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A documentary that tells the story of the exceptional Tamil poet Vedanayagam Sastriar of Thanjavur shall be launched this weekend. The mission is a labour of affection undertaken by a descendant of the poet, who was impressed to do it when he heard a grandniece level to a picture and ask, “Who’s that man with the humorous outfit?” It prompted Judah Vincent to learn a number of biographies, develop a narrative board, determine manufacturing groups, rent a historical past guide, and work with the State Archaeology Division in order that he may convey the historical past of the poet to life.
Born in Tirunelveli in 1774 and introduced up together with the younger prince Serfoji in Thanjavur by Fr. Schwarz, someplace alongside the way in which Vedanayagam imbibed extraordinary abilities in Tamil. He went on to develop into a prolific author with greater than 130 works to his credit score, a few of that are preserved within the best libraries of the world.
Show of virtuosity
Vedanayagam demonstrated virtuosity in all features of Tamil literature — poetry, dance and drama. In addition to, he had an encyclopaedic information of the Bible, and mesmerised pundits along with his Google-like references and recall of verses from each the previous and new testaments. Below the tutelage of Fr. Schwartz and different missionaries, Vedanayagam grew to become proficient in a number of topics resembling Geography, Botany, Physiology, Biology, Astronomy, Philosophy, and Sociology in addition to Theology.
All this data was distilled into his works — Jebamalai, Bethalem Kuravanji, Drama of the Divine Carpenter, Thiru Sabhai Oonjal, Perinba Kaadal, to quote a couple of. When he was made a poet in Serfoji’s Maratha courtroom, he refused to sing paeans to anybody however Jesus Christ. Among the many a number of accolades that he obtained, the title of Sastriar or Physician of Divinity stands out. It’d shock many individuals to be taught that there’s a statue of this arguably best Tamil Christian poet in New York.
Due to phrase from missionaries, students the world over had been fast to recognise the greatness of Vedanayagam Sastriar’s works. A number of of them did comparative research of Vedanayagam alongside Western poets resembling Charles Wesley, Milton and Shakespeare. Vedanayagam, nonetheless, remained largely marginalised in his place of origin. And he, in flip, didn’t take any endowments from the king.
In a milieu awash with Bavarian and Anglican hymns translated into Tamil with unchanged tunes, Vedanayagam was among the many first to put in writing Christian lyrics in Carnatic music fashion for worship within the conventional method. This was quickly recognised by Christian Literature Service and different publishers, with the consequence that Vedanayagam’s songs pretty dominate the lyric books utilized in Tamil church buildings throughout the globe.
Solely not too long ago has a tentative try been initiated to digitise his monumental contribution to Tamil literature with a view to bringing to public information the wonder hidden in palm leaves and different manuscripts languishing in sundry archive vaults.
This effort may do with some administrative and materials help and might be extra essential than erecting statues or constructing arches to memorialise the unsung poet.
An account of Vedanayagam, who was approach forward of his time in decrying the evils of casteism, superstition, and the suppression of ladies, is now being offered in a two-part documentary that shall be out there on YouTube shortly, in each Tamil and English.
To look at the documentary, comply with YouTube channel GraceCottageFilms.
For extra details about the mission, mail gracecottagefilms @gmail.com or judah.vincent@gmail.com.
he author is a battle decision researcher at the moment working in Jammu.
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