Repository of knowledge

"MANY WERE the hardships I suffered in my quest for manuscripts. Some people, remaining within the confines of their homes, would send me away saying they were not at home. Others would make me wander about quite a bit before giving them. Still others would lend them after repeated requests backed by sureties. Some treated me with scant courtesy. A mother forgets the pangs of childbirth as soon as she sees her child. In like manner, whenever I got a manuscript I would at once forget all the sufferings I had undergone to procure it; my mind would experience an intense joy." U. V. Swaminatha Aiyer in Nalluraikovai III: "I know not still."

These are the moving words of a man who was not of circumstance, which warranted even the smallest extravagance or luxury. And yet, he spent every spare moment travelling by bullock cart or sometimes on foot, engaged in a search for a treasure which he bequeathed to lovers of Tamil literature.

With the passion of a principled pupil, assisted by the patronage of a few like minds, Swaminatha Aiyer is credited with having retrieved and restored the great classics grouped as the Sangam Works and Major Kavyas. But for his presentation of authentic editions, this priceless wealth of ancient originals would have been lost for eternity.

Standing now in mute testimony to his towering personality is the Dr. U. V. Swaminatha Aiyer library, abode of rare books and rarer palm leaf manuscripts.

The library is a silent sanctum, surrounded by a scholarly stillness so sanguine that if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the waves crashing upon the sands not far away.

Located on the Besant Thesophical School campus, the building is steeped in the heartwarming history of the Tamil language.

In the year which followed the passing away of Swaminatha Aiyer in 1942, his son Kalyanasundara Aiyer handed over the invaluable collection to Rukmini Devi Arundale, who was equally committed to the cause. The library was opened on July 5, 1943, with land provided by Rukmini Devi and some funds from the Government of Tamil Nadu. To date, its collection of unique books, relating to the Tamil language, remains unparalleled.

The library is not just a refuge for Tamil scholars, students and lay readers. It has also been continuously involved in the publication of many books relating to ancient literature, religion, art and grammar.

Among its substantial collection of books are copious notes written by Swaminatha Aiyer on many of his travels - they include a vast array ranging from biographical notes and stray verses of poets to information on sacred and historical places, variations in the textual readings in valuable literary works to the indices of many classics.

There are also paper manuscripts which include grammatical works, kavyas, sthala puranas, prabhandams, minor works on chieftains and patrons, musical compositions, writings on the Saiva religion and philosophy as well as Nigandus or dictionaries. These are copies prepared painstakingly from palm leaf manuscripts and are urgently in need of preservation as many of them are still unpublished.

Along with the over 1,000 rare palm leaf manuscripts, many of the original paper versions are crumbling and not easy to decipher, except by a few of the surviving old experts.

The library is in the process of microfilming paper manuscripts but paucity of funds is a major stumbling block.

Proximity to the salty and moist sea makes conservation efforts all the more difficult and although airconditioning would improve the essential infrastructure, only the room which houses the palm leaf manuscripts is equipped to maintain the required room temperature.

Understanding the crucial value of the work of the library, its publications and research work, the Government has provided some funds for its upkeep while donations from philanthropists also go towards literary projects and purchase of equipment and materials. But even so, a lot more is needed to be done with projects in various stages of completion stalled or delayed due to the non-availability of funds.

Situated in Thiruvanmiyur, where the Sage Valmiki is said to have lived and died and located right next to where noted poet Pamban Kumara Gurupara Swamigal was laid to rest, the effort of a great visionary to save a glorious literature from extinction is an ode to Tamil and its proud people.

The Dr. U. V. Swaminatha Aiyer Library is open from Monday to Saturday (10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.) and can be contacted on 4911697.

LALITHA SRIDHAR

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