Umamaheswaranar
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: உமாமகேஸ்வரனார்
Umamaheswaranar (Thamilavel) (May 7, 1883 – May 9, 1941) was a Tamil scholar. He was founder of pioneering organizations for Tamil education, Tamil terminology and Tamil studies. Umamaheswaranar was the founding member and president of Karanthai Tamil Sangam in Thanjavur. He was a lawyer and carried out several public works for Thanjavur.
Birth, Studies
Umamaheswaranar was born on May 7, 1883 to Vembapillai and Kamakshi in Karunthittaikudi, a village between the tributaries of the Cauvery river, Vadavaru and Vennaru in Thanjavur district. Umamaheswaranar studied in Thanjavur Vallam and Kumbakonam till his third grade. When he was twelve years old, his mother passed away. So, he grew up under the custodian of Periyanayakathammaiyar, his aunt in Karanthai. Umamaheswaranar joined fourth grade at St. Peter's College, Thanjavur. His father Vembapillai also passed away before Umamaheswaranar completed his studies. However, Umamaheswaranar was lovingly raised by his aunt. He received Bachelor's degree from Thanjavur College.
Private Life
Umamaheswaranar joined as a clerk in the district collectorate. He quit his job and joined the Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College in Chennai to study law. After graduating, he practiced law under advocate Thanjavur K. Srinivasa Pillai for few years. Later he began practicing law independently.
At the age of 25, Umamaheswaranar married Ulakanayaki, daughter of Annamalai Pillai from Trichy. They had three sons: Panchapakesan, Manickavasakam and Singaravelu. Umamaheswaranar’s wife passed away when the third child was four months old. Umamaheswaranar never remarried. His eldest son Panchapakesan died while studying in school final grade. Umamaheswaranar set up a memorial fund in Karanthai college in his son’s name and presented scholarships to poor students every year.
Public Service
Umamaheswaranar was appointed as Public Prosecutor by British Government. He served as the first nominated president of Thanjavur district council formed by the British. During his tenure, the Varagur-Melakara road and the Alangudi-Kandiyur road were constructed. In addition, Umamaheswaranar established a bridge across the river to reach Nagathi and Thondaraiyanpadi hamlets. There were only 40 to 50 primary schools in Thanjavur district when Umamaheswaranar came to the service. He raised the count to 170.
On September 10, 1926, Umamaheswaranar attempted to start a co-operative land development bank at Thanjavur. In February 2, 1927, he established and operated a co-operative printing press. In 1938, he started Cooperative milk production and sales corporation. Karanthai Tamil Sangam, Radhakrishnan Primary School, Umamaheswaranar Higher Secondary School, Karanthai Arts College, Students Orphanage, Tamil Sangam Library, Study Center and Tamil Forum are some of the institutions in his memory.
Karanthai Tamil Sangam
Umamaheswaranar realized that an association was necessary to teach Tamil, publish Tamil books and conduct research on Tamil. At a conference held on May 14, 1911 under the leadership of scholar N. M. Venkatasamy Nattar, he founded the 'Karanthai Tamil Sangam' along with other likeminded people. Umamaheswaranar assumed first leadership of this establishment as part of the Tamil revival movement. His efforts established the Karanthai Tamil Sangam which later grew to contain thousands of books.
Karanthai Tamil Sangam published books of Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai and Scholar N. M. Venkatasamy Nattar, Yazh Nool, Tholkappiyam, Sena Varaiyam, Deivachilaiyar Text, Nellai Varukka Kovai, Chintaranthathi, Shruthi Veenai, Thamizharasi, Kuravanchi, Bharatha Charitram, Kaviarasu Ninaivumalar, Sivamum Senthamizham, Silappathikaram, Pukarkkaandam, Kachchi Kalambakam, Bharatha Saravenpa, Yavana Manjari, India Thala Yathirai, Pulavarattu Padai, Karanthai katuraikkovai, etc.
On behalf of the Tamil Sangam, Umamaheswaranar started Senthamizh Handcraft College on October 10, 1916 and a charity hospital during 1928-29.
A monthly magazine Tamilpozhil was launched in fourth year of the organization. This magazine assumed an important place in the study of Tamil. Umamaheswaranar published several research books on behalf of the Tamil Sangam. In 1915, he started a free study center. 'Karanthai Tamil Perumandram’ building was constructed for the Tamil Sangam in 1928-30.
Silver jubilee of Karanthai Tamil Sangam was celebrated on April 15 to 17, 1938. During first day of the celebration, Umamaheswaranar was conferred with title of 'Thamizhavel' as proposed by scholar Somasundara Bharathiyar and led by Saiva scholar Gnaniyaradigal. On the second day, Umamaheswaranar announced a plan to start Karanthai Tamil college. Because of the efforts of Umamaheswaranar, Karanthai Tamil Sangam was recognized as an Academic Institute by Annamalai University Governing Council, its Kalai Mandram and the University of Madras.
Umamaheswaranar wanted Karandai Tamil Sangam to be like Santiniketan which was established by Rabindranath Tagore. For this purpose, he travelled to North India with his friend A. Ganapathi Pillai and visited Santiniketan, Kolkata. He also visited Kashi Hindu University. Even though Karanthai Tamil Sangam completed a century, it is still the center of Tamil studies.
Literary Contributions
Research articles and editorials written by Umamaheswaranar in Tamilpozhil magazine turned out to be the guide for Tamil studies. With assistance from Samyvelayutham Pillai, Umamaheswaranar developed Tamil equivalents for the terminologies in mathematics and science, and published them in Tamilpozhiyil magazine. For students to learn, Umamaheswaranar arranged for publication of ancient Tamil literature with texts. Those who studied Tamil in Karanthai Tamil Sangam served as Tamil teachers in various schools and colleges. For more than 50 years, Karanthai Tamil Sangam’s Tamil Pulavar Examination was a qualifying examination for Tamil teachers. More than 100 Tamil research books were published by Karanthai Tamil Sangam.
Politics
Umamaheswaranar was a supporter of the Justice Party. When Hindi was introduced as a compulsory subject in Tamil Nadu schools in 1938, he fiercely opposed it. Umamaheswaranar raised his support for appointment of Tamil teachers as headmasters in schools. On September 16, 1927, when Gandhi was staying at Ukkadai House in Thanjavur, Umamaheswaranar accompanied by A. T. Panneerselvam, Ukkadai Thevar, Syed Tajuddin, Karkudi Chinnaiahpillai and Pattukottai Dandapani Chettiar, requested Gandhi that leaders should intervene in the conflict between Brahmins and Non-Brahmins and build understanding, and that the Congress should be more active in religious unity and eradication of caste discrimination[1].
Awards
In 1935, the then Chennai Provincial Government presented the Rao Bahadur Award.
Memorials and Biographies
- Umamaheswaranar statue was unveiled on April 13, 1973 at the Karanthai Tamil Sangam by then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
- Umamaheswaran : a Biography of Umamaheswaranar was written by Karanthai Jayakumar and Karanthai Saravanan.
Death
Due to illness, Umamaheswaranar passed away on May 9, 1941 at a hospital near Ayodhya during his trip to North India.
References
Footnotes
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