Chennai: Solomon Pappaiah, who passed away in Madurai on Friday, was no ordinary Tamil scholar. He revolutionised patti mandram (traditional Tamil debate) by taking it into the drawing rooms of millions of Tami…

Chennai: Solomon Pappaiah, who passed away in Madurai on Friday, was no ordinary Tamil scholar. He revolutionised patti mandram (traditional Tamil debate) by taking it into the drawing rooms of millions of Tamil households across the globe, capitalising on the advent of satellite television.Pappaiah moderated over 12,000 patti mandrams in India and across the global Tamil diaspora during his 90 years, becoming a household name in the 1990s after the popular Tamil television channel, Sun TV, began airing his patti mandrams as special festival programmes. No festival — especially Pongal and Deepavali — was complete for Tamil families without watching Pappaiah’s patti mandram. Before he was wheeled into a Madurai hospital a couple of days ago due to age-related issues, Pappaiah recorded a special patti mandram to be aired on September 14 on the occasion of Vinayagar Chaturthi on Sun TV. Patti mandram as a mass mediumHis success lay in taking patti mandram — traditionally characterized by elite literary finesse meant for the educated classes — and transforming them into a mass medium. Pappaiah transformed patti mandram — which for a long time discussed literary classics and ancient epics — into a vibrant platform that mirrored the lived realities, struggles, and day-to-day issues of the common person.“He was a turning point in the history of patti mandram. He made even youngsters and kids enjoy patti mandrams through his simple language. His contributions to Tamil will forever be remembered,” ‘Dindigul’ I. Leoni, who was inspired by Pappaiah to become a moderator himself, said in a teary eulogy.Pappaiah’s timely intervention laced with wit and humour drove the shows popularity with Pappaiah and his team of debaters, including the most popular duo of Raja and Bharathi Bhaskar, travelling wide and far to entertain Tamils and popularise the art form.“At our last recording, both of us were mobbed by participants; I left the venue without informing him. I did not realise that this would be our last meeting. I did not know our separation would be so harsh,” Bharathi Bhaskar said of her late mentor Pappaiah.Distinctive styleThe topics of the patti mandrams he moderated were chosen to keep the audience gripping — some of them are: Whose contribution is most valid in making a good home: Husband or wife? Who plays a bigger role in achieving true success and stability in life?: friends or relatives? Which has improved family values: modern or traditional lifestyle? His distinctive style of chairing patti mandrams, delivering his verdicts, and starting off with his trademark anbu periyorgale, arumai thaimargale, iniya kulanthaigale (respected elders, beloved women, dear children) — earned a fanbase of its own. Through patti mandram, Pappaiah nurtured and promoted at least two generations of Tamil speakers who continue to dominate the art form today. He also inspired an entire cohort of speakers to step into the role of moderator — transforming the patti mandram into a cultural staple of nearly every traditional public event across the Tamil diaspora.Pappaiah’s commanding voice, paired with a profound understanding of Tamil society, shone through his speeches and moderations. Most of his verdicts in patti mandrams leaned in favour of women — a deliberate stance that often perplexed regular viewers until Bharathi Bhaskar shed light on his reasoning on Friday.“He would say, ‘Much more needs to be done for women. They have suffered enough and continue to suffer. That is why I keep speaking in their favour,’” Bharathi Bhaskar recalled, quoting Pappaiah.Literary works and his love for Tamil, MaduraiBeyond the debates, Pappaiah will be remembered forever for his contributions to Tamil literature. The ninth child of his parents — who was able to continue his education only through the generosity of teachers and professors at Madurai’s prestigious Thiagarajar College — his dedication to Thirukkural was immense. His simplifying commentary on Thirukkural and Kamba Ramayanam, the Tamil version of Ramayanam that eulogises Ravana for his valour much more than the ruler Ram, are legendary. Thirukkural is a collection of 1,330 couplets written by saint-poet Thiruvalluvar 2,000 years ago that has a solution for every modern-day problem, His commentaries on the Sangam era classic Purananooru explaining the history and values of early Tamils, and his literary critique and perspective on the famous Tamil poet and lyricist Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram stand among his unforgettable works. Pappaiah was also working on a book on Subramania Bharathi, a legendary poet of the 20th century, which is yet to be released. Pappaiah also dabbled briefly on the silver screen, appearing alongside superstar Rajinikanth in the 2007 blockbuster Sivaji and acting in a handful of other films. He was also awarded Padma Shri in 2021. For the 90-year-old bespectacled Tamil scholar, Madurai was his life blood providing him with everything from his education to his career  as a Tamil professor at the prestigious American College to the thriving patti mandram platform that crowned his life’s work. Much like the ancient Pandiya kings of Madurai who established literal sangams (associations) to spread Tamil among the masses, Solomon Pappaiah brought the sweetness of Tamil to millions through his down-to-earth and accessible eloquence.

Source: Deccan Herald