madurai mani ayyer's love for tamil

ஜட்ஜ்  மதுரை மணி அய் யர
    He was a versatile orator. He was invited to give
speeches very often.
    He was also a fearless critic about wrong doers.
    At that time, most of the Saiva Matams were embroiled
in court cases. Most of them were very rich. Lots of endowments had been made throughout many centuries. But most of the property was misappropriated. And there were also internescine litigations between the matams.
    Mani Aiyar condemned the matams saying, "The matams
have deviated far from their mission. They are all fully involved with litigations and other quarrels. Their treasuries have become the cash boxes of lawyers".
    It has to be noted that at that time he himself was an advocate to a Saivite matam.
    There was an occassion when he gave a speech in Tamil. In those days it was not possible to see any highly educated and highly placed person to give talks in Tamil.
    When Mani Aiyar talked, he emphasised that people should make it a habit to talk in Tamil wherever possible.
    "Our people have been reading and writing a lot in English that they have made it a habit to think and talk in English. They cant even think in their mother tongue. They feel that it is undignified to talk in Tamil. That is a very bad attitude. Even I have been so used to English that I have the habit of thinking a few words in English and then mentally translating into Tamil and then saying them. The speech notes that I am holding in my hand are in English. But I am talking to you in Tamil. I never hesitate from talking in Tamil whenever it is possible".
    His speeches were lucid and in simple style. His Tamil was easily understood. In those days there was another extreme of talking in Manipravalam - Tamil mixed with Sanskrit, and Panditha Tamil - highly literary Tamil. He avoided those styles.
    He never forgot to tell beautiful Tamil verses in between.
    In all the events concerning he spoke in Tamil only. He used to say that he considers it a thavam to talk in Tamil.
    Even when he gave talks in English, he used to give gists of Tamil poetry in appropriate places.
    His love for Tamil was very great.
    He was carrying out his own researches about flowers and their reaction to music based on Tamil literary references
and folklore.
    A contemporary of Mani Aiyar was V.Kanagasabai
Pillai. He was occupying a high position in the postal department. He was an ardent devotee of ancient Tamil culture.
    In one of the lectures that he gave, the Pillai
once mentioned that he was going to write and publish
a book called 'Tamils - 1800 Years Ago'.
    This was reported in the papers.
    Mani Aiyar read the news and wrote a letter to Kanagasabai Pillai, appreciating his efforts and came forward to bear the expences for the publication. He also carried out his promise.
    Some more.