T N Rajarathinam Pillai

Tamil Hindu newspaper is eminently readable. Quite a contrast to its much older sibling, The Hindu. I have my favourite columns  of course, and one of them is the column about a celebrity whose birthday falls on that day.
Today the nadaswaram vidvan,T N Rajarathinam pillai was featured. I have been an ardent fan of his rich and wholesome tone of his nadaswaram. My parents and aunts used to rave about his music.They have been very lucky to have listened to his music live mainly during the mylapore annual festivals. My aunt who lived in mylapore used to tell us how, unlike present day musicians, he will not stick to a three hour slot. If he is in the mood and the audience is appreciative, he can just go on and on. On one occasion that she witnessed, he played the nadaswaram right through the night, and the audience were mesmerised and fell under his spell. It was passion, passion and passion all through.

While I have heard a lot about his music, today I learnt a little about the man.That he was very fond of dressing up in a very grand manner. That on Independence day when he was in Delhi as an invitee, Nehru came up to him and said, he really believed he was one of the princes from the pricely states!

Once when he was travelling near Mayavaram, he realised that Kanchi Sankaracharya was on pattina pravesam in that area. So he got down from his car and stood by the wayside.When he spotted Kanchi acharya nearing him. he started playing the nadaswaram. Immediately Kanchi periyaval, asked ;rajarathinam pillai vaasipu pola irukku!. Rajarathinam pillai was very very happy and he played for one and a half hours standing on the road and Periyaval was there listening to him.
Rajarathinam pillai considers this episode as a real blessing and a high point in his life.

Two very great people in different walks of life, truly deferential and appreciative of the other. What beauty!

Truly  great people have lived in our country!