T.S.Thirumalai 100

On the occasion of my maternal grandfather’s 100th birth anniversary, I reflect on the indelible impact he has had on my life and the lives of so many others. Known as an English stalwart, he was a man of intellect and simplicity, whose presence, though quiet, was deeply felt. He was an enigma—always present, yet distant in a way that only those who knew him could truly understand. My grandfather was often called a “mobile dictionary” by his students, a testament to his vast knowledge and love for language. I cannot remember a time when he wasn’t engrossed in a book or newspaper, always consuming and processing information. Even in his 80s, he tackled the Hindu crossword with unmatched enthusiasm, keeping his mind sharp and his curiosity alive. Our trips to Higginbothams were magical—a ritual we both cherished. The smell of books, the quiet joy of choosing one, and his patient presence as I explored were the highlights of my childhood vacations. These trips weren’t just about books; th...

  It is ages since I blogged. When I started blogging my first post was about my mother and I subsequently wrote a post on my grandfather. When I am writing something again after many years, it is only fitting that I thought of writing about both of them again.  This is my thatha’s 100th year and amma’s 75th year. Their birthdays are only few days apart. They left this world also only few months apart. Dec 7th is thatha’s birthday, so let me start with Thatha this time. Thatha was a happy person who enjoyed life to the fullest. He had a great sense of humour and could not stop laughing when he heard a timely joke. I used to get him to talk and tell some incidents from his child hood or college days and would use that information to pull his leg later. When it came from me he could take a joke on himself and laugh at that as well. I once even got him to tell me his pet name and started calling him by that!  Thatha was the first Post Graduate in our family and till date one...

  If music be the food of love play on, Give me excess of it, the surfeiting, May sicken the appetite, and so die. நல்ல இசையைக் கேட்க வாய்க்கும் போது எல்லாம் அப்பா இதைச் சொல்வார். ஏற்ற இறக்கத்தோடு உணர்ச்சி பொங்கச் சொல்வார். இத்தனைக்கும் அவர் அதிகம் பேசுபவர் அல்ல. இசை அவரை நெகிழ வைத்திருக்கிறது. கண்களின் விளிம்பில் நீர் கட்டி விடும். கண்ணாடியைக் கழற்றி விட்டு அழகாகத் துடைத்து விட்டுக் கொள்வார். கர்நாடக இசை அவருக்குப் பிடிக்கும். அவர் பக்கத்தில் அமர்ந்து கச்சேரி கேட்பது ஒரு சிறந்த அனுபவம். இசைக்கு முழுவதுமாகத் தன்னைக் கொடுத்து விடுவார். ஓரு அசைவோ சிலிர்ப்போ வெளியில் தெரியாது. ஏதோ ஒரு ஆழத்தில் திளைத்திருப்பவராய் இருப்பார். ஆரம்ப காலத்தில் அவரது இந்த அனுபூதியைக் கலைக்கக் கூடாது என்று தெரியாது. அவசரப்பட்டு பாடகர் பாடும் ராகத்தைத் தவறாக ஊகித்து அவரிடம் சொல்லுவேன். . மெல்ல அவர் உலகத்திலிருந்து மீண்டு சன்னக் குரலில் கவனி என்று சொல்வார். பிறகு எல்லாம் அவருடன் கச்சேரி கேட்கும் போது இசையின் ஒரு சிறு கணத்தைக் கூடத் தவற விடத் தோன்றாது. அவர் கற்பிப்பது எல்லாம் அப்படித்தான். கற்பிக்காமல் கற்பிக்க...

December 07 2024   Celebrating the Legacy of T.S. Thirumalai Iyengar on His 100th Birth Anniversary Today, we honor the remarkable life of T.S. Thirumalai Iyengar, a man whose journey continues to inspire and make us proud to be part of his family. His dedication to living life with purpose, his love for the English language, and the way he kept himself meaningfully engaged are just a few of the qualities that defined him.  This blog is a heartfelt tribute to the person he was—a celebration filled with cherished memories and reflections from family members.  As we mark his centenary, we not only remember his incredible legacy but also the ways in which his life continues to motivate and guide us.