This biographical article was written as a tribute to one of the greatest Tamilians of all time - The Grand Master of Tamil - Thamilzh Thaathaa U.VE.Saaminatha Aiyer.

               It was first published in the Mayil magazine of Malaysia. The occasion was the birthday of the Grand Master on the 19th of February, 1992. It was serialised and came out in weekly segments over a period of 10 weeks.

               The series came to a finish on the 24th April, 1992 - which by a coincidence happened to be the 50th memorial anniversary of the Grand Master.

               The article has been written in a very simple and lucid language for the consumption of the average Tamil-educated Malaysian Tamilian.

               I have taken the pains to explain many terms, personalities, traditions, etc, which the average Malaysian Tamilian would be unaware of.

               The section on the prevailing circumstances during the times of UVS was descriptively written by me. So was the section covering the Sanggam Literature - especially PuRa nAnURU.

               I considered this endeavour as a thoNdu - humble service to Tamil and the Grand Master of Tamil. The more than 10 weeks that I took to write and send the segments were done in all reverance - as a penance - tapas.

               The crowning glory paid to that endeavour were the letters of praise given by the grandson of UVS - Mr.Subramania Aiyer, the presiding SannidhAnam of ThirupananthAL, and the KalaimagaL literary magazine.

               I followed up by celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the publishing of the 'PuRanAnURu' book by U.VE.Saminatha Aiyer, in 1994. It was a grand occasion in a town called Sitiawan and it was marked by my marathon speech which lasted 6 hours on Tamil Literature. One of the high lights of the occsion was drama on SEran Sengguttuvan.

               This is a very comprehensive biography of the Thamilzh Thaathaa.

               It now appears in the form of an E-Book. Probably the first of its kind. If indeed it is, then it is a most suitable resounding tribute that can be paid to the Grand Master himself.

               I must thank my wife, Chandra, who by her great selfless service and dedication and devotion and above all, unmitigated sacrifice and tolerance, has made this and a thousand other valuable contributions of mine possible and available to the Tamil world.

               I must thank my children Alagu Rethina Bairavi and Suganandha Bharathi, who also shared in that scarifice by their tolerance and furthermore put up this E-Book as a conjoint effort.

               This E-Book is hereby launched by Madame Chandra Jayabarathi on the occasion of the birthday of the Grand Master of Tamil - U.Ve. Saminatha Aiyer.

Regards

JayBee
Dr.S.Jayabarathi
B-41, Taman Semangat,
Jalan Sekerat,
08000 Sungai Petani
Malaysia.

Dated:19th February, 2002.