FOUNDER OF TAMIL HUMANISM

Thiruvalluvar

Thiruvalluvar is the founder of Tamil Humanism and is the author of the Tamil Marai. He is an internationally celebrated Tamil humanist. Thiruvalluvar’s Path of Tamil Humanism is the Path of Virtue.

Thiruvalluvar was born in Mayilapur in Tamil Nadu on 15 January 31 BC. It is the day after the Tamil New Year.

Thiruvalluvar as a youth grew into a student, farmer and state advisor. He was a textile weaver by profession. Thiruvalluvar fell in love with Vasuki and their marriage was solemnized. She was a chaste, devoted and an ideal wife. Thiruvalluvar showed by example that a person can lead the life of a householder and at the same time lead a life of righteousness and with respect. A beautiful daughter was born. They named her Mullai and brought her up with loving care.

In 300 BC, Elala Chola, the King of the Tamil country ruled over Eelam. Elelasingan was his descendent and ship merchant of Mayilapur. He accepted Thiruvalluvar as his teacher and was his first disciple. One day in the evening, Elelasingan and Mullai met in a garden and they fell in love with each other. Thiruvalluvar solemnized his marriage with Mullai.

In 21 BC, Uggiraperuvazhuthi, the Tamil King, decided to send a delegation to Augustus Caesar and strengthen the trade link. He told the Romans visiting him that he is sending a delegation of merchants to Rome with Elelasingan as leader. Elelasingan left for Rome taking leave from Mullai. He left in the month of July and he promised Mullai he will return in December.

Thiruvalluvar saw that many people in this world are living without understanding humanist principles. He stayed in his house in Mayilapur and began writing his book under a LLuppai tree.

He formulated the concepts based on the 70 000 year old oral tradition of humanism and the 5000 year old Indus valley civilization, and the civilization of the four Tamil kingdoms of Pandya, Chola, Chera and Eelam. He wrote the philosophy of humanism into couplets in a book which he called Tamil Marai (Tamil Humanist Scripture). Thiruvalluvar also called it ‘Muppal’. Muppal means three kinds of subjects which are righteousness, wealth and love. Thereafter he decided to travel propagating humanist principles to all people. 

He travelled to Madurai to submit his work, ‘Muppal’, to the Pandya king. The Pandya kings ensured that many Tamil poets flourished. The Tamil Sanggam of Madurai which is an assembly of eminent poets, scholars and researchers called his work ‘Thirukural’. The Tamil Sanggam introduced the Thirukural to the world. The Tamil Marai is considered as the ‘Sacred Word of God’. Thiruvalluvar is regarded as a Tamil prophet by the Tamil community.

Thiruvalluvar said to the King: ‘a small dew drop depicts even a Palmyra tree, so also the Kural. Oh King, spread these spotless couplets. Preach to the world the humanist message of the Tamil Marai.’

LEADERS OF TAMIL HUMANISM

The two important leaders of Tamil Humanism are Mr. Seenivasa Padayachi and Mr. R.M. Moodali. They are the two main authors of the books on Tamil Humanism. Therefore the books on Tamil Humanism are called the ‘SEENIVASA – MOODALI VERSION’. They are the revivalists of Tamil Humanism.

Seenivasa Padayachi

Seenivasa Padayachi was a great advocate of the Tamil Religion. He tirelessly propagated Tamil Spirituality in Tamil Nadu and in South Africa.

The story of Seenivasa Padayachi is but a legend. The life of Seenivasa Padayachi and what we know is largely derived from oral traditions. What remains of his existence is the Tinley Manor Ragasiyam which he built in 1889 and the scriptures he recited with his last breathe in that Sanggam.

Seenivasa Padayachi was born in 1861 in Chidambaram. His father was Sabapathi. He was 28 years old when he arrived in Durban. He was educated in Tamil and English. His wife was Valliammal and she was born in 1867 in Chidambaram. Seenivasa and Valliammal had three children.

Seenivasa’s father Sabapathi was a learned scholar and a Priest at Chidambaram. Some say he was a great yogi in Chidambaram. Sabapathi was born around 1801. Sabapathi taught Seenivasa the Tamil religion and culture in its purest form. He believed in Tamil Humanism and the Ragasiyam is the highest form of worship. He wanted all Tamils to worship in the Ragasiyam. Sabapathi’s vision is: ‘A Ragasiyam in every town and village’. The Ragasiyam is a Meditation and Cultural Hall.

Seenivasa Padayachi took his only priceless possession the Tamil Marai (Thirukural) and together with his family boarded the ship headed for South Africa.

Sabapathi gave Seenivasa his blessings to go to South Africa to protect the faith. He encouraged him to travel abroad to save the Tamil beliefs.

When Seenivasa arrived the first thing he did was to go and search for land to build the Ragasiyam as per his father’s wishes. He found many Tamils living in the North Coast of Natal. 

Seenivasa built the first Ragasiyam outside of India for the Tamils in Tinley Manor, Natal, South Africa. It was built out of wood and iron around July 1889. Alagiri also helped Seenivasa with the construction of the Ragasiyam.

The Ragasiyam is the Hall for the Praise of God. The congregation in Tinley Manor assembled there and in front of them is a room of empty space. In this room hangs the golden leaves with the Tamil alphabet on it. This Ragasiyam is the purist form of Tamil worship. Tamils worship God in this way for thousands of years. They recited the Tamil Marai and other scriptures and conducted their ceremonies in this Ragasiyam.

Seenivasa was involved in promoting the Tamil religion and culture in Tinley Manor. When his indentured contract expired after 5 years he moved to Germiston in 1894, Transvaal now called Gauteng. Seenivasa moved to Transvaal (Gauteng) because he knew there were many Tamils living here. In 1895 he built another Ragasiyam in Germiston. His vision was that wherever there is a Tamil community there should be a Ragasiyam.

Seenivasa moved to Tinley Manor permanently in 1900. He lived there in meditation and study in the Tinley Manor Ragasiyam and established a Tamil Sanggam.

He propagated Tamil Humanism amongst the indentured labourers. He spent the rest of his life promoting the Tamil religion and culture in the Tinley Manor Ragasiyam. 

His last day on earth was unforgettable.  He took his wife and children to the Tinley Manor Ragasiyam. He entered the Sangam. Seenivasa Padayachi sat down in the Tinley Manor Tamil Sangam, facing the congregation, his friends, his family and children for the last time. He smiled at his loving wife, Alamalu, and his children and began to speak about Tamil Humanism. He praised God through words, recited all the Tamil scriptures in English and Tamil and while chanting ‘Namasivaya’ in the Sangam he collapsed and died peacefully.

Thayi, Alagiri and Seenivasa’s Descendants

R.M. Moodali

R.M. Moodali is a political activist and an internationally renowned humanist. He made an immense contribution to the transformation of South Africa.

Rajoo Munisami Moodali was born on 31 October 1907. He was the son of an indentured laborer Thayi. Thayi came from a district called South Arcot in Tamil Nadu. In 1914, Thayi died at the age of 41 years and R.M. Moodali was placed in an orphanage.

From 1918 to 1930, he worked on Apartheid farms for a Mr. G. Duncan. In 1931 he worked as a waiter at Victoria hotel. In 1935, he worked for the Hulletts family as a chauffeur. In later years he did part time bookkeeping for small companies as White businesses did not give him work because of the Job Reservation Act.

He went to the Wesleyan Missionary School in 1912, and had to leave school at Standard Four to work on the farm. In 1931 he completed a Bookkeeping course part time through correspondence. In 1940’s he join the Study Circles and learnt politics and economics. This was the beginning of his political career.

In 1940, he joined the South African Communist Party. Latter he joined the ANC and the NIC. In the 1980’s he joined the UDF in the anti- Apartheid struggle. He continued to be involved in politics until 1994, that’s a total of 53 years struggling for Human Rights.

R.M. Moodali witnessed the rise and fall of Apartheid and participated actively in the Anti-apartheid struggle. Throughout his life, he was a Human Rights activist. He attended the protest meetings. He received pamphlets, posters, listened to Radio Freedom, the Voice of the ANC and distributed the pamphlets and messages from door to door. He was a freedom fighter against colonialism and Apartheid. His response is the way millions of people responded to the leaders, until the disbanding of the Natal Indian Congress and UDF structures.

R.M. Moodali was also a cultural activist. He belonged to various cultural organisations such as Stanger Youth Orchestra, Stanger Debating Society, The Rationalist Association of South Africa, Pretoria Tamil Rationalism Society, The Humanist Association of South Africa, Natal Buddhist Society, The Thirukural Society, International Movement for Tamil Culture: South Africa and many others. In the 1980’s he suggested to his family and Babs about forming a Tamil humanist international society. He encouraged Mr Rowley Arenstein his old friend from the liberation struggle to join. R.M. Moodali was a loving person who went about his daily life with the universal principles of humanism. He was a humanist and a convinced atheist. He was talkative and an eloquent speaker.

He was also a cultural activist who promoted the reformation of Tamils by rejecting the caste system, superstition, rituals and fatalistic beliefs. The most important thing that had to change was the Tamil belief system in order for them to become progressive. He was involved in promoting the Tamil culture and language. His understanding of the Tamil Marai was from a Tamil perspective which is the concept of the Moodali version.

He promoted the Tamil language and he advocated other cultural and linguistics groups to promote theirs in unity and harmony as South Africans. He advocated South African multiculturalism to enrich the cultural fabric. The various cultural and linguistic identities of the world are the elements that make the world’s multicultural social fabric beautiful and joyful.  

R.M. Moodali has personally helped many people by providing them with financial, emotional support, advise and assisted them with legal issues. He helped people overcome their material needs. He was always helping people.

R.M. Moodali married Kamatchi Moodali, the granddaughter of Seenivasa Padayachi on 22 January 1944. She was a dutiful wife to R.M. Moodali and a loving mother. She was an exceptional cook and always generously took care of others. They lived mostly in Bull Bull Drive and Desainagar. They had two daughters and a son Thiagesan (Babs) Moodali who was a successful businessman and philanthropist. He read a lot of health books and how to prevent diabetes. He did not drink alcohol nor did he smoke. He led a healthy lifestyle.

R.M. Moodali conducted much research into Seenivasa Padayachi and reunited the two families from Gauteng and Natal, KZN. He retold the story of Seenivasa Padayachi to all who visited him.

He had many major achievements. In 1931 he became a certified Bookkeeper. In the mid 1930’s he was expert at playing the Violin and the Banjo. From 1936 to 1941, The Safety First Association awarded him 6 Diplomas, a Bronze medal, then finally a Gold Medal for Driving. He always owned a vintage Borgward car. In 1960’s he bought a 6 ¼ acre farm in Bull Bull Drive. On 3 October 1998 at Technikon Natal, R.M. Moodali was honored for his role in the human rights struggle. In 1994, he was 53 years involved in political activity in the ANC, NIC and SACP. On 23 September 2007, he celebrated 60 years of marriage to Kamatchi. On 1 January 2001, he was 71 years involved in cultural activity. On 31 October 2007, he celebrated his 100 years birthday. He passed away on 9 April 2008 in Tongaat.

The Moodali Family

R.M. Moodali, his wife Kamatchi Moodali who is the granddaughter of Seenivasa Padayachi, and Thiagesan Rajoo Moodali was the last Tamil Humanist family in South Africa.

Thiagesan Rajoo Moodali, known to family and friends as Babs, was born on 26th April 1951.

He is the son of R.M. Moodali. Babs was an outstanding entrepreneur and a successful businessman and a great philanthropist. He was a highly skilled person with great entrepreneurial skills. He became the CEO of Zimbali Engineering and he negotiated many contracts with SAB.

His philosophical religious outlook was similar to that of his father. He was a committed Tamil Humanist. He tirelessly kept the flame of humanism alive by advocating it among family members and the South African community.

He supported many charities and NGO’s and was involved in community projects of Desainagar. He helped organize feeding schemes in the informal settlement and held meetings with their leaders. 

In October 2013 he was diagnosed with leukaemia and was hospitalised for three weeks undergoing chemotherapy. On 2 December 2013, he sadly passed away. He had no children and was the last generation in the Moodali family.    

PROGRESSIVE TAMIL LEADERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The progressive Tamil leaders in South Africa were M. Subramoney, Anban,  Mr. Sothinathan, Mrs. Sothinathan, Mrs. Dixon, L. Nagamuthu, P.S. Vello, Billy Peters and R.M. Moodali. They promoted the progressive aspects of the Tamil culture. Billy Peters was the elder brother of Mrs. Sothinathan and he was actively involved in the anti-apartheid political struggle together with R.M. Moodali.

Most of the indentured Indian laborers who came by ship to South Africa were Tamils. They brought along with them a rich advanced culture of music, dance, drama and an ancient language. Wherever they settled the Tamil people passed this cultural heritage to others from generation to generation.

MR. AND MRS. SOTHINATHAN

Mrs. Sothinathan was born on 14 July 1931. There were no formal Tamil schools and classes would be held from backyards and garages. It was one of these classes which Mrs. Sothinathan happened to attend as a young girl. At that time Tamil classes were a leisure activity. They were not compulsory and children attended as they enjoyed it. Mrs. Sothinathan’s first reader was Athichuvadi and later she learnt the meaning of the Thirukkural.

Mr. Sothinathan was born in 1925. He lived in 15 Raphmines Road, Mayville. His family was very Tamil culturally conscious. He promoted the Tamil language and the progressive philosophy of Periyar EVR Ramsamy. He was a very humorous jovial person.

Mr. Sothinathan proposed to Kamatchi Sothinathan who was seventeen years of age. Although she lived a street away from him, they could not freely meet in those days and had to communicate by writing letters. They wrote many letters, some were love letters and in others he would write Tamil lessons in grammar, and quoted verses from the Thirukkural, Athichuvadi and other ethical texts.

On 2 July 1950, Sothinathan and Kamatchi were married. The wedding was conducted by Periyar M. Subramoney who was the Chairman of the Thirukkural Society. They had 5 children, 4 girls and 1 boy.

Sothinathan and Kamatchi enjoyed a successful married life. In happiness and sorrow they shared equally and the patience, tolerance and discipline Mrs. Sothinathan learnt from her husband guided her in all aspects of life. He was a man of few words but took pride in advising and guiding others. He was a prolific writer. He wrote the translation of Tamil ethical books and movie scripts for the Graphic Newspaper.

Mr. Sothinathan at the age of twenty started Tamil night classes with a group of youth in Mayville under the supervision of Mr. Gopal Nair, a learned Tamil scholar. The enthusiasm of the students grew so much that they used the Tamil film screenings which were held only once in six months and afterwards they would reenact the entire film, taking turns singing, dancing and reciting the dialogue. Mrs. Sothinathan often joined them in this.

Mr. Sothinathan together with Mr. M. Subramoney, Mr. Gopal Nair, Anban and Mrs. Sothinathan formed the Thirukkural Society in 1949. It was called the Tamizhar Kazhagam. In 1950 it changed its name to Thirukkural Society. Mr. Subramoney was the first president and the Vice President was Mr. Sothinathan. Later Mr. Sothinathan became the president after Mr. Subramoney passed away.

Mr. M. Subramoney always had the desire to continue propagation work despite their limited resources at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan joined him in the Thirukkural Society travelling to different areas and lecturing on the Tamil language and the Thirukkural text.

Thereafter, the Thirukkural Society formed the Kalayvanin band under the name of the film actor, N.S. Krishnan. The Thirukkural Society under the leadership of its President Mr. M. Subramoney went on to propagate iyal, isai, naadagam muththamizh. Mr. M. Subramoney opened a book shop in Victoria Street with the aim of propagating the Tamil language and Sothinathan bought books from him.

There was one picture book called Pesum Padam where he found the address of a pen pal named Selchthanandari from Chennai, South India whom he began corresponding with. They kept in touch for many years and Sothinathan introduced him to friends travelling to Mumbai. He later became a guide for South Africans travelling to India and he was very helpful in sending records and Tamil readers to South Africa. After seventeen years of corresponding with Santhanam Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan we were able to visit South India. On the ship Sothinathan would make friends with other Tamils for love of the language.

At home, Mr. Sothinathan would sit with Mr. Anban and his brothers and others till midnight enjoying themselves speaking in Tamil. He would choose songs according to their voices for them to sing. His enthusiasm for the language was so strong and he believed that the language must be spoken in order to keep it alive.

Sothinathan would insist that his wife Kamatchi always speak in Tamil and this is something she is extremely grateful to him for. Sothinathan found a very unique way of propagating Tamil amongst the youth. He ran a music shop in Prince Edward Street and many youth from Magazine Barracks would visit him there. They would be afraid to walk straight into the shop and would first stand outside and think about what to say in Tamil as they would have to pay a fine of 5 cents which was a lot in 1956 if they did not at least say Vannakkam. This made them learn to speak Tamil and enjoy Tamil music as well. Those who have learnt under Sothinathan taught Tamil in government schools and are also doing their duty for Tamil.

The members of the Thirukkural Society would only speak Tamil at all their meetings. Mr. Anban and Mr. Kris Kisten are two of them who kept Tamil alive.

In 1950 the Thirukkural Society had chosen K.A. P. Visvanathan as a patron from South India for its society.

Since Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan we were married on 2 July 1950, they served the Thirukkural Society, without remuneration, simply for the upliftment of the Tamil culture.

From 1950 they would receive books from a friend in Tamil Nadu such as Pasum Tamil 1,2,3,4 Readers, Padam, Athichuvadi, Tamil readers and magazines as well as the Thirukkural. Later on when there were no Tamil films being shown in theatres, Sothinathan approached Tamil friends working in cinemas and the cinema managers to bring across films from India.

In 1953, Sothinathan’s grandmother went to India by ship and at the time Sivaji Ganesan’s first film Parasakthi was being released there. One of Sothinathan’s friends sent back twelve long play records of the film’s dialogue with his grandmother.

The members of the Thirukkural Society played the records over and over until they finally learnt the entire dialogue of the film and then asked Mr. Sothinathan to bring the complete film to South Africa. One of Sothinathan’s friends who worked at the cinema spoke to the manager and arranged for the movie Parasakthi to be brought to South Africa and the members of the Thirukkural Society were invited to the first preview show by the cinema owner. During the screening there was so much excitement and loud appreciation from the members which surprised the owner who had no idea that they were watching for the first time, the film which they had heard and learnt the entire dialogue. Thereafter, Sothinathan maintained a close relationship with the cinema owners, helping to select films and translate them into English for the Graphic Newspaper. At that time, Sothinathan’s mother would listen to All India Radio everyday and on one occasion when she switched it on Mrs. Sothinathan heard of a new film being released called Palum Palupamam. Mrs. Sothinathan approached Sothinathan to arrange for the cinema owners to bring this movie to South Africa and ever since then many film directors continued to bring more and more films over here.

The Thirukkural Society was also responsible for bringing the use of the greeting Vanakkam to South Africa. They would receive a Tamil newspaper from India called Thamizhan Nadu Newspaper and a very Tamil conscious author, K.A.P. Visvanathan (Muththamizh Kavalar) used to write all the equivalent of Sanskrit words in Tamil. From this newspaper, the members in the Thirukkural Society picked up most of the pure Tamil words such as Aandu, Magazhchchi and others. The pure Tamil word for greeting is Vanakkam. Namaskaram was replaced with Vanakkam. They began to practice and implement these words which caused a lot of commotion in the beginning as people wondered why they were changing the use of Namaskaram to Vanakkam. Sothinathan even encountered problems when teaching the word Vanakkam instead of Namaskaram in schools and adult classes. It was only after the great Tamil Nadu leader C.N. Annathurai introduced Vanakkam in Tamil Nadu and the films started introducing this word in the screen credits that people in South Africa began to accept it more freely. It was due to this that the Tamil community in South Africa began to realize how advanced the Thirukkural Society actually was. The word Vanakkam brought greater respect for their organization.

At a time when youngsters were more caught up in horse racing, alcohol, parties, discos, etc. the Thirukkural Society motivated the youth to become more creative in propagation work.

In 1962 because of the Apartheid’s Group Areas Act, Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan moved to Chatsworth when Blacks, Whites, Coloureds and Indians were separated into different areas. The Tamil community were scattered and moving to another area meant starting fresh in a new home. There were no Tamil schools or temple halls.

Mrs. Sothinathan with the help of Mr. Subramoney and some dedicated members like Mrs. Runganayagi Govender and many others started holding Tamil classes in garages in Chatsworth.

In 1972 dedicated mothers like Mrs. J. Naidoo, Mrs. Sindha, Morris, Mrs. Arumugam, Mrs. Charles and Mrs. Sothinathan started the Mathar Kazhagam, rendering Thevaram, Thiru Arupta and Thirukkural. They trained and entered the children in eisteddfods with all their spare time without any public funding.

Sothinathan and Mrs. Sothinathan were at Periyar EVR Ramsamy’s funeral in India.

Annathurai did not believe in Brahman rituals and superstition. He brought reformation to the Tamil people. Thirukkural Society and IMTC followed the teachings of Periyar EVR Ramsamy, Annathurai, Devan Pavanar and K.A.P. Visvanathan.

In 1974 they visited Tamil Nadu (Chennai) for the first time and were given the opportunity from there to attend the Fourth International Tamil Conference in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. From Chennai they got a visa and flew to Jaffna, Sri Lanka for the International Tamil Conference.

Mr. Sothinathan and Mrs. Sothinathan went on to form the IMTC (International Movement for Tamil Culture) in 1974 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Kris Kisten and Anban were also founding members.

Anban became the President of the IMTC (South Africa) and Mrs. Sothinathan continued to play a key leadership role of the IMTC. Anban organized Pongol celebrations every year. Cultural celebrations like Pongal and showcasing arts such as Bharathyam dance and Carnatic music and hosting learned speakers regularly, is an excellent way of keeping the Tamil cultural consciousness alive in people.

Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan met many foreigners there including a European woman named Baka who was dressed in a sari and came all the way to stay in Jaffna and study the Tamil language. This made them think about Tamils in South Africa. There was also a European father and son who played violin and sang in Tamil. The entire conference was conducted in Tamil. All religious organizations, including Christian groups participated. It was also Pongol at the time and the celebrations as well as the conference were amazing and colorful. For the first time they saw floats of Thiruvalluvar, Kanagi, Barathiyaar, Silapathigaram, Avaiyaar. Christian pastors and Buddhists monks were on the floats and there was no differentiation of caste or religion. This was a great experience for Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan and when she began teaching Tamil at government schools, she was able to teach many Tamil speaking Christians the language by emphasizing the difference between religion and language. Even Pongol being a harvest festival is a universal celebration and by bridging this gap she wanted to show that if they learned Tamil they could even read the Tamil version of the Bible. She was able to extend the language to many students in government schools in this way.

Mrs. Sothinathan kept telling Tamil children how important it is to learn their mother tongue. She always remind them that in India even when students don’t get place in schools they never give up learning and they know many languages.

There is a wealth of knowledge available in the Tamil language and culture and knowing one’s mother tongue helps to open doors of greater and ancient knowledge. Mrs. Sothinathan kept insisting this point in schools, services and any platform she gets to address. That is a Tamil duty, to keep Tamil culture alive and never let it die.

Sothinathan’s life and passion was all about Tamil so whenever there was any Tamil event they attended, recorded and filmed. They attended assemblies, visited schools and were interviewed on All India Radio which was heard in South Africa. They also gathered all the things that were needed for the Thirukkural Society. They were introduced to schools by school inspector Chiti Babu and they were prepared to gain enough knowledge to strategize on how to teach and read the Tamil language correctly. They visited a girl’s high school in Chennai which was observing the Pongal festival and they enjoyed the items presented on that day. The high school teachers also checked and tested both of them on their reading and pronunciation. The teacher said that she was worried at first when the inspector informed that foreigners from South Africa would be visiting as she expected them to communicate in Zulu or an African language. But once she gave them the book to read, she was amazed and said they read and pronounced perfectly.

The trip was a success and travelling Tamil Nadu was a great experience. They walked along Marina Beach and filmed and took photos of the statues of Kanagi and others. On one of the days they had planned to go to the cinema but cancelled when they heard of a place called Patti Mandram where debates were held. On that day there was a debate on the Thirukkural which they decided would be more interesting than the cinema, an opportunity they could not miss. Sitting engrossed at this debate for three hours they did not know how the time had passed. Dr Avai Nadarasan was the head of the panel of eight, five male and three female Pullavars (honoured poets). They debated on a single Kural verse for three hours. It was inspirational and fascinating to hear the learned thoughts and to see that such intricate research was being conducted on Valluvar’s Thirukkural.

Their friend from Chennai informed them that Dr Avai Nadarasan also spoke English very well so Sothinathan made several attempts to bring him over to South Africa to lecture in the University.

Sothinathan tried to motivate for this at the Tamil Federation meetings. Three years later the MTSS brought Dr Avai Nadarasan to South Africa. He went around lecturing on Tamil language and culture and for almost forty years they continued to bring over Tamil lecturers to propagate the language and culture in South Africa.

The members of the Thirukkural Society were reading books by K.A. P. Visvanathan, C.N. Annathurai, Periyar EVR Ramsamy, Kalaigar Karunanithi as well as Indian stories, dialogues and newspapers like Mursoli and others. Mrs. Sothinathan used K.A.P. Visvanathan’s books such as Thamizh Selvan to teach children and enter them in eisteddfods. Because the dialogue was very heavy and full of ethics it was not easy to train children who did not speak the vernacular and the teaching and practice was extensive and went on for many days until 9 or 10 at night to get it perfect. All the hard work paid off in 1975 when their school, the Anbuvazhi Thamizh Paadasaalai bagged 14 trophies and certificates and appeared on the front page of the Graphic Newspaper. This great achievement gained a popular name for Mrs. Sothinathan and the Thirukkural Society in the Tamil community.

At that time, senior organizations such as the Thirukkural Society, IMTC and MTSS were active in propagating and celebrating Tamil. It was a lively and fruitful period for Tamil in South Africa.

Both the Thirukkural Society and the IMTC were founded on principles of Periyar EVR Ramsamy’s Rationalism and Humanism philosophy. IMTC initiated the celebrating of Pongol, the harvest festival for many years. Thirukkural Society and IMTC had the same officials.

On 31 May 1984, Mr. Sothinathan passed away.

The Arutpa Kazhgam was formed in 1949 and continued in Bayview, Chatsworth. Arutpa Kazhagam is a religious organization that practiced reformed beliefs and service to humanity. In 1972, Mrs. Sothinathan taught Tamil at Arutpa Kazhagam. Mrs. Sothinathan started teaching in Government schools in 1990 to 1993 Tamil lessons.

Serving in the Arutpa Kazhgam Mrs. Sothinathan was able to make use of an unusual opportunity to lecture the Tamil culture and language at the sixteen day memorial ceremonies. She would speak on the ignorance of some ritualistic beliefs as well as the relevance of Tamil culture and made it very clear at these functions that her reasons for addressing such topics were relevant.

Mrs. Sothinathan was able to deliver many emotional speeches and lectures based on her experiences and reading the works of many great Tamil authors, poets, philosophers and reformists. This gave Mrs. Sothinathan so much enthusiasm to share this knowledge at every opportunity.

The platform Mrs. Sothinathan gained at the Arutpa Kazhagam allowed her to pass on her knowledge of religious teachings as well. She would often do this at ceremonies which presented an ideal opportunity to educate the masses on the great and ancient religion followed by Tamils. Great Tamil saints such as Manikkavasagar, Sambandar, Sundarar, Appar, and others produced volumes of work on the inconceivable God and Lord Siva and in the 19^th Century, Saint Vallalar graced humanity with his Arutpa which centered on love, mercy and compassion to all living beings. He even addressed contemporary issues of human rights and equality.

Even as early as 31 BC the great poet, Thiruvalluvar gave humanity the universal text called Thirukkural, which is a timeless guide on ethics for people of all religions to use in everyday life. The Thirukkural is also known as the Tamil Marai. With this wealth of wisdom available in the Tamil religious and cultural texts it’s unjust to ignore them, especially when they hold the solutions to many modern day problems.

Dr. G U Pope was a Christian missionary who learnt the Tamil language so that he could communicate with the Tamil people and propagate Christianity. In his studies of Tamil language and grammar, Pope claimed that he had little to give the Tamil people compared to the rich knowledge and wisdom that already existed in the Tamil culture. After reading the Thirukkural and Thiruvasagam he felt that he had more to gain from them and he was eventually responsible for translating both these texts into English. Such great acknowledgement from an outsider, yet this richness is little known to Tamils living in South Africa. Mrs. Sothinathan tried to make people understand this and quoted extensively from the Thirukkural many verses appropriate to the occasion.

When speaking at the funeral or ceremony of a late mother Mrs. Sothinathan would quote verses on valuing and honoring one’s parents. The Tamil songs have such beautiful words and the literature has great poetry and meaning and Mrs. Sothinathan would express this to the children especially to encourage them to learn the vernacular. These are just some of the extents that they had to go through to pass on the knowledge of scripture and language.

Sothinathan, like Mr. M. Subramoney opened a Tamil bookshop in 1979. He struggled to keep it open for five years. When he died in 1984, Mrs. Sothinathan took over running the shop. It is said that without language there is no culture as all the richness and ancient gems in our culture are communicated and passed throughout generations by the language.

At the age of sixty Mrs. Sothinathan was still teaching as were many other elderly cultural leaders at the time and she knew that if she did not take every opportunity, it would have been much worse for the younger leaders to take over now.

In 1991, Mrs. Sothinathan joined the government school in Chatsworth teaching Tamil. Mrs. Sothinathan built up her knowledge by her love of reading and was awarded a certificate from the Umlazi University for translating Baraathiyar poems on women abuse from Tamil to English.

In 1993 Mrs. Sothinathan attended the Tanjavur University and successfully completed the ‘Special Training Course in Tamil Language and Culture’. Mrs. Sothinathan was awarded with a certificate of distinction from the School of Indian Language.

Mrs. Sothinathan played a leading role in the 5^th International Saiva Conference in Durban in 1995. She was the Chairperson of the women’s organizing committee.

Mrs. Sothinathan was an active supporter of Human Rights and took part in many protest marches and demonstrations for the Liberation of Eelam Tamils from oppression.

In 2001 Mrs. Sothinathan published a book called ‘Guide Book for the Speaker’.

Mrs. Sothinathan was elected in 2002 as the President of the Arutpa Kazhagam of South Africa. She was a Trustee of the Arutpa Kazhagam of South Africa. She also served as a Council Member of the Tamil Women Progressive Movement. She was a member of the South African Tamil Federation.

On 22 July 2008, Mrs. Sothinathan printed an article on ‘Righteous Living for Youth’ from Saint Vallalar’s book of Arutpa.

In 2010 Mrs Sothinathan realized her long standing ambition to build a library with the help of the members of the Arutpa Kazhagam.

At the age of 86, in 2017 Mrs. Sothinathan released a CD for the ‘Guide Book for the Speaker’.

International Movement for Tamil Culture

Founders of the IMTC

Left 1 Kanagrathanam of Jaffna (Editor of Milk White Newspaper)

Left 3 Mr. Saalielantharain of Chennai (Writer and Prof of Tamil language)

Left 4 Mrs Saalielantharain (Wife)

Left 5 Mrs. Sothinathan

Left 6 Mr. Sothinathan

Thanjavur University

2^nd Row

1. Mrs. Sothinathan
2. Pushpa Murugan
3. Thiru

ANBAN

Anban was born on 20 February 1926 and his name was registered as Muruvan Munsamy. His father was Vayali who was born in India. Anban was born in Baron Grove in Mayville and he had three brothers and three sisters. He went to AYS Memorial School up to standard three level. He started work at the age of 16 years at C.N. Rana and Sons Stores.

He married Allee Naidu from Pretoria. She is the granddaughter of Mr. P.S. Vello, a leading Rationalist and Humanist in South Africa. He later moved to Unit 7, Risecliff, Chatsworth in 1969. He was working for G.C. Shave which was based in Jacobs. He retired in 1955. He had 3 children, Selvam, Selvee and Vasanthi and three grandchildren, Laveshnee, Anjali and Seran.

He was involved in many cultural activities. He was the founder member of the Thirukkural Society in 1949. The Thirukural Society offices later moved to Unit 2, Chatsworth. He actively promoted the Pongol festival and Valluvar Day every year.

He was also the founder member of the Tamil Federation and the Tamil Advancement Society of which he was the secretary. He was the adjudicator of the Eisteddfod Committee and contributed much to the activities of the Tamil Federation.

Anban went to the IMTC conference in Mauritius in 1989. He was nominated as Representative of the South African branch. Being a sympathizer of the Tamil struggle in Eelam, he was on the banned list so he could not go to the IMTC launch in Jaffna. Prof Veerapan who was the President of the IMTC internationally visited in 1993, and Anban introduced him to all the Tamil cultural organizations.

He held the first Tamil classes in Mayville in 1960. He also started the first Tamil classes at his home at Unit 7, Chatsworth in 1970. He continued teaching Tamil from 1980 to 1990 in Unit 6, Chatsworth at the Arena Park Siva Alayam. He taught Tamil in government schools and also set the exams for the Tamil schools. When he retired he did the Orientation of Tamil Teachers at the Teacher Centre in Unit 3, Chatsworth. He had a good command of the English language.  He helped many students get enrolled in university by writing a letter of reference.

He made his own banners for IMTC. As part of Tamil Advancement Society (TAS), he organized float processions for Pongol celebrations and New Year celebrations on 14 January.

He gave lectures on the Thirukural at many functions and at local halls and schools. He recited the whole Thirukkural from his memory.

Anban would visit R.M. Moodali at his home in Bul Bul Drive, Silverglen and together they would develop strategies in promoting Tamil culture and philosophy. He valued R.M. Moodali’s humanist thinking. Anban was an atheist who promoted the principles of Rationalism and Humanism. He subscribed to the journal called ‘The Modern Rationalist’ which was founded by Periyar E.V. Ramasami.

He passed away on 26 October 2013 at the age of 87, leaving behind a great legacy and heritage for the next generation.

PERIYAR M. SUBRAMONEY

Mr. Subramoney Munisami was born on 3 June 1910 at Kings Rest. His father was Munisami Abai Naidoo. He was the eldest of 7 sons and he had 5 sisters. He took his first lessons in Tamil from his father who could read and write English and Tamil.

In 1921 Mr. L. Chinnappa Naidoo, hailed from Chittoor in India came to reside as his neighbor in Kings Rest and offered to teach him Tamil.

He attended the Clairwood Indian School and he finished his primary education in 1924 when he passed his standard four.

In 1925 he started work at Shell Company in Island View. He spent his lunch break teaching Tamil to interested fellow workers. In 1937 he became a supervisor at Shell. His wages was one penny an hour.

In the afternoon he taught Tamil to a few children from the neighborhood. One of his scholars was Balakrishnan, the son of Mr. L. Chinnappa Naidoo. He was a Tamil teacher since February 1925 and had a roll of 125 children. At weekends he conducted a simplified prayer service. A building was erected for the Tamil School.

In 1927 he took his violin lessons from Mr. Masilamoney Moodley who was a famous singer and dramatist. Mr. Subramoney took part in the play Nalathaangal. In 1928 a concert group was established in Kings Rest. In 1933 he founded the Sarva Samaya Samarasa Sanmarka Sabha with his friends. It was through this society a Kings Rest Tamil School was established.

Mr. Subramoney married Velliammal on 18 February 1934. Velliammal was born on 1 February 1918. They had 5 sons and 7 daughters. His interest in Tamil language is evident in his family where all members speak the language fluently.

In 1935 he was a member of the Clairwood branch of the Indian Social Service Committee. He imported Tamil books and distributed freely to all interested persons in 1935.

In October 1937 Mr. Subramoney started work at the Radio Record Trading Company which was a distributing agent for Indian records.

He played a major role in in the conversion of the Tamil school to Kings Rest Government Aided Indian School in 1945.

In October 1948 he visited India to study further. He attended the Tanjore and District Teachers Guild where he met many Tamil teachers and principals. He visited the Tamil Isai Sangam Annual Music festival over 11 days. He heard famous singers like M.K. Thagaraja Bagavathar and M.S. Subulaksmi. He studied through the Presidency College in Madras. In the study of Tamil literature, he found a pathway to the inner meanings of the poetical works.

In 1949, Mr. Subramoney formed the Thamizhar Kazhagam.

Mr. Subramoney was the founder of the Thirukkural Society which held lectures in various places and people were made aware of the Pongol festival and Valluvar Day.

Mr. M. Subramoney opened a Bookseller Shop in 1953 dealing in Tamil books, school books and stationery. He opened his own bookshop at 117c Victoria Street and later, a record and bookshop was opened at 83 Victoria Street. His intention of the book shop was not to make profits but rather to propagate Tamil literature. This shop also served as a venue for Tamil and Thirukkural classes in the evenings.

In 1965 he became a council member of the Natal Tamil Vedic Society and served on the Eisteddfod Adjudicating panel. He was the Vice President of the South African Tamil Federation. He was a patron of many musical and cultural organizations.

In 1972, together with Manickam Moodley he left to India. He published two books namely:  Read and Write Tamil through English and Tamil Marriages Simplified with the generosity of the owners of Goodwill Supply Store in Clairwood.

He continued to conducted services and Tamil classes at Willow Park Primary School. Mr. Subramoney explained the inner meanings of the sweet songs that Mr. Manickum Moodley taught to large numbers of children.

In 1983 he was awarded the Ponnadai or Golden Shawl by the Clairwood Tamil Institute for his valuable contribution to the growth and preservation of Tamil culture in South Africa.

In 1990 Sivan Kovil honoured him. The President of Tamil Federation, Saiva Pulavar Vidwan K.C. Gounden drew an analogy between Periyar M. Subramoney and Periyar E.V. Ramasamy who is a rationalist and a humanist in Tamil Nadu.

Periyar M. Subramoney advocated the Thirukkural as a code of conduct for human life. He lectured on the three sections of the Thirukkural namely Arum (Virtue), Porul (Politics) and Inbam (Love) which provide for a perfect and righteous way of life. He emphasized that Tamil philosophy and culture abounds in greatness.

His call to the youth was to take a keener interest in Tamil Philosophy and work towards its propagation. He promoted the Tamil language and culture.

He spread throughout South Africa the two main Tamil festivals which is Pongol and Thiruvalluvar Day.

His dedication to carrying the torch of Tamil culture, philosophy and the Tamil religion have earned him the title of ‘Periyar’.

Mr. Subramoney after studying the various Tamil scriptures decided that many Tamil practices in South Africa needed reformation. He campaigned for simplified marriages, death ceremonies and prayer services. Saint Ramalinga exhorted people to do away with corruption and worship God in the form of light. False beliefs and corruptions must be condemned. Mr. Subramoney performed almost fifty weddings ceremonies. He simplified the marriage and death ceremonies of Tamils and removed superstitious and ritualistic practices. He promoted ceremonies that espoused the principles of the Thirukkural.

In Madras Kavi Yogi Shuddananda Bharati composed a special song and gave him the title ‘Thamizhmani Subramanyan’. To the younger members of the Tamil community, Mr. Subramoney’s message is that there should be a greater interest and enthusiasm to perform ‘needful activities for the welfare of all’. Mr. Subramoney said: ‘The future lies in your hands and you should study the Tamil literature and pass on the knowledge to others. The Thirukkural contains teachings for all mankind, irrespective of caste, creed and colour or race.’ He passed away on 23 September 1993.

Thirukkural Society meeting on 4 October 1959

The Tamil flag of the 3 Kingdoms is on the wall.

From the Left: 2^nd M. Subramoney

3^rd Mr Sothinathan

4^th Anban

Thirukkural Society meeting on 4 October 1959

From the Left: 2^nd Mrs. Sothinathan

3^rd Mr. Sothinathan

4^th Mr. M. Subramoney

5^th Anban

MRS. DIXON

Mrs. Dixon founded the Ramalinga Institute and had a center in Isipingo. R.M. Moodali would visit her often and she would ask for his advice and guidance on promoting humanist principles. The Ramalinga Institute promoted Vallalar’s teachings. Saint Vallalar promoted the universal principle of love and service to humanity.

L. NAGAMUTHU

Mr. L. Nagamuthu was the President of the Natal Buddhist Society.

The Natal Buddhist Society was founded in 1920, and one of its branches was in Amatikulu where R.M. Moodali grew up as a child. The Buddhists assisted the poor Indian community on the Sugar cane plantations and tried to educate and uplift their position. R.M. Moodali also laid the foundation of the Tamil Buddhist Centre in Unit 7 in Chatsworth with Mr. L. Nagamuthu.

The Natal Buddhist Society was made up predominately of the Tamil people. It promoted the Tamil Buddhist scripture called ‘Manimekalai’ and Sillapatikaram. Tamil Buddhism survived in South Africa.

Mr. L. Nagamuthu took part in the International Tamil Conference and was present during the formation of the IMTC (International Movement for Tamil Culture) in 1974 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Mr. Nagamuthu went with Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan in 1974 for the Jaffna Conference. Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Buddhists as well as Atheists and Humanists were dynamic participants of IMTC.

R.M. Moodali and (unknown) at the Tamil Buddhist Centre celebration

P.S. VELLO

Mr. P.S. Vello had a Vegetable Shop in the Asiatic Bazaar in Pretoria. P.S Vello is the President of the Pretoria Tamil Rationalism Society. As an atheist, he actively promoted Rationalism and Humanism. He translated the Thirukkural from Tamil to Afrikaans. He would come and stay in Mr. and Mrs. Sothinathan’s house for three months buying vegetables to take to his shop. Mrs. Sothinathan would write letters in Tamil as he dictated for his daughter. The members of the Thirukkural Society, Mr. Subramoney, Sothinathan and Anban went to visit P.S. Vello in Pretoria. That’s how Anban met P.S. Vello’s granddaughter. Anban later married his granddaughter. His granddaughter would write letters for P.S. Vello in the Tamil script in Pretoria to R.M. Moodali.

P.S. Vello at a Valluvar Day celebration held by the Pretoria Tamil Rationalism Society.

BILLY PETERS

Mrs. Sothinathan’s brother Billy Peters was a member of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and the Communist Party. He worked as a Wine Steward at Edward Hotel. He together with Mayat, Dr. Goonam, Monty Naicker and others had meetings in his house. Mrs. Sothinathan was 11 years old at that time. Meetings were also held at Durban library in Queen Street. He also distributed the Guardian Newspapers and encouraged people to read books for the freedom of South Africa. The Natal Indian Congress (NIC) fought for the Durban Cooperation workers to have better living standards. Billy Peters attended meetings all over the country fighting for freedom. They raided shops that sold goods at inflated prices during World War 2. He was a true activist. Billy Peters and R.M. Moodali served together in the Communist Party Durban branch. Billy Peters was a great orator in the Red Square in Durban.

The progressive Tamil leaders in South Africa did their best and strove hard to benefit future generations irrespective of race, religion or gender.