Mahatma Gandhi Library celebrates 60th year anniversary in 2012
There is a saying “Library is the home for knowledge and good books are our best friends.” The Mahatma Gandhi Library near Karaneeswarar temple at Saidapet, Chennai, is the classic example for the above quote. Started in 1952, the library celebrates its 60th year anniversary this year. It’s a very rare coincidence wherein an organizer over 80 years of age, overseeing his organization that completed 60 years. I remember two of them. One is Mr. Bharathi Suraj who founded the Bharathi Kalai Kazhagam in 1951 and the other is Shri. K. Mahalingam, who founded Mahatma Gandhi Nool Nilayam in 1952.
On the advice of my Literature guru Shri P. Venkatraman, I met Shri. K. Mahalingam and he impressed me at the first sight by his modesty and mission.
A man of simplicity, even at the age of 83 works relentlessly and moves around the library like a 23 year old young man. Be it respecting the literary workers or be it providing hospitality to them, he takes immense pleasure in spending time with them. It would be worthwhile for anyone to take a leaf out of this great man’s approach, as every time when somebody gives his/her writings to him for library collection, he stands-up and accepts it glee-fully. For a person of his age and experience, nobody would have complained even if he sits and collects it, but such is the nature of the humble man. He is a self-regulated human being and through this library he wants to provide food for thought for his society and by carrying this duty for several decades he has proven to the world that it is a life time achievement for him to manage this library.
He is a man who has seen several ups and downs in his life. He has come across thousands of good authors. He has thousands of readers as members for his library and has a special privilege of owning thousands of books. For him, work is worship, for, he treats the Mahatma Gandhi Library as his temple and he works with passion and worship with obedience. That’s a character not many in this world can own, especially for people who have seen over 4 generations.
He celebrates October 2nd (birthday of Mahatma Gandhi) as a festival and he felicitates poor children in commemoration to his mentor Shri. Late. Shakti T.K. Krishnasamy.
It’s worth remembering some achievements of Shri. K. Mahalingam here.
He has received ‘Anbu palam’ (bridging love) achievement award. In 2011, on the occasion of Tamil leader Kamraj’s 109th birth anniversary, he received ‘Noolaga Semmal’ (Veteran in managing Library) award from Paulsamy Nadar Educational Trust. In 2012, he received, ‘Bharathi Ilakiya Selvar’ from Sriram Bharati Literature academy. In his lifetime, he managed to meet great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rajaji, Kamraj, etc.
He receives the signatures of the visitors to his library and archives it as treasure. Even at the age of 83, he is hale and healthy i.e. sans spectacles. He is a man who always talks about people who have helped him over the years (he has high praise for Late Sakthi T.K. Krishnasamy and Saidai Duraisamy).
It’s time now to throw some light on the library and its achievements.
It has received ‘Best Library Service’ award in the year 2005. Shri. Barali. S. Nellayappar, who is fondly known as brother of National Poet Subramanya Bharathi. It contains 125 year old books. Renowned writers like, S.V.V. Sandilyan, L.S. Ramamirutham, N. Ramarathinam (Kathadi), Vallikannan, Deepam Na. Pa., Thenkachi, K. Swaminathan visited this library.
The library also has books of generation of writers from the same family like Rajaji and his son C.R. Narasimhan, Thamizhvanan his son Lena Thamizhvanan, Kannadasan and his son Gandhi Kannadasan). Cine artists from M.K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar to Sivaji Ganesan have visited this library. It has regular readers and members for more than 50 years. The library, known for its discipline and reading ambience, has attracted readers of all genres from kids to women and aged people.
For people who shifted their place away from this library also visited the library once in a week or twice a month. Such is the relationship the library has developed for its readers. In this modern age, especially when the reading habit declining steadily, a library that has successfully crossed over 60 years for its uniqueness and achievements should be celebrated and not to forget the man behind the screen Shri. K. Mahalingam – Kudos to him!
In the recently held Mahatma Gandhi Nool Nilayam 60th Anniversary Function at Saidapet, Chennai. Prayer by Kavingar and Writer Mannai Pasanthy. Ms.Praveena, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi’s elder brother distributed the awards to all lady writers. Mr..Kananaraj, Actor of ‘Mudhalvar Mahatma’ released the DVD in the function.
60 Writers have been awarded including Anbupazhamnee, Dr.Thiruppur Krishnan (Editor Amudhasurabi), Gowdhama Neelambaran, P.Venkataraman, N.C.Mohandoss, Kovai Gokulan, Shembaharajan, Editor (Neela Nila), M.S.Govindharajan (editor - Thazzhambu), Kavimamani Madhivannan, Kavimamani Ethiroli Viswanathan, Kavingar Murugu Saranan, Pulavar Ramachandran, Thendral Ramalingam, Udhayam Ram, Jayanthi Nagarajan, Pudhugai Thendral Mu.Dharumarasan, Professor Banumathi Dharumarasan, Kavingar Mariya Therasa, Jayanthi Nagarajan, Manjula Thiyagaran and Kavingar Mannai Pasanthy etc.,
60 Students of various schools have also benefitted by getting scholarship by Sadayappal Vallal Charities during the above Function.