VC invites Bharathidasan's kin for tea

TRICHY: After a great-grandson of Pavendar Bharathidasan grabbed headlines in Trichy recently for his academic achievements in the university, vice-chancellor of Bharathidasan University K Meena has invited the poet's third generation for tea at 3 pm on Monday.
It all started on convocation day when Meena, deviating from her prepared speech, mentioned how honourable the university felt to award a PhD to one of the family members of Bharathidasan, after whom the university was named.Meena was referring to Subburathina Bharathy, the great-grandson of the celebrated poet Bharathidasan. Subburathina is the son of A K Pugazhendi, the first grandson of Pavendar's eldest daughter Saraswathi, who at 96 still lives in Karur. Bharathidasan had three daughters, Saraswathi, Vasantha and Ramani, and one son Mannar Mannan. In fact, Pugazhendi lives in Trichy, and this fact was communicated to Meena on November 9 by one of the university faculty.
Subburathina currently works as associate professor with the NAM College of Engineering at Siruganur near Samayapuram on the Trichy-Chennai Highway. On the occasion of his son receiving a doctorate, Pugazhendi attended the convocation. Meena told TOI that an invitation had been sent to Pugazhendi's family for the convocation, while the latter said it was a routine invitation sent to all those who were to receive their doctorate.
Pugazhendi, who retired as superintendent at the RTO, told TOI on Sunday that it was the first V-C P Mani Sundaram who did the honours of inviting the family, and lodged them at Ajantha Hotel for two nights during the inauguration of the university in 1982. After that, the family was not invited for any function including the birth anniversary celebrations of the poet (on April 29), he added. "For example, the last convocation was held on November 12, 2010, but none of the family members were invited for the event," Pugazhendi said.
Meena told TOI on the day of the convocation that she came to know of Bharathidasan's descendants living in Trichy only the previous night. "If I were aware of it, I would have included the fact in my speech. However, I mentioned about how honourable the university felt to award a PhD to the great-grandson of Bharathidasan. In fact, I instantly ordered invitations to Pugazhendi's family for the occasion," Meena said. But an unimpressed Pugazhendi told TOI on Saturday that what came to him was an invitation addressed to Subburathina to receive his doctoral degree, which everyone gets as a matter of routine.
Sources told TOI that after the media highlighted the issue, Principal Secretary of Higher Education, Dr Kannan, during a visit to Bharathidasan University's constituent Arts and Science College at Inamkulathur on November 11, reportedly inquired with Meena about Bharathidasan's family, and how come the university did not know about their presence all these days. The entourage to the college included Higher Education Minister P Palaniappan, State Planning Commission Member (Education) E Balagurusamy, district collector Jayashree Muralidharan among other dignitaries.
37-year-old Subburathina joined the Hallmark Business School in Trichy from its inception in 2008 to June 30, 2011. On July 2, 2011, he tendered his resignation because on the previous day at the staff meeting, they were curtly told that they would be paid only a certain amount, which was not acceptable, or else they could leave the institution. Hence he joined the NAM group, a private institution, on August 1, 2011.
Subburathina claimed his family never wanted to highlight the fact that it was a descendant of the celebrated poet, and even when he had difficulties getting a provisional certificate for his doctorate after it was duly submitted to the university, he did not boast of his lineage.
"Despite all that has happened, we will honour the invitation," said Pugazhendi on Sunday.
Photo caption (from L to R) Arivudainambi, (Pugazhendi's younger son), Pugazhendi, his grandson, his wife Navamani, his elder son Subburathina Bharathy and his wifes.