Death of Sundara Ramasamy @ Pasuviah

I remember reading 'J.J. Sila Kurippugal' when I was in college and got mesmerized by the writing. There are few novels in Tamil that deserves comparison with a novel of J.J's stature. Terribly intelligent and casually tragic, the novel can be read from anywhere and will still make a lot of sense. Thats how I got introduced to Sundara Ramasamy.

When Meyappan & Co (our college seniors) arranged for a 3 day literary workshop in Nagerkoil, I was lucky enough to be part of it. Apart from eating some wonderful food in Arun's house, I got the chance to meet Sundara Ramasamy during the meet (we also met Thoppil Meeran, Mangai and others). It was a up-close conversation with him and I listened a lot enamored by his towering personality and literary genius. Today, when I look back I think of all the questions I could've asked him and didn't.

Then, when I read 'Oru puliamarathin Kathai' I realized that he is not just good in writing intellectual novels but also a good story-teller. Then the collection '108 kavithaigal'. I read it when I was reading vorociously the modern poems in Tamil. It is the period I read Vikramathithyan, Pramil, Kalapriya, Kalyanji and many others and probably thats why I couldn't really convince myself that he is a great poet. Good but not great.

Of course, 'Kalachuvadu' is part of the small magazine world where it took part in its own share of controversies and discussions. Latest being over the 'Pillai keduththal vilai'. But I realize now that I have moved away from the left ideologues who still dominate the small magazine landscape but still buy the mags just to keep me posted on the thought process as well as the wonderful articles written (Did you read the 'Thamizhar food special' of Kalachuvadu?).

I cannot forget Sundara Ramasamy for the beautiful novels that has influenced me a lot (for good or bad!).