life and breath for Shri Dikshitar. He used to listen with concern and care of any representation from the people of his constituency and attended to them with sincerity. Cheranmahadevi got the benefit of getting a causeway across the river Tambraparni during the tenure of Shri Dishitar. It was inaugurated by none other than Shri Jayachamaraja Wodiyar, the Maharaja of Mysore who was the then governor of Madras state. The causeway cuts short the distance to Tirunelveli, particularly to the Tirunelveli Town and Pettai and provides easy access to all villages on the other bank of the river.
A few samples of the adjournment motions brought by Shri Dikshitar in the assembly:
a) To discuss about the Land Grab Movement in Tamil Nadu and the consequences thereon. (25 Aug 1970)
b) The inconvenience caused to the students from 6th to 11th Standards due to the non-availability of text-books and also due to defects and mistakes in the text-books and the need to take immediate steps to make available to all students properly printed text-books in time. (29 Aug 1970)
c) The closure Hindu National College at Sirugalathur following the Madras University's announcement that the approval given to the College for running the Pre-University Course had lapsed. (29 Aug 1970)
d) The inconvenience caused to the travelling public due to the inadequacy of State Transport buses in the City of Madras and the need to introduce more buses especially during peak hours and relieve the hardship caused to the public. (2 Sep 1970)
e) To discuss about the situation created by students strike and the lathi charge by the police at Madras on 27 Jan 1969. (28 Jan 1969)
A few samples of the statements made by the concerned ministers for questions raised by Shri Dikshitar, under Rule 41 of the Assembly:
a) Statement by Tirumathi Satyavanimuthu -- The grave water shortage likely to arise in the City of Madras this year. (26 Feb 1969)
b) Statement by S. Madhavan -- The non-payment of salaries to the teachers working in Panchayat Union Schools of Udankudi, Radhapuram, Sankarankoil and Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli District. (1 Mar 1969)
c) Statement by S. Madhavan -- The plight of Sanskrit teachers in the State consequent on the adoption of the two language formula.(5 Mar 1969)
d) Statement by A. Govindaswamy -- The delay in the distribution of new ration cards and the consequences thereof. (11 Mar 1969)
Ref: http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/04assly/04_04.pdf
http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/04assly/04_08.pdf
As a proof that Shri Dikshitar lives in the heart of the people of his constituency an old-age home is being run for the past twenty-six years in Kallidaikurichi, Tirunelveli District called the 'Charanalaya' to perpetuate the memory of one of the proud sons of Tambraparni. Readers may get more information on the 'home' from the site: http://www.charanalaya.com/
I conclude with my humble obeissance to this lofty personality. May his tribe flourish and remain beacons of honesty, integrity and simplicity.
Shri Dikshitar belonged to Kallidaikurichi but moved and settled in Sermadevi (Cheranmahadevi). I was born in Kallidaikurichi and my family moved and settled in Sermadevi, in the same street where Shri Dikshitar lived. And there ends the comparison! Shri Dikshitar took part in the freedom struggle and followed the principles of Gandhiji. Clad in his white Khadi dhoti and shirt he lived a simple life and depended on his feet for transportation. After India became a Democratic Republic Shri Dikshitar was the Member of the the Madras Legislative Assembly for three terms. Though an independent represented the Ambasamudram constituency from 1952, ever since Shri Dikshitar contested the election in 1957 representing the Congress Party under the stewardship of Shri Kamaraj and later Shri Bhaktavatsalam, he got elected with a thumping majority each time and served the constituency for three continuous terms (1957/1962/1967) of 5 years each. It is to be noted here that during the 1967 election when DMK swept the electioneering proceeds and formed its own government, the Ambasamudram constituency rested its faith on Shri Dikshitar.
Shri Dikshitar led a spartan life and worked for the constituency, unlike a few politicians in those days and a majority of them in the present day who consider politics as an easy route to feather their nest. Shri Dikshitar's children or grandchildren did not bask under his glory but lived true to the the grand person's ideals and worked hard and made their life according to their own personal abilities. One of his sons Shri Mahadevan was managing, in the capacity as a warden, the "Harijan hostel' in Cheranmahadevi that was originally started by Shri V.V.S. Iyer, a freedom fighter that came later under the trusteeship of Gandhiji after the untimely death of Shri Iyer. Presently it is being run by Shri Ramakrishna Tapovanam with the title "Bharadwaja Ashramam".
The popular phrase ' vox populi vox Dei ' (the voice of the people is the voice of God) had only remained as a political slogan to many politicians to wrest the benefits by mesmerising the gullible public with catchy slogans and empty promises. But it was life and breath for Shri Dikshitar. He used to listen with concern and care of any representation from the people of his constituency and attended to them with sincerity. Cheranmahadevi got the benefit of getting a causeway across the river Tambraparni during the tenure of Shri Dishitar. It was inaugurated by none other than Shri Jayachamaraja Wodiyar, the Maharaja of Mysore who was the then governor of Madras state. The causeway cuts short the distance to Tirunelveli, particularly to the Tirunelveli Town and Pettai and provides easy access to all villages on the other bank of the river.
A few samples of the adjournment motions brought by Shri Dikshitar in the assembly:
a) To discuss about the Land Grab Movement in Tamil Nadu and the consequences thereon. (25 Aug 1970)
b) The inconvenience caused to the students from 6th to 11th Standards due to the non-availability of text-books and also due to defects and mistakes in the text-books and the need to take immediate steps to make available to all students properly printed text-books in time. (29 Aug 1970)
c) The closure Hindu National College at Sirugalathur following the Madras University's announcement that the approval given to the College for running the Pre-University Course had lapsed. (29 Aug 1970)
d) The inconvenience caused to the travelling public due to the inadequacy of State Transport buses in the City of Madras and the need to introduce more buses especially during peak hours and relieve the hardship caused to the public. (2 Sep 1970)
e) To discuss about the situation created by students strike and the lathi charge by the police at Madras on 27 Jan 1969. (28 Jan 1969)
A few samples of the statements made by the concerned ministers for questions raised by Shri Dikshitar, under Rule 41 of the Assembly:
a) Statement by Tirumathi Satyavanimuthu -- The grave water shortage likely to arise in the City of Madras this year. (26 Feb 1969)
b) Statement by S. Madhavan -- The non-payment of salaries to the teachers working in Panchayat Union Schools of Udankudi, Radhapuram, Sankarankoil and Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli District. (1 Mar 1969)
c) Statement by S. Madhavan -- The plight of Sanskrit teachers in the State consequent on the adoption of the two language formula.(5 Mar 1969)
d) Statement by A. Govindaswamy -- The delay in the distribution of new ration cards and the consequences thereof. (11 Mar 1969)
Ref: http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/04assly/04_04.pdf
http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/Resumes/04assly/04_08.pdf
As a proof that Shri Dikshitar lives in the heart of the people of his constituency an old-age home is being run for the past twenty-six years in Kallidaikurichi, Tirunelveli District called the 'Charanalaya' to perpetuate the memory of one of the proud sons of Tambraparni. Readers may get more information on the 'home' from the site: http://www.charanalaya.com/
I conclude with my humble obeissance to this lofty personality. May his tribe flourish and remain beacons of honesty, integrity and simplicity.
