Coimbatore had always been the hub for industrial and trade development in Western Tamilnadu. The approach of the 'Coimbatorean' did much in our country at a time when the country was struggling under foreign yoke. Thanks to the commercial inputs the region began to blossom creatively. Literature, music, dance,drama and crafts evolved healthily along the banks of the River Noyyal. Perur, a suburb of this grand city happens to be the birth place of 'Perur Puranam' and it was rendered by Kachiappamunivar in the seventeenth century. Sivakavimani C.K.Subramania Mudaliar authored a treatise on the 'Periya Puranam' from his residence at Vysial Street in the burstling town during the twentieth century.
Coimbatore had always been the hub for industrial and trade development in Western Tamilnadu. The approach of the 'Coimbatorean' did much in our country at a time when the country was struggling under foreign yoke. Thanks to the commercial inputs the region began to blossom creatively. Literature, music, dance,drama and crafts evolved healthily along the banks of the River Noyyal. Perur, a suburb of this grand city happens to be the birth place of 'Perur Puranam' and it was rendered by Kachiappamunivar in the seventeenth century. Sivakavimani C.K.Subramania Mudaliar authored a treatise on the 'Periya Puranam' from his residence at Vysial Street in the burstling town during the twentieth century.
People like Shanmughasundaram and A.Balakrishna Naidu did much to popularise Tamil literature with a local touch. A number of magazines and newspapers like 'Vasantham' and 'Nava India' from Coimbatore were becoming popular with the people of Tamilnadu. The good work of Kovai Kizhar C.M.Ramachandran Chettiar added beauty to the multi faceted city which shone as the 'Rome of Kongunad'. The city was enriching our country by making strides in agriculture, education, textiles, industry, transport, jewellery, cinema, politics and literature. It earned names like 'Kuberamangalam' and 'Manchester of South India'. The prosperity and the positive attitude of the 'Coimbatorean' became a major attraction all over the country.
The city was fortunate to host a number of Tamil conferences and festivals in the past. The 'Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam' conducted the 'Moondravadhu Tamil Thiruvizha' at the Government Arts College grounds on the 20th & 21st of May 1950. A lovely pandal had been erected for the purpose and Diwan Bahadur C.S.Rathinasabapathy Mudaliar was the Chairman of the Reception Committee. A galaxy of eminent citizens and scholars were part of this non political Tamil festival. T.A.Ramalingam Chettiar, Dr.R.K.Shanmukham Chetty, T.S.Avinashilingam Chettiar, V.C.Palaniswamy Gounder, V.K.Palaniswamy Gounder and R.V.Lakshmiah Naidu were the Vice Chairpersons of the committee.
They were ably supported by G.R.Govindarajulu, T.R.Sundaram Pillai, A.Palaniswamy Gounder, Dr.C.Nanjappa and A.Shanmugham who functioned as the co ordinators and leaders for the festival. While G.K.Devarajulu was the Treasurer, C.M.Ramachandran Chettiar, G.V.Ramaswamy Naidu, K.R.Radhakrishnan, A.N.Marudachalam Chettiar, G.K.Sundaram, P.R.Ramakrishnan, C.Subramaniam, Nalla Senathipadhi Mandradiar, T.Raghavachariar, K.Subramaniam, Dr.N.Velappan, S.R.P.Ponnuswamy Chettiar, K.N.Palaniswamy Gounder, S.K.Senniappa Gounder, K.K.Subbanna Gounder, A.Ramanatham Pillai, S.E.Narayana Iyer and C.A.Nanjappa Gounder were part of the Executive Committee that conducted the Tamil Festival in a grand manner.
The Tamil Festival began with an auspicious start. A number of old palm leaf manuscripts were carried on an elephant along side the icon of Goddess Koniamman, the guardian deity of Coimbatore in a procession. The procession covered all the important streets of the city and finally reached the grounds of the Government Arts College in the company of thousands of Coimbatoreans. Goddess Koniamman was preceded by a number of people playing a number of musical instruments. The Chief Minister of Madras, P.S.Kumaraswamy Raja inaugurated the festival with his sweet and marvellous speech. Raja Sir M.A.Muthiah Chettiar declared open the exhibition that was created as a part of the Tamil Festival.
The literary part took place under the Chairmanship of Sethu Pillai during the second half of the day and T.P.Meenakshisundaram Pillai, E.S.Varadaraja Iyer, Bhaskara Thondaiman, K.S.Venkataraman, M.P.Sivagnanam, spoke about every facet that was concerned with the ancient classical language. The second day consisted of sessions connected with scientific and technical aspects. The speakers V.T.Subbiah Mudaliar, C.R.Srinivasa Iyengar, S.Dharmalinga Mudaliar, Pulavar M.Rasackannanar,T.Marudarajan and S.Ramachandran spoke on subjects connected with farming and augmenting food production besides touching upon subjects like 'Agriculture and Tamil Literature'. The science and technology session was chaired by Sir T.S.Venkataraman.
Dr.R.K.Shanmukham Chetty proposed a resolution on this historic occassion. He proposed that Tamil should be a compulsory part of education for it was wise to learn subjects with the aid of the mother tongue. He pointed out that Tamil had been removed from the compulsary list and it had to be be restored to its original status.The Madras Government was requested to make the necessary changes in the syllabus in the interest of the people belonging to the Tamil speaking world. The resolution was carried forth by T.S.Avinashilingam Chettiar and Ki.Va.Jagannathan. It was passed unanimously by the participants of the Tamil Festival. The historical and heritage part was conducted with C.S.Srinivasachariar at the Chair. The speakers spoke on a number of subjects.
Kovai Pulavar Kulandaiammal spoke on Kongunadu, Dr.T.V.Mahalingam rendered his part by speaking on village administration during the times of the Cholas. V.Ponnuswamy spoke on commerce during the Sangam era while Sri Lankan Pandit K.P.Rathinam spoke about Rama Rajyam. K.R.Srinivasan elucidated on Pallava sculptures and Dr.Paramasivam delivered a speech which was based on historical research. The President of Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam T.S.Avinashilingam Chettiar gave away prizes to the authors who had rendered a number of good works in the year 1949. The prize winners included Panditamani Kadiresan Chettiar, Ki.Va.Jagannathan, Dr.M.Varadarasanar, K.S.Krishnamurthy, Kothandaraman, S.S.Mariswamy. They had authored a number of books which covered a vast spectrum.
The Festival had generated a little over Rs.20000 through donations and from the members of the Reception Committee. A smaller sum came in from the sale of food coupons and other items. The organisers allotted Rs.3001 for the work connected with the publication of 'Tamil Kalanjiyam' and Rs.1000 for towards 'Tirukkural' research. The food aspect and hospitality were taken care of T.Raghavachari, Subri and Palayakottai Samy. Asoka M.K.Krishna Chetty took care of refreshments which included cold drinking water. Transport and logistics played an important part and thanks to the role played by Dr.N.Velappan and Pollachi N.Mahalingam, it was a grand success.
The enthusiasm of Dr.R.K.Shanmukham Chetty and the tireless part played by the hardworking T.R.Sundaram Pillai made the 'Moondravadhu Tamil Thiruvizha' truely successful and memorable. The success of the event demonstrated the unity and brotherhood that had prevailed in a surging Coimbatore.