ஜட்ஜ் மதுரை மணி ஐயர் ---மூன்றாம் bakuthi
    Now I introduce a doyen of Madurai.....
    Mani Aiyar alias Subramanya Aiyar.
    Most of the oldsters might be aware of the
Carnatic Sangeetha Vidhvan known as Madurai Mani Aiyar.
    This doyen is different.
    He was born in 1842. He underwent education in a few schools.
    He learnt English from  a tailor.
    He could not go for higher studies which was availabe only in Madras at that time.
    His elder brother was working in the collector's office.
    In those days, the collectorate at Madurai covered a very large area.
    The present day Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Dindugal, Theni, and Madurai districts were in a large area which was collectively known as Madurai-Ramnad.
    The zamindaris of Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram were included.
    The elder brother obtained a job for Mani Aiyar. The salary was twenty rupees.
    It was a big sum in those days.
    While working, he took up law and passed with credit. This
was possible in those days. Then he went through the proper channel and took up B.L.
    He got admiited in the legal practice and carried on in Madurai. Then he was appointed as a Tahsildhar for some time.
    But he was very successful as a lawyer and was able to tackle very difficult cases.
    In 1870, he was appointed as a commissioner in the Madurai Paripalana Sabha - an administrative body like the Town council. He was as such for 10 years until 1880. He helped a lot of people and also brought about many positive changes.
    Then he became the head of the Paripalana Sabha and continued for 3 years. He created parks in Madurai and planted trees on the roadsides.
    He was well-versed in Tamil literature.
    He made a study of the trees and plants which belonged to the 5 types of land - thiNais known to the Tamils - neydhal, marudham, mullai, kurinji and paalai. He collected those flora and had them planted in various parts of Madurai.
    The Collector of Madurai showed great respect and liking for Mani Aiyar.
    Vayinagaram Venkatachalam Chettiyar met Mani Aiyar and sought his help about clearing the walls of the temple..(வளரும்)