POONGODI PARANGUSAM

Kalai maamani POONGODI PARANGUSAM

N.Nandhivarman

Poet’s daughter being a Poet is rare, usually such tradition lacks continuity. But thedaughter of Late Poet and Parliamentarian Puthuvai Sivam has established her credentials as a Tamil Poet who had won the prestigious kalaimaamani award for the year 2004-2005 for language and literature. Poongodi Parangusam is an educationist who gave up her career to devote more time to her family. But the passion for writing did not dry in her. In most of the cultural meetings one could notice her either delivering speeches or rendering poems.

Poongodi a postgraduate teacher worked in various schools from 1964 to 1996 the last being Government High School Reddiarpalayam. She had other roles to perform at home as mother of three children and wife of an industrialist Parangusam. Her father S.Sivapragasam, known as Puthuvai Sivam was Rajya sabha member in seventies. At that time she wedded Parangusam and her marriage was performed by then Tamil Nadu Education Minister Navalar Nedunchezhian. It is no surprise because her father an ardent disciple of Pavendhar Bharathidasan was following the tradition of self-respect marriages. But when it came to the marriages of her children she kept up that tradition in midst of changing times. Her daughter Tamizharasi a dentist married Senthil Kumar a dentist. Her second daughter Ezhilarasi an architect married Sridharan another architect.

" The fore thought to give green signal to these love marriages among persons of same profession shows Poongodi as a modern mother. The most surprising part is her second daughter Ezhilarasi’s marriage in a Namboodri family of Kerala, yet she conducted the marriages as self respect marriages only," says Durai Malirayan a poet of many epics.

Having accomplished her family tasks she took voluntary retirement and then she faced many legal battles with the land mafia and undeterred she fights against heavy odds. All these experiences brought out a poet activating her inner voice. She started writing poetry particularly the traditional poetry with meter. " There are many who write modern verses. But to write poetry following the rules of Tamil grammar is a daunting task. And Poongodi does her poetical work with meticulous care and powerful articulation " opines Professor Ilamathi Janakiraman of Pondicherry University.

As a recognition of her works the Department Arts and Culture of Pondicherry government had conferred kalaimaamani award for language and literature. Her recent book Vanna Vilakkugal which means colorful lights is a hit among the Tamil audiences. The themes she had chosen to write poetry is varied and remarkable. She stresses the need for Tamils across the globe uniting to uphold their language and culture. Poongodi records her voice on feminism. Her poems include current governmental schemes like the Tank Rehabilitation project executed with European Commission’s assistance. She had written poems on Bharathiar, Bharathidasan, Deveneya Paavanar and Late K.Kamaraj. Among the list of personalities glorified in her poems is the Chief Minister Rangasamy whose simplicity and down to earth approach finds special place in her poetic portrayal.

In the preface to her book Santhapaamani Aranga Natarasan says "To me it seems she is the first Feminine Poet who had rendered A book of Poems composed in accordance with Tamil grammatical rules and meter" Poongodi Parangusam had not even left the India shining campaign of last elections untouched. Her poetic criticism on the un-kept promises of politicians election after election echoes general public opinion.

As she backs her husband in his dual role as agriculturalist and industrialist, her poems stress the importance of farming sector and the need to bring cheers to the tillers and toilers of soil. " The award given to me has made me conscious of my contributions to society and I am writing on the President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam’s dream of seeing India a Super Power by 2020. It will be my humble token of respects to that great visionary" says Poongodi Parangusam with eyes on future.

Courtesy: New Indian Express dated :27.08.2005