‘Kuzhanthai Kavignar’ Sella Ganapathy gets “Kamban Adipodi” award

Kamban Kazhagam, launched by eminent Tamil scholar Sa. Ganesan, honoured ‘Kuzhanthai Kavignar’ Sella Ganapathy with “Kamban Adipodi” award for winning Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Purasarkar Award this year.
Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram presented the award, which carried a citation at an impressive function organised by the Kamban Kazhazgam here on Saturday. The Kazhagam, one of the few literary associations functioning for more than 77 years in India, has instituted the Kamban Adipodi award this year in memory of its founder and presented the first award to the poet, writing for children.
Showering praise on the poet, hailing from his native place, Kandanur village near here, Mr. Chidambaram said that it was difficult to tell stories to children and it was all the more difficult to write poems and poet Ganapathy deserved commendation for his writing for children for more than five decades. “It is even easy to explain a case to a Supreme Court judge but it is not easy to answer questions raised by children,” Mr. Chidambaram, an eminent lawyer, said amid cheers. Legend has it that a small boy had stunned Avvaiyar, the Sangam period Tamil poet, he recalled.
The Sahitya Akademi award was considered the most prestigious and poet Ganapathy fully deserved to receive the award for “Thedal Vettai,” a collection of poems for children. His poems on friendship, best flower and ‘Parai,’ a percussion instrument, in the collection deserved special commendation, Mr. Chidambaram said reading out the poems from the book.
Reacting to Kamban Kazhagam secretary Pala Palaniappan’s request to secure a place and financial assistance to establish a Tamil Research Library in Karaikudi under the auspices of the Kazhagam, Mr. Chidambaram said that he would consider the request and do his best.
Replying to the felicitations, poet Ganapathy said that he had been writing poems for children for the past 52 years, thanks to inspiration from his ‘Guru’ Azha. Vallippan. He owed the award to Palaniappa Brothers, the publishers of his books, and his Tamil teachers — Arumuganar in school, Muthu Kannappar in Government Arts College, Chennai, and Azhagarasan in Loyola College.
Kamban Kazhagam vice-president A.V. Manickavelu, poet So So Me Sundaram, Prof S. Sethupathy and Prof M. Palaniappan were present.
“It is even easy to explain a case to a Supreme Court judge but it is not easy to answer questions raised by children”
MORE IN: TAMIL NADU | NATIONAL