AVVAI – 85
=======
From Malaysia With Love
***************************
—– Thiru KVSN Kumar, Malaysia
Dr.Avvai Natarajan is an oasis of wisdom. I am fortunate to have been introduced to this great scholar by his son Dr.Arul, 25 years ago and have had the privilege of interacting and gaining insights into his worldview. His thoughts and articulation are an eclectic fusion of past, present and future. His scholastic background and mastery over both, Tamizh literature and English language enable him to look at issues, from a multi-dimensional perspective. His thoughts thus reflected and articulated are always very incisive and contemporary.
Dr.Arul and I were actively engaged in bringing infrastructure support systems to enhance Tamilnadu’s industrial development in the mid 90’s. During some very testing moments of navigating bureaucratic and policy bottlenecks, Dr Avvai Natarajan was the guiding light and a source of inspiration showing us the path for our efforts to bear fruit.
Having had the privilege of visiting their home and feted with the warm hospitality of Dr.Arul’s mother, Dr.Tara Natarajan, I can without doubt say that she was an embodiment of love, compassion and above all, a person with clarity of thought and purpose. In her journey with Dr.Avvai Natarajan, she has raised 3 remarkable sons. Balancing both, family and career, she not only reached the pinnacle as the eminent Dean of a medical college, she has also very successfully ensured that two of her sons became medical doctors of international competency while encouraging Dr.Arul to pursue the path of his grandfather and father. No wonder Dr Arul is now acknowledged as a Tamizh scholar with a very contemporary style. The Avvai family is a powerhouse of academic and intellectual wealth which has stood the test of time.
I vividly recall the visit of Dr.Avvai Natarajan and Dr.Tara Natarajan to my ancestral home, KUMARA VILAS, in Sundakkadu, Sivagangai District, to attend the Sathabhishegam of my father late Sangabushan K.V.Sathasivam, and also their visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at a later date .The warmth radiated by them engulfed permanently my entire family with fond memories, thus cementing a permanent bond. Both, my late father and my brother, Datuk Seri Dr.S.Subramaniam, the former leader of Malaysian Indian Congress and Health Minister, currently a distinguished Fellow of Harvard School of Public Health hold Dr.Avvai in high esteem.
I once wrote to Dr Arul, if I remember right, in 2005, the I consider Dr Avvai Natarajan as the Tamizh Pandit of the millennium. That hasn’t changed yet as he still is the globetrotting scholar who has/is met/meeting the Tamizh diaspora around the world. I suggested then that we should have a Tamizh Diaspora conference in KL where he can share his experiences and provide motivation to the Tamizh population of Malaysia, as indeed it would be an honour to the Tamizhs of Malaysia to host a global conference for Tamizhs.
The aura of Dr. Avvai Natarajan and his neutrality have enabled him to journey through, at times, the stormy waters of politics of language and statecraft in Tamilnadu. Beyond the state of Tamilnadu, Dr.Avvai Natarajan has cultivated relationship and ties with the global Tamizh Diaspora with his words of wisdom and intellect.
My prayers for his good health, longevity and continued contribution of inspirational thoughts to the Tamizh world.
Add a Comment