An interesting Personality

Poet Pon.Selvaganapathy is an interesting personality with abundant conversation skills.

With a serious-looking face, he will cut jokes, to make everybody who is with him at that time, burst into laughter for hours.

The photo at the top left is taken during 1976 when he got transfer from Vellore

and joined Presidency college.

The photo at the top right is taken during his retirement from service at 2003 May.

The photo at the bottom is taken during a poetic symposium,while he is presenting his poems.

Lapse of Memory

This post wishes to introduce another volume of Poems by Pon.Selvaganapathy under the title, 'Lapse of Memory'.
This volume is a collection of free verse written on various occasions and published in many literary journals.
The poem given below describes the human behavior,particularly forgetting every thing and always being in a confused state.
We undergo such mental state and suffer because of this.
The Poet presents a verbal portrait of our dilemma we undergo while we forget important things.

Lapse of Memory

Why did I hate it?
Which things did I hate?
Whom did I hate?
Everything forgotten..
But..Hatred is persisting..
Which were the objects of my desire?
Oh! It is forgotten..

Desire is still continuing
its process in my mind.
Which is the goal
for my travel?

I am sorry I have forgotten it.
But my travel is a never-ending one.
I am trying to recollect
The things which I have forgotten
My lapses of memory
Are still continuing
By which alone
There continues a lot of
Friendships
And a few hostilities!

An Interview with Pon.Selvaganapathy

AN INTERVIEW WITH POET PON.SELVAGANAPATHY

How did you choose Poetry as your field?

I was attracted by poetry in my teenage. Perhaps, the instinct, to gain name and fame by doing remarkable achievements, might have been the reason behind it.Poets seemed as adventurers for me in my school days. Writing poetry, reciting poetry and composing songs seemed as adventures and miracles for me.During college days, when I involved myself in political activities, I learnt the art of writing poetry with a definite ideology. Propaganda and popularizing political ideas were the source for my poems.I affiliated myself with progressive movements in Tamilnadu and my journey started in a definite direction.The criticism of social evils and the documentation of social problems became my poetic trends and satire continues to be technique from the beginning till now.Hope the same may continue in the future also. My poetic mission began in admiration and continues in a social perspective.

In this age of electronic media does poetry have any future?

Now there are many substitutes for baby food. But what do the medical practitioners say? They repeatedly say that there is no substitute for mother's feeding i.e. Breast milk.There may arise umpteen numbers of artistic expressions in the literary field, but there can not be a better substitute for Literature.Our mind thinks in the format of a poem.The artistic flash of thought is a poem.Novelists expand or elaborate the flash in a magnified manner.Poetry adopts and adapts itself in accordance with the moment and milieu.The human mind is longing for poetry as well as poetic experience.It dedicates itself to poetry.Our mind needs the support of poetry to stand erect and to accelerate its speed in its journey to the goal.This attitude and approach of human mind will patronize poetry forever.

Reports in media reveal Doctors, Lawyers and Teachers who have the responsibility to cherish values, are loosing their credibility. What about poets?

Poets have always got a lot of credibility and they have never committed any impairment to it.Some times due to obvious pressures in the societal set-up, they become commercialized. The writing is turning as a commodity in some quarters. Those who choose poetry for filling up their purses expose themselves deliberately. Such poets have no difference with the fireworks-sellers.The main problem originates in the readers’ minds. When they lack proper understanding and appreciation the problem magnifies.The society should identify the populist and idealist, the fantastic and pragmatic, the verbal gymnastics and explorations of human moods.If a society fixes popularity as a touchstone for poetic art, then best sellers alone will occupy the intellectual throne and poets will face banishment.Poets have not lost their credibility despite a drastic change in the social behavior.The readers should maintain their credibility by supporting the best and ignoring the worst. The ‘best’ and ‘worst’ should be identified properly.

Agonies of Independence

AGONIES OF INDEPENDENCE

"Agonies of Independence’ is a collection of poems authored by Pon.Selvaganapathy and published on 1996.

The poems have the satire and sarcasm together with humor to make an awareness in the minds of readers.The very first poem is published without a title for it. It is the proclamation of the poet. We hear a firm voice with deep commitment in this poem.

Whatever it may happen
I am not afraid
I have only one life
No fear for death
No hesitation
To express my ideasI will tell the truth
Bold and unbiased
Always at all times
Until I reach my goal
My journey will not end
My body will not fall down

The poet criticizes the situation prevailing in the country. He compares the motherland with his body and house. We should consider our country as our body. Like our body the country also has so many diseases. He wishes to bring our attention to this fact. So many moles and insects occupy every house in India. Our country is like our house and it also has so many moles and insects. Here corrupt persons are described as ‘moles and insects’by the poet.if we consider the country as our God, there is also a similarity. In temples there are so many hundis to collect money from the devotees. There is no light in the country; the poet asserts.
’Light’has several meanings here. The sun itself has broken his leg. The poem is concluded with a pathetic note that politicians nail the country.Our Country at cross roads
This country
Is our body
It has got
Many diseases
This land
Is our God
There are
Many Hundis
Here and there
This country
Is our home
There are
Many moles and insects
Here in our country
In our house
The Sun
Has broken his leg
As he had to wander
In all corners
Searching the address ofDawn.
Directions are
In a topsy - turvy Condition.
The wind refuses to
Enter here
As a result
The windows
Have heavy perspiration.
Our motherland
Is nailed by politicians
And is floating
As a cross in the ocean.

The poem titled’The Chair’ is a combination of interesting allegories. There is no need of any explanation and you can enjoy it yourself provided you have the knowledge of the ‘Power game played by our politicians.

The Chair

I am the chair
Even though I have four legs
I never attempted to walk.
Those who sat up on me
Are flying from earth to heaven
Without any use often.
Even though I have four legs
I never attempted to walk.
How many persons
Are there walking
Just to capture me.
The two legged fellows
To get me -a four legged person-
Are falling down on so many legs
What a pity it is?
Those who catch hold of me
Will let loose anything
Yes-even their self-respect if they have any-
To catch me in full grip.
Once upon a time
They placed a chappal on me
And honored me.
Now a days
Men sit upon me
And defame me.
Those days I was a throne
Now I am just a chair
Only the names have changed
Nothing else.

The poem titled ’Independence’ ridicules the freedom of expression assured by the rulers. Those who are in power-irrespective of the party they belong to-always try to suppress the voice of the opposition. This sad thing is condemned in this poem without hurting anyone’s feelings.

Independence
The dog
Which is tied up
Strongly with iron chainsLoudly barks.
They proudly
Proclaim that
They have given
Freedom of opinion
AndFreedom of speech.
But one thing!
The barking is only
To safeguard their
Forts and thrones
If the dog
Barks in protest
Then
The mouth will also be tied up with
Iron chains!

The poem titled ’Agonies of Independence’ describe the sad state of our country. The poverty prevalent in our country and the plight of the under-privileged even after six decades of Independence is sadly narrated in this poem. Those who read this poem will definitely take a resolution to sincerely work with a cause to promote the status of our country.
Agonies of Independence

The pangs of Slavery has gone
But the agonies of Independence
Make us suffer in
A vicious circle.
Here
There is a hugeMountain of Food grains.
On another side
There areDeep valleys of poverty.
We have got
Only blind Arjunas.
As a result
The targets
Get
Misplaced.
The burdenCarried by the Heads
ConsoleThe shoulders
And they keep mum.
Party flags and slogans
Become an additional burden
For the people
And hinder theirProgress.
Those principles
Which came to adopt us
Have been taken adoption by
Wrong persons.
See our state!
Anger is forgotten
Cowardice has become
Our national character.
Valor and self-respect
Have gone.
DejectionAnd depression
Are ruling our minds.

The abuse of power by bureaucrats is sarcastically mocked by the poet in another poem titled’Lame excuse.
’Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Then for every mistake committed by the authorities a reason is explained and the abuse of power is justified.

Lame Excuse

He spoke
In an obscene manner
And got arrested
That person spoke
With a force
Therefore
Held under arrest.
This person
Spoke in a lower voice
In a very calm manner
Even then he was imprisoned
Why?
Because he
Spoke confidential matters.
Yes.
In our country
We wont Arrest people
Without any reason.

If you have the opportunity to read this volume titled’ Agonies of Independence"you will enjoy the humor, wit and sarcasm exhibited by the poet in his poems. He criticizes to make us realize our follies and to correct us. This sort of constructive criticism will elevate our country.

More Poems from "Justice under detention"

‘Justice under detention’ is an interesting compilation of poems, which are written in various themes.
The social awareness and firm commitment of the poet is expressed powerfully. Satire is the primary technique, which helps poets of Selvaganapathy’s kind.He is describing our country, as a refugee camp.everywhere there are bombings, terrorists and political murders. So the under-privileged loose their belongings and run for shelter.If we take a tour throughout the country then we will also agree the poet’s view.

Refugee Camp

These people are
Not from any alien country
They belong to this soil
But they are refugees
As they are poor
Yes
IndiaIs currently
A refugee camp.

The poet thinks that nobody is really interested in the international peace and solidarity. Everybody pays mere lip service and does not seriously work to achieve it. He ridicules them as ‘Peace Brokers.’

Rituals of Peace

All countries
Are imprisoned by
Their borderlines
The whole mankind
Is bound by various divisions
Some people in the earth
Divide the majority
To gain leadership for them.
People divided
For the advantage of a few
Quarrel, fight and die as victims.
Under the surveillance of clouds
Bombshells thunder and rain.
Brokers of peace
Run hither and thither
With umbrellas havingSo many hole.
The fingers tune
With much strain
But from the fiddle
We can hear only the
Military band.
All countries
Are imprisoned by
Their borderlines
The whole mankindIs bound by various divisions

The poet has described the beauty and significance of silence in a long poem. Together with our experience we derive from this long poem many inner meanings.

A Loooooooooooooooooooong Talk about Silence

Oh Silence!
We talk much about you.
But whenever we attempt to utter
Any word about you
Our words get tired
And dropped in vain.
We belong to the language of sound.
Tongue is our podium
Sound is the toilet set
We enjoy seeing
Your drama
Which implies a thousand meanings.
You are alsoSpeaking
Like a cloud
Which rains
Without any lightning or thunder
Among the languages
You are the mostAttractive language.
Your empire is
TheBoundary of dictionary.
You are the language
Spoken by my lady- love.
That is why I wish to
Get acquainted with you.
Oh silence
You begin to speak
When ourSound symbols
Miss their meanings.
You never
Dissolve in words
But words get dissolved before you.
Some preys
Which are not caught byWord-baits
Are caught up in your net.
Meanings get suppressed
By soundLike a song
Suppressed by its background music.
You are a superb song
Which does not need any
Background music.
You are
Language of the soul which never pollutes
The meanings.
You are an easy chair
To take rest
When the sounds tire us.
You are an armchair
For the noisy words
When they want some rest.
Poets and lovers
Have their dreams only in your lap.
Our languageIs the language of
Those who speak.You are theLanguage of those who act.
We are the users of
Noisy language ruled by sound.
We damage our
Ears by various sounds.
When are we going to
Fill up our minds
With this precious thing-Silence.

The poet had taken part in agitations conducted by the Government College Teachers’ Association and had been kept under arrest for a week. When he was in Chennai Central Jail he had authored the poem titled"Justice under detention."His satire and humor are expressed in an efficient way in it.

Justice under detention

A day came
To the intellectual birds
Which never
Dreamt of Jails in their lives.
If ornaments became
Hand-cuffs
Shelters may also become Jails.
If shelters become jails
What significance
Jails do have?
Therefore
We-
Branded as intellects and
White collared people-
Came to a decision
At least in the eleventh hour
` To fill up Jails!"
What is the difference between
Living in JailsOr Outside Jails?"
Those who celebrate
Independence Day in
Pompous palacesImprisoned us.
Those who gave us recognition
Once a yearDuring Teachers’ day
Made us students
And sent us to a school.
Those who spoke about our sacrifices
Gave us another opportunity
To perform
Sacrifice once again.
They made us count the prison bars
And taught us aNew lesson.…………………..
We, Preceptors
Had been taught
Many new lessons

Justice under detention

"Justice under detention" (‘Kaithu ceyyappatta niyaayangal’) is the second volume of Selvaganapathy’s poems published in 1981.The literal translation of the title of this volume will be-‘Righteous virtues under arrest.’ But to carry the sense meant by the poet, "Justice under detention" will be the apt phrase.

The very first poem in this collection is’Voice of the poet’which gives the proclamation of the poet to the readers.
My poetic voyage
Continues here
With a simple motive.
I write poems on
Problems which affect us..
Not to preach
But to stress the need of
A revolution
In the minds of readers..
I do not wish
The lines of my poems
To be remembered by the people.
Instead of that
If any single line
In my poem
Helps the people to get
Elevated in their position
It is sufficient for me.
My poetic mission
Does not aim
To entertain people
I sincerely wish to
Educate them to agitate.
My poems do not
WantTo act as magnet
They willExplode likeSulfur
They wish to pat you
Not to make you sleep
But to wake you up
The rage and anger
Which were expressed
By the Nature
Through Earthquakes and tempests
Are now disclosing their dimension
Through my poems.
I am not a person
To camouflage myself
In grand old words.
I have come to
Agitate and shake up
The entire world
By New words.
Let us have a resolution.
Instead of speaking
To get applauded
Let us speak sincerely
And seriously.
Hereafter
If poems come as weapons
Let us recognize them.
If they come as
Mere paperwork
Let us reject them
With rapt attention.
We do not want
Any relation withLove lyrics.
Let us create Fiery poems
Which stir up our minds.
Because
We do not want
To camouflage ourselves
In grand old words.
We have come to
Agitate and shake up
The entire world
By New words.

The above-mentioned poem titled "Voice of the poet" clearly indicates Selvaganapathy’s literary theories. For him poetry is not for entertainment; It should not be an intellectual exercise to fill up papers; It should prepare its readers for an agitation against social evils; an agitation to defend human values and wipe out the plight of the poor.The ‘grand old words’ which he does not want are ‘Destiny’ Fate’ ‘Karma’ ’sin’ and virtue. These old words humiliate the mankind and diminish the mighty intelligence of the man.When the whole solar system obeys to the command of man and the atom splits to give an abundant source of energy, what is the meaning of hiding ourselves in the old words?Selvaganapathy is a poet of the mankind. His vision scans through centuries to foretell the advancement of the mankind.Let us make our progress a successful one, by discarding old words and finding new words of positivism and pragmatism.

A Symbolic poem by Selvaganapathy

The Boat.’ is a symbolic poem by Selvaganapathy in which the symbol gives a kaleidoscopic and multilayered meaning to the poem.
Just have a glance of this poem and guess the meanings which it narrates to your mind instantly.
The Boat

We have to travel across the ocean
Which will be the boat to come here?
Which boat is efficient for our voyage?
The boat which arrived is a broken one.
There may be various types of boat
Boating spots are innumerable
Anyhow we have to cross the ocean
Does anybody know it in the earth?
The boats lack the knowledge of their direction
They are also powerless and feeble
The Boatman is drowsy
Alas!Comrade!
We are yearning!
We have to travel across the ocean
Which will be the boat to come here?
Which boat is efficient for our voyage?
In the houses of boatmen
The oars are used as firewood!
Oh!Boatman!
We believed you
On what belief we will pursue our voyage?
All the boats are with holes prominent
Oh Comrade!
Choose our path and slogan
Even the boatyard is damaged
Oh ! our time is coming to an end.
We have to travel across the ocean
Which will be the boat to come here?
Which boat is efficient for our voyage?

Pon.Selvaganapathy on Nature

PON.SELVAGANAPATHY ON NATURE

The poet has a unique way of perceiving nature and portraying natural objects.The poem"A blanket of snow"depicts the autobiography of a flower.
The flower tells that it had woven a blanket of snow and had given it to the sun.It doubts whether it will be able to weave blankets again or will stand aloof. It further narrates that it has blossomed in the warmth of the sunlight and the bee had sucked the honey possessed by it. It questions in anguish whether it will blossom again or will get dried up by the bees.
The poet wishes to strike an element of pathos. The pathetic note of the flower that it has produced something and has lost is notable here. It had woven a blanket of snow, which had been forcibly taken by the mighty sun. It has prepared or produced some honey, which has been procured or taken away by the mischievous bee. Now the flower is expecting its fall or natural death.In this poem it seems that the poet wishes to narrate an allegorical story so as to give a message to us.
Here the flower is the proletariat, Government is the mighty sun, and bee is the capitalist. The blanket of snow or the dream for better prospects by the proletariat is removed by the government (the mighty sun) through its rigid laws (hot rays) not assuring proper working conditions. The harsh reality (i.e.warm light )makes him blossom as a proletariat. Again the fruits of labour (the honey) is taken away by the capitalist (the bee). Working in vain the proletariat is expecting his end (fall) in a frustrated mood. This allegory reveals the poet’s commitment to socialistic views.

Another poem "Flower"(p48) describes the one-day life of a flower. The flower blossoms in the morning sending its fragrance everywhere. As the day grew up the smooth texture of the flower gets changed. The hot sun destroys the form and vigour of the flower. In the evening the flower gets completely dried up loosing its fragrance and life. The poem ends with the following lines:

Everywhere darkness crept up
The flower became an object of philosophy.

This short poem consisting of sixteen lines describes the birth, growth and death of a flower thorough reading of the poem suggests that the poet uses the flower as a symbol and wishes to emphasise the mortality. The last two lines of the poem above cited stand as an evidence of the poet's’motive.

This shorter poem may seem as a gist of the famous poem "Veena poovu" (A fallen flower) by Kumaran asan.Selvaganapathy does not know Malayalam and he has never heard of this famous poem of Kumaran asan. But there is a striking similarity in the tone and content of these two poems. The critical remarks of K.M.George about VeenaPoovu suitably fits for Selvaganapathy’s "Flower".
"Now what is the nature of the poem? Has it anything to do with this mundane life and what follows thereafter? In every language,scores of poems will be found on flowers.In fact it will be difficult to spot out a poet who has not felt and written about the charm of flowers.They are the most wildly used poetic material.But few have considered a fallen flower,about to be submerged in the mud,and forgotten fit subject for poetry."

Another poem "Flowers"(pp66-67), describes the aesthetic pleasure derived on seeing a peagant of flowers in a garden which drive the poet into ecstasy.
How many flowers are
There in the beautiful garden?
How many variety of colours
The flowers have in their bodies?
In the flowers that laugh
I see the smile of Buddha
The garden with flowers
Teaches me many lessons
The maiden Rose with thorns
Willfully does a penance
For what?
Is it to seeThe charming face of Nehru?
You cluster of flowers
Who carry the sweet honey
Come on!
Decorate!
SuperbSplendid damsels’ many!
The poet attains bliss in the company of flowers, bliss that is not easily attainable either to the spiritualists or to the materialists. He describes flowers as angels from the heaven. He finds in them a source of inspiration for his creativity. To brief,the poem "Flowers" stand as a magnificent example for the poet’s aesthetic sense.

The poem on "Rain"(pp69-70) is a pen-portrayal of rain and the natural setting created by it.When the black clouds assemble the lightning and thunder appear the flocks of various birds flee away in the sky. This scene reminds the poet, the scene of a festival in a thickly populated city, where people are moving here and there, in all directions, busy with their activities. In the fields the paddy has grown well because of the rain and the plants stand in an erect position.

The poet thinks that the paddy is much proud and does not want to see the earth. It is looking at the sky as if it has no equals in the earth. The trees and creepers are dancing to the tune of wind which seems to the poet that they are expressing their thanks to the rain. On seeing the rainy clouds the peacocks begin to dance and the cuckoos are singing. Rain is a boon, a gift to the mountains, rivers and the earth. The lightning is the green flag to announce the arrival of rain Everybody becomes brisk and busy on the rainy season.

The poet succeeds in giving a pen-portrayal of the rainy day and the natural setting created by it. The chickens run to protect their chicks and the mothers look for their kids On seeing the sky darken with black clouds people rush to their homes as fast as a storm.The poet greets the rain as it brings wealth and prosperity to the mankind.
This poem reminds us of the poems of Bharatidasaan in the volume "Smile of Beauty"(azhagin cirippu).
The poem "Skylark" is written as a monologue by the bird.The bird tells that it is flying up in the sky to get love as a raindrop and to plunge in the sunlight. It wants to forget all its sufferings and therefore thinks sky is the proper place for it. There is no body to praise or condemn it. It also seems that it has experienced a failure in its love and hence determined not to return to the earth. This monologue by Skylark -even though it is imaginary- kindles sympathy towards Skylark as well as to those who had a failure in their love.

Pon.Selvaganapathy on Tamil Language

PON.SELVAGANAPATHY ON TAMIL LANGUAGE

Some poems, which show the poet’s abundant love for Tamil, find place in this volume. His intention is not to glorify his mother tongue but to have a pragmatic approach towards the ways and means to develop it in all fields. He wants Tamil to be introduced as a medium of instruction in all educational institutions. Instead of reciting Sanskrit hymns in temples Tamil should be the language for worship.

The poem titled"Self- help is the best way"(p13-14) insists the need for the introduction of Tamil as a medium of instruction in educational institutions.
"The cuckoo should sing in its own voice.
Why should it imitate owl?
The peacock should dance in its original style.
Is there any need for the peacock to learn dance from the Turk?
Likewise Tamils should not wish to follow Englishmen.When Tamils were under the rule of the British they were forced to do such foolish things. But now we are independent, free from any foreign domination, we should strive to develop our mother-tongue in all fields."
This is the contention of the poem.

"Is it necessary to insist upon the introduction of Tamil as a medium of instruction? When every other country in the world is using its own language for intellectual pursuit why should you hesitate?"

In another poem,"Why should you oppose worship through Tamil?"(p16-17) the poet points out the fallacy in another poet’s argument that worship need not be done through Taamil.The poet named Kaa.Mu.Sherif had written in a popular weekly, named ‘Anandavikatan’ ,that Sanskrit may be continued as a language for worship and had opposed the introduction of Tamil in its place. Provoked by this, Pon.Selvaganapathy had written this poem as a rejoinder to Sherif’s statement. Let us hear Sevaganapathy’s argument:

"Do you consider devotion as bowing to the recitation of Sanskrit slokas without knowing their meaning? Worms without self-respect may do that?Tamilians who know the hoary past of Tamil won’t do that .Tamil should rule all the fields (religion, education, administration etc) without any delay."

He describes Tamilians as "sleeping tigers" and cautions those who belittle Tamil not to irritate and arouse the ‘sleeping tiger’.The poems "Oh! Fellow countrymen who adore a wonderful language"(p15) and "Slaves no more!"(p18) voice the sentiments of the poet against the imposition of Hindi as the sole official language of India

Pon.Selvaganapathy actively participated in the 1965 Anti-Hindi agitation when he was a student of Annamalai University. The then congress government adopted cruel ways to suppress the agitation. Severe lathi charge and police firing were made as routine exercises by the police.The poet was an eyewitness to the police firing in Annamalai University.
He narrates:

" The scene of yesterday
I can visualise today
The pitiable days when
We wept and cried
When our friends shed blood
Recur in my mind always
The fire-mouthed devils
Pounced upon our boys
They jumped over
The schoolgoing kids
Boys of the blooming youth
Were hacked to death mercilessly
How can I forget
Those cruel scenes?
(pp58-61)
Rajendran along with other students shouted slogans condemning the imposition of Hindi. He did not indulge in violence. He just exercised his rights as a citizen in a democratic way to claim his linguistic human rights. He was mercilessly shot at.The innocent youth who expressed his love towards his mother tongue and aversion to the imposition of an alien language was fired at .Pon.Selvaganapathy narrates the tragedy as an eyewitness.

"The bullet hit on the shoulder
Piercing the biceps
A spurt of blood came as a jet
The unperturbed lad
Smiled with glad!
The heroism he displayed
Can never be compared
To anyother hero in the epics!
There is no equivalent!
We were jubilant!
Rajendran shouted the slogan
"Our body to the earth and
Our life to our Tamil!
With strong will
We have dedicated
We cannot be dictated!"
Oh…The bullet killed him!
Neither he waylaid anybody
Nor indulge in violence
He just fought for his right
In a country called democratic
Oh… They murdered him!
Rather they butchered Justice"
The poet is unable to forget the horrible murder and a historical sacrifice. As the poet happened to be one of the friends of Rajendiran he is nostalgic when he recollects the past.

Everyday when the morning sky appears red
Every evening when the sky looks red
There I see the bloody reddish
Wound body of Rajendiran!
A horrible murder scene!
A sacrifice unparalleled!
Which daily I remember!

Not only in the mind of Selvaganapathy but also in the mind of every Tamilian Rajendiran lives forever.

In the poem "Oh! Fellow countrymen who adore a wonderful language"(p15) the poet appeals to the fellow Tamilians to agitate against the domination of Hindi.He tells the 17th amendment to the constitution which made Hindi as the sole official language is a fraudulent one. He insists that all of the Indian languages should be made official languages of India and English should be made the link language. He requests the Tamilians to put on fire thee useless act and to start an agitation to get the linguistic human rights, which were denied in the name of law and with the support of the constitution.

In the poem "Slaves no more!" he tries to arouse self-respect among Tamils.He cautions the Tamilians that the enemies of Tamil have not disappeared.He wants Tamilians to have an aggressive attitude to save Tamil from its foes.The antagonists are so skilful that they try to pluck the papa out of our eyes even when we are awake.So the poet wishes to keep Tamils alert and active.This is the piece of advice he intends to impart:

Even a small hindrance done to our language
Will be a great humiliation to us;
Forget it no more!Be slaves no more!

In 1968 the Second International Tamil Conference was conducted at Chennai by the then C.N.A. government.The impact of the conference on the poet had resulted in a poem"International Tamil Conference"(p12) Participation of scholars from all directions of the world and appreciation of the Tamil literature by foreign scholars made the poet feel elated. Through this poem he expresses his wish that Tamil should flourish in all faculties and the conference should envisage constructive measures for the development of Tamil.

Blossoming flowers have a day’s life
Flourishing plants and creepers have some month’s life
Paddy in the field has life only if it rains
For men and women life is limited
Depending on the arrival of their end
Our ancient Tamil is here from time immemorial
Whose time of origin we know not
But we are here to work for its eminence
Forever and forever…..

Thus comes the encouraging remark from the enchanted poet who is excited over by attending the second International Tamil conference. These poems cited above not only show the language loyalty of the poet but also his perturbance over the imposition of Hindi and his expectation that Tamilians would work whole-heartedly for the development of the Tamil language.

Poet Pon.Selvaganapathy

POET PON.SELVAGANAPATHY
Pon .Selvaganapathy hails from Aadhivaraganathamvillage that is near Bhuvanagiri situated in the Chidambaram Taluk.He had his college education inAnnamalai Univetrsity.First he underwent the Pulavar course (an oriental title) and then B.O.L. degree course in this university from illustrious scholars.

The proximity of his native village to his alma mater helped him take part in all the literary activities of the university.Ulundhurpettai Shanmugam, a notable poet of our age who was working as a lecturer at that time encouraged the creative efforts of Selvaganapathy, a budding poet then.

Later Selvaganapathy pursued his Postgraduate course in Presidency College at Chennai.The city atmosphere made his literary efforts fruitful. The A.I.R. conducted a competition on 1970 for the youth to compose poems in which Selvaganapathy won the prize and recited the poem under the presidentship of Kalaignar Mu.Karunanithi who was the chief minister of Tamilnadu at that time. A play written by him (Kavariman) was broadcasted by A.I.R.A drama in verse written by him was enacted by girl students in a function at Presidency college women’s hostel.His first volume of poems titled "Poems of Selvaganapathy"was published at that time (1972) when he was a postgraduate student at Presidency college. Besides carrying greeting messages from Kalaignar Mu.Karunanithi and T.V.Meykandar, this volume has got three forewords from three eminent men of literature.

Kannadasan, a literary celebrity and a legend in his time who still reigns the hearts of Tamil readers by his lyrics.gave a foreword in appreciation of this book. The foreword under the title"True poet is here"is in all praise for Selvaganapathy’s poems. Let us see a section of the foreword.

"A good poem uses powerful diction to carry lofty ideals deep into the hearts of the readers; Bombastic and ornamental word usage do not make a poem. Prosody adorns poetry but does not yield or motivate any message in a poem.An in-depth knowledge of prosody alone can not just make a notable poet. The poet should have a keen social awareness and lofty ideals to make remarkable achievements in poetry.This volume of poems illustrates that Pon.Selvaganapathy is a very remarkable poet. When I came to know the poet is a student, the words that came spontaneously out of my lip were:’How mature he is at this young age!’
Lofty ideals are expressed throughout this volume; Highlighting ethics follow suit.Tragedies, which occur in human life, are portrayed well.His love for Tamil had made him attack those who are not loyal to their mother tongue.Innovative imageries have blossomed.His political affiliation is explicit.The condemnation of racial apartheid shows his universal outlook.

A spark has come from his rebellious and revolutionary mind.He is also receptive to modernist movements.National awareness is also there.

In total the poet acts independently without any bias.Without confining himself to any particular standpoint, a poet should express what he considers as right and justifiable through his poems. In that way Selvaganapathy is a true poet very sincere to his career.He has a bright future."

Thus says Kannadasan in the beginning of his foreword. Thereafter he narrates some particular stanzas, which are highly appreciable to him.The other two forewords are from his mentors Ulundurpettai Shanmugam and Dr.M.Sundaram.
The first volume consists of forty-eight poems on various themes.
Mother Tamil,
Nature,
Love,
Patriotism,
International Brotherhood and Humanism are the predominant themes.

Propaganda and Proclamation

The very first poem in this volume, titled "Wish", expresses the poet’s uncompromising personality.

Even if I were burnt alive by scoundrels
Or my life were put to an end by a bloody dagger
Or I were buried in a sandy desert
I wish the valour not to fear for the death

A poet who stands for rebellious thoughts and progressive ideals should not have any fear for the death. If he has even an iota of fear he may compromise and let loose his rigid stand. This poem shows the commitment of the poet to radical ideas and his conviction in adhering to those ideas at any cost.

The poem titled "Poem" gives a clear picture of what the poet considers a poem should be.
Poem…
The beautification of language
The soul of the poet
The springing fountain of skilful expression
An innovation
A beacon of communication
Embodiment of modest femininity
Which neither melts in any fire
Nor sinks in deluge
Minute in form
Magnificent in theme
Presents visual pictures
By its powerful imagery
Oh…that is
What we call….
A poem!
This poem about poem, which narrates a critical theory, shows the critical acumen of Pon.Selvaganapathy.