Parali. Su. Nellaiappar Pillai – A writer, journalist, publisher, poet and Freedom Fighter
Shri Nellaiyappar was born in Paralikottai in Tirunelveli district to Subramania Pillai and Muthulakshmi Ammal.
Being the follower of V.O. Chidambaram Pillai he was called Thambi by Bharathi. He was a Freedom fighter and Patron of Bharathi.
Nellayappar meets Bharathi for the first time at VOC’s house. After that, it was Nellayappar who compiled Bharathi’s poems and published them. He published versions of Bharathi’s Kannan Paattu and Nattu Paattu. In 1923 he started the Bharathi Press and brought out other works of Bharathi. It is also worth mentioning that Nellayappar is also a great poet.
His elder brother is Parali. Su. Sundaram Pillai along with V.O. Chidambaram Pillai was active in spreading and strengthening the Swadeshi movement. He sold many shares of the Swadeshi Shipping Company at various places in Trichy district and collected thousands of rupees.
Nellayappar’s younger brother Parali Su. Kulandai Velan worked as an accountant in V.O. Chidambaram Pillai’s shipping company along with Nellayappar. Later he contributed to the magazine Lokopakari, which Nellayappa ran.
On March 12, 1908, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subramania Siva were arrested and imprisoned in the Palayamkot jail for the crimes of running a shipping company, holding a procession, and chanting Vande Mataram.
Nellayappar printed and published a leaflet condemning this arrest. Police arrested Nellayappa for that.
When V.O. Chidambaram Pillai was incarcerated in Coimbatore Jail, with the help of C K Subramania Mudaliar, he set up an ashram in Coimbatore and carried out the orders of VOC from that ashram. Nellaiappar returned to his hometown after being transferred to VOC Kannur Jail in Kerala.
The fame of Bharthi spread all over Tamil Nadu is attributed to Nellayappar. A writer, journalist, publisher, and poet, Nellayappar shifted to Chromepet, Chennai. He named the area where he lived as Bharathipuram. He named the Vinayagar temple built there as Bharthi Vinayagar.
As long as the fame of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and the fame of Bharthi remain, the fame of Nellayappar will remain.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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- Remembering Parali. Su. Nellaiappar Pillai - March 28, 2024
