N.Nandhivarman
Poet’s daughter being a Poet is rare, usually
such tradition lacks continuity. But the daughter of Late Poet and
Parliamentarian Puthuvai Sivam has established her credentials as a Tamil Poet
who had won the prestigious Kalaimaamani award for the year 2004-2005 for
language and literature. Poongodi Parangusam is an educationist who gave up her
career to devote more time to her family. But the passion for writing did not
dry in her. In most of the cultural meetings one could notice her either
delivering speeches or rendering poems.
Poongodi a postgraduate teacher worked in
various schools from 1964 to 1996 the last being Government High School
Reddiarpalayam. She had other roles to perform at home as mother of three
children and wife of an industrialist Parangusam. Her father S.Sivapragasam,
known as Puthuvai Sivam was Rajya Sabha member in seventies. At that time she
wedded Parangusam and her marriage was performed by then Tamil Nadu Education
Minister Navalar Nedunchezhian. It is no surprise because her father an ardent
disciple of Pavendhar Bharathidasan was following the tradition of self-respect
marriages. But when it came to the marriages of her children she kept up that
tradition in midst of changing times. Her daughter Tamizharasi a dentist
married Senthil Kumar a dentist. Her second daughter Ezhilarasi an architect
married Sridharan another architect.
“ The fore thought to give green signal to
these love marriages among persons of same profession shows Poongodi as a
modern mother. The most surprising part is her second daughter Ezhilarasi’s
marriage in a Namboodri family of Kerala, yet she conducted the marriages as
self respect marriages only,” says Durai Malirayan a poet of many epics.
Having accomplished her family tasks she took
voluntary retirement and then she faced many legal battles with the land mafia
and undeterred she fights against heavy odds. All these experiences brought out
a poet activating her inner voice. She started writing poetry particularly the
traditional poetry with meter. “ There are many who write modern verses. But to
write poetry following the rules of Tamil grammar is a daunting task. And
Poongodi does her poetical work with meticulous care and powerful articulation
“ opines Professor Ilamathi Janakiraman of Pondicherry University.
As a
recognition of her works the
Department Arts and Culture of Pondicherry government had conferred Kalaimaamani
award for language and literature. Her recent book Vanna Vilakkugal which means colorful lights
is a hit among the Tamil audiences. The themes she had chosen to write poetry
is varied and remarkable. She stresses the need for Tamils across the globe
uniting to uphold their language and culture. Poongodi records her voice on
feminism. Her poems include current governmental schemes like the Tank
Rehabilitation project executed with European Commission’s assistance. She had
written poems on Bharathiar, Bharathidasan, Deveneya Paavanar and Late
K.Kamaraj. Among the list of personalities glorified in her poems is the Chief
Minister Rangasamy whose simplicity and
down to earth approach finds special
place in her poetic portrayal.
In the preface to her book Santhapaamani
Aranga Natarasan says “To me it seems she is the first Feminine Poet who had
rendered A book of Poems composed in accordance with Tamil grammatical rules
and meter” Poongodi Parangusam had not even left the India shining campaign of
last elections untouched. Her poetic criticism on the un-kept promises of
politicians election after election echoes general public opinion.
As she backs her husband in his dual role as
agriculturalist and industrialist, her poems stress the importance of farming
sector and the need to bring cheers to the tillers and toilers of soil. “ The
award given to me has made me conscious of my contributions to society and I am
writing on the President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam’s dream of seeing India a Super
Power by 2020. It will be my humble token of respects to that great visionary”
says Poongodi Parangusam with eyes on future.
Courtesy: New Indian Express
dated : 27.8.2005
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