Ma Po Si
Birth and Early Life
- Birth: He was born on June 26, 1906, in Mylapore, Chennai, to the couple Ponnusamy and Sivakami Ammal.
Honours
- He was conferred the title ‘Silambu Chelvar’ by ‘Sollin Chelvar’ Ra. Pi. Sethupillai.
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- The Universities of Madras and Annamalai honoured him by awarding him honorary doctorates.
- Madurai University conferred upon him the title ‘Peravai Chelvar’.
- The Central Government honoured him with the Padma Shri award.
- In 2006, marking his centenary, the Government of Tamil Nadu honoured him by nationalizing his literary works.
Literary Works
Books
- Vallalarum Bharathiyum [1965]
- Engal Kavi Bharathi [1953]
- Bharathiyarum Angilamum [1961]
- Bharathi Kanda Orumaippadu [1962]
- Ulaga Mahakavi Bharathi [1966]
- Bharathiyar Paathaiyile [1974]
- Bharathiyin Porkkural [1979]
Sahitya Akademi Award-winning book
- Vallalar Kanda Orumaippadu– 1966
Historical works
- Kappalottiya Tamilan (Biography of V.O. Chidambaranar)
- Viduthalai Poril Tamilagam (Tamil Nadu in the Freedom Struggle – Volumes 1 & 2)
- Viduthalaikku Pin Tamil Valarndha Varalaru (History of Tamil’s Growth After Independence)
- Naan Arindha Rajaji (The Rajaji I Knew)
Works on Silappathikaram
- Kannagi Vazhipadu
- Madhaviyin Maanbu
- Kovalan Kutravaliya
The Legacy of Kappalottiya Tamilan
- Ma.Po.Si. was the one who brought the sacrifices made by V.O. Chidambaranar to the attention of the world. Ma.Po.Si.’s book titled *Kappalottiya Tamilan* (The Tamil Who Steered the Ship), which chronicles the life of V.O.C., is a distinguished work.
- Consequently, V.O.C. came to be celebrated across Tamil Nadu by that very title Kappalottiya Tamilan.
Struggles
- He campaigned to rename ‘Madras State’ to ‘Tamil Nadu’. When states were being reorganized on a linguistic basis and people from Andhra demanded Chennai claiming “Madras Manadhe” (Madras is ours) he fought against this and ensured Chennai remained the capital of Tamil Nadu.
- He also fought to include Thiruvengadam (Tirupati) in Tamil Nadu, though he did not succeed in that effort; however, that struggle resulted in Thiruttani being secured for Tamil Nadu.
- He campaigned for the inclusion of the Kumari district, Sengottai, Peermade, and Devikulam in Tamil Nadu. While Kumari and Sengottai were successfully secured for the state, Peermade and Devikulam were merged with Kerala.
Periodicals run by Ma.Po.Si
- He published a weekly magazine named ‘Sengol’.
- He also published a magazine named ‘Tamil Murasu’.
Beginnings in the Congress
- He started his political career as a supporter of the Indian National Congress.
- He participated in the ‘Quit India’ movement and endured imprisonment for several years.
- While active in the Congress movement, he also raised his voice for the rights of Tamils.
The Tamil Arasu Kazhagam and the Border Reclamation Struggle
- He founded the organization known as the Tamil Arasu Kazhagam in 1946.
- When the Andhra state was being carved out, he championed the cause of retaining Chennai as the capital of Tamil Nadu, famously declaring, “We shall safeguard the capital even at the cost of our lives.”
