Mavavanpullo Sachi - born to serve his fellow beings

K.Arunasalam

(Retired Principal, Vaddukoddai)

I am happy that I have been asked to contribute an article to the publication that is to be released to commemorate Sachi`s seventieth birth day. Being a cousin of his I have known him from his childhood. As a student he showed signs of promise that he would shine in his life. And he did. His motto in life was to serve his fellow beings. He was able to do this in great measure.

He did this in circles – The innermost was his family, then his village –Mavavanpullo- then the Tamil community at large and the out most, what he is now doing his religion – Hinduism.

He imbibed this spirit of service from his parents. His father Kanapathy Pillai master ran the Srikantha Press and published mainly religious books. His press was situated in the heart of Jaffna town and people go there not only to do printing work but also to receive solace when be setted with problems. I was one of those who benefited this way. And his mother Thangammah – Sinnamma to me – was a model of Tamil womanhood. One, who was impressed by her way of life, helping people, has written a book entitled “Thangammah – Shinning Gold”.

I was close to him when he was young and in touch with him when he was at Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai. Once I had the opportunity to spend a week with him along with Sabalingam, former principal of Jaffna Hindu, on our return from a Teacher’s Conference at Delhi. He helped us to visit religious places like Chithamparam and Tirupathi. Not only had this he taken us to all the political leaders and literary men. I was amazed as to how he got the acquaintance of all these people. They had known him well and received us cordially.

Later in life he served the people in all the places he worked. For instance he served for a time at Seychelles as a Fisheries Officer. He along with members of the Indian Community there built a Pillaiyaar Temple around which that community gathered and became unified. He was also the forerunner for the Eelam Tamils to go there for employment. Some of them have settled there now.

Among his services to his community one that needs special mention is his awakening Tamilnadu to the problems of the Sri Lankan Tamils. He is hailed by his Community for having done this. Along with other leaders like Kaasi Ananthan and Eela Venthan he took the Sri Lankan Tamil problem to Tamilnadu. He used his influence with the Tamil Political Leaders to do this. He also did propaganda by means of news paper articles and speaking at community meetings. Today we find the whole Tamil Community in Tamilnadu including the First Minister are raising their voice in support of the Eelam Tamils. The credit of doing this goes to this Trio.

And now Sachi has started his religious service. You go to any Hindu home in Tamilnadu or in Eelam in the early morning, you can hear religious hymns mainly thevaarams sung or religious advice being given. The credit of doing this through the internet goes to him. This is something great which is appreciated by all Hindus.

I am sure god will give him a long lease of life to continue this work. I wish him all the best.