Chennai: Amid all things English, not often do we give importance to our mother tongue. Only a handful people pen down their thoughts or poems or stories in Tamil. Somehow, the foreign language makes its way through during a casual or serious conversation.
Having said that, in search of a personality who emphasises Tamil, led this reporter to S Kanchana from Nanganallur.
Although an MBA holder, Kanchana’s love for Tamil knows no bounds. Currently, she serves as principal of Beta Matriculation Higher Secondary School and has experience of over 25 years as teacher and 20 years as principal.
“My love for language is inborn and I would credit my parents for sowing the seed of Tamil as they were also naturally inclined towards the language and supported me in whatever new avenues I ventured into,” shares Kanchana.
She has been penning down poems and involved in orations and debates right from her school days that kept her going although she is a principal and teaches accountancy. A few of her works have also been published in the book titled, ‘Kanalai Kanavugal’.
When questioned about how it all started, she immediately says that it was the Thirukkural Mandram in Nanganallur that provided her the first on-stage experience and has seen several platforms.
Several great Tamil scholars have been a part of the literary club and Kanchana feels proud for being a part of it. “Whenever the mandram convenes weekly once, I have volunteered to teach children the wisdom contained in the couplets.”
Kanchana loves to write contemporary poems. “Although it does not strictly adhere to grammatical rules, I ensure whatever I write is comprehendable to laymen.”
When asked about the Tamil text she holds close to, she said, “There is no diversity when it comes to literature, but to answer the question, I would say ‘Thirukkural’. It is a book that is widely accepted across the globe that it has even been translated into several languages. ‘Kamba Ramayanam’ and ‘Silappathikaram’ are two interesting epics on which I have extensively spoken during various debating and orating occasions.”
The texts speak about the kind of life people led during their times. Especially in Kamba Ramayanam. Every verse is a comparison and shows the greatness of people and culture, she adds
But that is not all.
Kanchana is soon planning to launch her book containing her poems. “My Tamil professors have been urging me to pen a book since a long time, only now the time has come for their desire to materialise. All the verses are about society and social thinking.”
Her love for Tamil is so ingrained that she does not conclude any speech without hinting at it or citing a reference. “I have also been taking efforts to pass on the same trait to my students. Although I’m a principal, teaching is my passion and I love it, so whenever I handle classes, I speak about Tamil, among others.”
Not just limiting with that, she provides an opportunity for them to speak up, sowing seeds of oration in her class. “I encourage and motivate them to speak on topics ranging from Indra Gandhi to pollution.”
Speaking about how Tamil culture has transformed over years, she said, “With every occasion, it is with the thought of becoming our lives better, we need to celebrate. However, it has not been the case of late due to the impact of technology. People prefer nuclear family over joint family.”
She has been a recipient of achievers’ awards several times for her service to the society, education and Tamil literature-at-large.