Rangarajan, the writer Sujatha

I was shocked to read that writer Sujatha passed away yesterday in chennai. I thought it was just a while ago that I had happened to pass him by in marina. He did look thin and frail. But then he had been writing scripts for latest movies and writing regularly in tamil magazines, so I brushed aside that image; my favourite column was about alwar pasurangal that he wrote for the vikatan.The migration from romantic writing to crime thrillers to science fiction to religion was smooth and pleasurable for readers.
He was gifted and with a unique gift in an unique time. It was the beginning of computer era and he demystified computers to the tamil language readers of popular magazines. His writing was racy and stylish and quite a novelty in tamil.We were all of us hooked on to his writing and to his style more than the story.The topic of conversation the next day in college would invariably be the unusual twist of phrases that would leap at you as it were and bring a 'wah' feeling.
His nostalgia pieces about srirangam were hilarious and gave a peep into the typical lifestyle of boys in those small temple towns. Kumar used to relate to it fondly and I am sure he thought of sujatha as a 'senior' from his 'ooru'.
It was just last week that shyamala was telling me that she is reading sujatha's novels in Sydney, having borrowed from a well stocked library in the neighbourhood.But then we will be only re reading his novels;no more new releases.
One of the poignant short stories that i have carried with me was about his visit to his father's bedside when he was sick. A masterpiece. Did his children feel something similar?

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Story of tailors, past and present continuous

I am constantly on the lookout for the perfect tailor. Yes, this is a quest that has been on since i remember. It is also an intellectual challenge; I seem to have hit the perfect tailor and before long, I am sure that I have made a terrible mistake. Is it that I do not communicate clearly and precisely to the tailor or that the tailors are pre programmed to do their own thing, irrespective of instructions given; is it their professional pride or artistic streak which makes them deviate and hand in their unique style and stamp on my clothes?

Let me start the long story. I remember T N P rao tailors on Selaiyur Road. We patronised him throughout our school and college days. Amma will come with us of course.She will give a 'alavu tuni' and then give these instructions; the sleeves should be atleast one inch longer than; the length of the blouse should be atleast one inch longer; and the neckline should be two inches shorter. The tailor used to listen patiently but do his own thing. He cant churn out a work of art which resembles a pillow cover more than a blouse. If he had faithfully followed her instructions, then atleast somewhere along the way there would be this perfect 'alavu tuni'.I would go and pick up the stitched cloth and when i wore it, amma would say that the tailor has not done her bidding;' what do you gain by exposing your arms in the sun, they will only get dark' she will add by way of explanation.I was secretly happy that this tailor did not follow amma's instructions to the T.But there was no question of shifting loyalty, as this tailor had absolute monopoly in our neighbourhood.Yes, he did expand from a small bunk to a big showroom, selling khakhi uniforms to the IAF clientele.People were not stitching so many clothes those days i guess, and one tailor was just sufficient.

The scene shifs to Pune to Deccan Gymkhana where i was shown a tailors shop; 'Vaishali'if I remember right. A posh one it was with stiched ware, displayed elegantly. It was almost like a textile showroom. My first visit there with a friend gave me a huge shock. The male tailors were taking measurements of girls. I have never witnessed it with T NP Rao. I never went there again, and all my stitching needs piled up for visit back home. It was also had a big revelation to me,that if you want slight alterations to be done, there were 'alteration specialists'; a series of bunks on the banks of mutha river, on the way to Lakshmi road. The regular tailors would not dirty their hands with them.

Tambaram sanatorium had its unique tailor. He was the same person who supplies fresh milk (karanda paal). He had a makeshift tailoring shop and was patronised for the ease and comfort of the entire process. He would be not be finiky to fashion a shirt for prashant from a left over 'bit' and would say he would 'adjust'.The shirt will appear alright, but with different textures and colours for the collar. But the kiddo will not mind in the least bit, and neither would we. He was also good in 'alterations'; he would readily agree and alter any cloth ; never mind that invariably it will have no connection to our specs. It will end up going back to him as donation.Everybody was happy.

'innum varum'.....