Birth

I was born in a small hospital in Chengalpattu which is located 56 kms from Chennai on 04-01-1954.

Parents

My father Vembuswami was a journalist in Chennai with an English newspaper (1907-1997). My mother Bangaru was my father’s partner. My father’s wife Jayalakshmi along with her three sons and a daughter and my widowed aunt Kanakavalli all lived under the same roof. My name then was Sankaran. A house filled with democratic values, and happiness despite a state of penury, and my father’s Nehruvian socialistic political views were the foundations that sculpted my thoughts as I grew up. My early lessons about caste and class related intricacies were learnt through my incurable and alcoholic maternal uncle Babu, a driver, who had put his family through innumerable difficulties and untold miseries and who would anoint paint to do tiger dance on the streets and also wield a bamboo stick showing Indian martial art on streets.

Education

My schooling in St. Joseph’s school, Chengalpattu, till my 11th standard helped me develop interest in oration, writing, and acting. The credit for developing these skills further, goes to Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai. When I was the Secretary of the Tamil Association in the College in 1971, I campaigned for Indira Gandhi and Kazhaignar in Chengalpattu against stalwarts such as Kamarajar, Rajaji and Cho. My stint as a member of editorial board of the School annual magazine and later in a hand scripted magazine called Vamban at College and also receiving a prize for an essay written for Poochandu, a student magazine moulded me to become a full time writer later.

First Job

Nuclear Family

Drama

Death - Marriage – Divorce

On 14th August my mother who was 56 years old died. After 24 days of my mother’s demise, on 7th September, I married Padma, a journalist and author as we had loved each other for over two years. Our wedding was through an announcement made on the stage during a Pareeksha theatre Play to the audience present that we both wished to live as a couple and we exchanged garlands to solemnise it. Even during the years of our courtship we had promised each other that even if we had some problems in marital life, we would continue to be lifelong friends. After ten years of marriage when we faced problems with each other, we took a divorce and continued to be friends. We waited till our son became 5 years old before we separated. In 2002 we announced this separation during the release of Padma’s writings which was published in a book called Penn Mozhi. Our only son Manushnandan completed cinematography from the Films Institute of Tamilnadu and is currently working in Mumbai as a Assistant cinematographer.

Writing and Politics

The judgment on the case filed by me against The Indian Express came in the March 1984 and the court had declared that my termination was illegal. I was reinstated in my job in The Indian Express as per court’s orders. I resigned from that very job ten months later in 1985. From the arrears I received I cleared all my loans and with the balance left over I started Dheemtharikida once again. This time too after having sold 30,000 copies across 7 issues, owing to cheating by agencies this publication had to be stopped once again. The next seven years went by without a permanent job but taking up consultancies and getting paid upon acceptance of my articles in different magazines. In between in 1986, I started a magazine exclusively meant for Chennai City called “Ezhu Naatkal” which had to be stopped after publishing two issues. The only unique history about that magazine is having its own stall in the Chennai Book Fair exclusively for the First time.

From penning political critique as well as speaking as a political critique on left party stages, I moved on to be a political analyst in 1986. I became member of the executive committee of Eezha Tamizhar security Federation, along with Professor Salai Elantheriyan, VC Guhanathan, Mu Metha, and Subha Veerapandian. We also did a human chain protest to express displeasure against the Rajiv – Jayawardene agreement.

I released a publication criticizing the Bofors agreement signed by Rajiv on the eve of the Congress summit in Maraimalai nagar. Based on this I was contracted to write a weekly column called “Pudhayal” on every Sunday in Murasoli paper criticising Rajiv congress. When VP Singh made his Jan Morcha against Rajiv, I translated his speech on stage in Chennai. Later when DMK and VP Singh’s Janata Dal came up with their national front, I translated the speeches made on stage by non Tamizh speaking leaders. During Tamil Nadu assembly elections when VP Singh campaigned in support of DMK, I was the translator for all his speeches across Tamil Nadu. When DMK won and formed a government, I resigned from my Job in Murasoli.

Later when VP Singh became Prime Minsiter, the Mandal commission recommendations were made public and my friend and advocate Mr. Chandru and me wrote a small book supporting the Mandal commission recommendations. We both spoke about it in several meetings. I also created and released a video supporting VP Singh and Janata Dal during the 1989 elections. This video cassette covered and explained the Mandal commission recommendations and also about religious harmony.

By the end of 1988 apart from public speaking, writing in magazines and enacting dramas, I also involved myself in producing videos. I wrote and directed a video of 28 minutes on status of women during the end of 1988 titled 48.2% for Soco Charitable trust of Madurai. This was my first short film. Later I wrote the script and directed a serial for Doordarshan called “Vinnilinrundhu Manukku” of a novel written by friend and author Arandhai Narayanana titled “Vaaram thorum vayasagiradhu”. This was my first TV serial. Later Nadai Ayzhagan of Kumbakkonam along with his friends published a magazine called Alaigal in which I worked as Editor for a few months. I was invited in 1991 to be the Chief Editor of ‘Junior Post’ published by Vikatan group and I worked there till December 1992.

The next four years passed by as I took freelancing and wrote independent columns for several magazines as well producing TV serials along with documentaries for MS Swaminathan Foundation. Right from the 70’s I used to take part as well as produce shows for the All India Radio and later in 1994 for the first time when government gave permission for Private Producers to Produce programs, every Monday I introduced and compered a program that had songs with different messages titled Muthu Kuviyal. The same year I also introduced program that conveyed birthday wishes to children as well as give details of persons who were born on that day be it philosophers, scientists, leaders, and artists. This was introduced by me for the first time on Tamil television as well, Owing to the interest of Kumaran of Dinakaran Group, I became editor for a special exclusive magazine on TV World in 1994. This magazine titled TV Ulagam ran successfully for one year but was stopped owing to internal conflicts in Dinakaran Group. After 16 years and having terminated my services back then, the very same Indian Express group invited me to be editor of their Dinamani Dailies Magazine section in 1996. Both my mother and aunt who had witnessed my termination were not alive to see this honour done to me. Only my father was still alive to witness all this, as an outsider.

During my one year sting with Dinamani I introduced Pongal Malar, Magalir Malar, Maruthuva Malar, Maanavar Malar and Deepavali Malar. Once again, it was back to TV productions and independent column writing. In 1999 I was invited to create a Children’s magazine by Vikatan. After creating Chutti Vikatan I managed it for a few months before stepping back.

I also took up the job of the Editor for a magazine called Win Nayagan (2000) which was guided by cartoonist Madan and Rao and already on the Verge of a Shutdown, After working for just over 100days, I had to end up doing the last rites of the magazine not before trying hard to revive it .

It is in the same year that I made a video titled Kavi which had modern poetry. After the experience with Win Nayagan I decided not to take a permanent employment with anyone. Accordingly for eight years I did not take up any permanent assignment. In 2002 I once again started Dheemtharikida on a small scale based purely on support from subscribers. Around 1000 subscribers supported this effort. But to meet production costs apart from subscribers we had to sell another 1000 copies outside. Once again due to agencies letting us down after 50 issues we had to stop Dheemtharikida.

Keetru web friends came forward to convert Dheemtharikida as a web magazine. But, owing to my busy schedule and my disinclination towards web at that point of time, that idea petered out.

From 1974 till date based on my occupational interests I was involved on one hand with magazine and TV related work, and on the other hand based on my personal interest I was also involved in theatre and workshops with adolescents and children. I have done these in several colleges and schools across Tamil Nadu. Notable among them is the street play training given for 400 students in 4 years in Manormaniam Sundaranar University and twice producing drama with students of Womens Christian College.

Despite having friends in the field of cinema right from 1971, I never was interested in entering the Film industry,. The reason for this is not the medium of cinema, just the unpalatable commercial practices surrounding it. I never compromised on my belief system and whatever work I did I refused to compromise on them in all these years. Since it is difficult to practice this in commercial cinema, I did not get involved in it at all. In 2007 when I was 54 years old, owing to changes in commercial cinema, with support from Pyramid Sai Mira Productions I could start the One reel Movement. So far I have Directed two films under the One reel Movement.

Though I had been writing though Visitor and Visitor Lens since my early days, It was my articles that got published in Tamil India Today which introduced me as a columnist. It was because of the reach my columns had for two years from 2003 to 2005, Ananda Vikatan invited me to write a column. After a few columns were published I had to relocate myself for a short time to be with my son in Mumbai where I was part time reporter for Vikatan’s Mumbai section and later when I returned to Chennai, I became an consultatnt for human resource development of the Vikatan editors group. After the successful publishing of O Pakkangal for over three years and Arindum Ariyamalum which focused on adolescent physical and emotional well-being for over 40 weeks, it was stopped suddenly without prior notice and on one day I was terminated from the post of advisor as well all of a sudden.

After this, I shifted my O Pakkangal column to Kumudam and later to kalki, In spite of all these is no change in my values, opinions and thoughts on life. My dreams of an egalitarian society, where there is no caste, religion, or imaginations about God and equality among genders such as man, woman and transgender and on humanity still prevails, and has never ebbed at all. My dreams were kept afloat by great forces like Bharathi, Marx, Periyar, Gandhi and Ambedkar. Even today the many faces in politics and culture are celebrated based on their smartness but their real faces of selfishness is hidden behind the façade of talent.

The purpose of a writer is to wash away such make-up and unmask such people. As a journalist and a creator I have always strived to be the conscience of the society. I have tried to live a life where neither I have been caused nor had reason to cause any pain to fellow human beings by living an honest and simple life. There are very many friends and creators who have helped me in shaping up myself like this. From the time I shifted to Chennai with my mother and aunt in 1975 till date my house has welcomed everyone inside with an open heart unabated by monetary difficulties and this is the only thing that gives me immense joy even today. By taking these burdens as their own, it was always made possible by just four persons in my life - my mother, my aunt, Padma and Manush. In this bid even every small failure had made me more mature.

Every small victory eggs me on with great confidence.

It is this confidence that is expressed in my recent attempt to go on the internet as well as live in a rented house after being in my own house for more than 10 years, Today I welcome you all with the thoughts of my young friends who have made this possible and my belief on their enthusiasm and excitement on the one hand and the anguish at the delay at individual levels in their understanding and appreciating the past, present and the essence of entire history on the other hand.

The O Pakkangal column published by Ananda Vikatan was popular among his readers. When Vikatan group stopped publishing it, he ensured it was published through Kumudam in 2008. When there was problem to publish this in Kumudam also, in 2010 he got it published by Kalki. Ultimately in Kalki dated March 15th, 2014 it was stopped without providing any reason, but all owing to Political pressures at various times from Various Factions.

It is the first time in Tamil journalism that contemporary review column has been published in different Tamil magazines under the same name, His O Pakkangal has been published in 11 volumes.

Gnani had the same proficiency in speaking as he had in writing. In the void of writing continuously for big magazines, he took part in TV shows where he debated and expressed his views on political, cultural and societal issues.

He was an advisor and guide to SRV school of Sameyapuram from the time it was started in 2006. The school encouraged and support all Gnani’s efforts for the development of students. Right from the start, under the title of ‘Vaiyat Talamaikol’ (Lead the world) Gnani selected 200 students and trained them once a month by bringing in many leading personalities. He had been been instrumental in bringing many personalities for ‘Kanavu Meypada’ (Lets make dreams real) event. In order to bring an atmosphere of non-discrimination among religion Gnani recommended that the school should encourage teaching songs of Bharti’s Aati Choodi Elamperai Anindu to students as a school anthem. He had made a few short films for the school. Casting the students he had made a film titled Maathi Yosi for All India Children’s Film Federation. Apart from teachers and students, he shared his thoughts with the parents of the students also. In 2009 he scripted and made a 45 minute film titled Anandi that addressed the questions in the minds of adolescents, for UNICEF. He started Kolam, an organisation that would make films without support from producers, financiers, distributors, theatre owners with intent to connect the creators with their audience. He gave shape to his long-time dream. Later, through Kolam Foundation he instated an award for best short story in memory of Author Ashoka Mitran.

He then started an organisation called Vizhi with support from retired High Court Justice Chandru and Ex Vice Chancellor Vasanthi Devi to fight for prohibition In Tamil Nadu.

In 2009, along with writer Bhaskar Shakti, Gnani started a literary meeting near the open well at his residence on Azhagiriswamy Road at Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar, Chennai in which important writers and personalities would speak, Gnani named it as “KENI SANDIPPUGAL” since it happened around the well in the backyard of the house and the house itself started being refered as “KENI” over the years.

Gnani joined the Aam Admi party in the year 2014. He contested in the 2014 elections as a candidate from the Alandur constituency. He got 5727 votes in this election. Even though people of Tamil Nadu did not know much about Aam Admi party he got 2.8635% of total votes. After two months of the elections owing to his ill health and that of the party he announced his retirement from politics.

Gnani has been suffering from the past 30 years with various ailments such as high BP, diabetes, intestinal TB, piles, migraine, indigestion, weakening of neck and spinal cord and has braved them all. He had to be admitted and operated upon several times for cataract, stent in the heart, hernia, putting stent in kidneys, laser treatment for removal of stones etc. During his last years since both his kidneys failed, he had to be put on dialysis while he was still very Active with all his ventures .

But he was never afraid of his ailments. He never hesitated to do his work despite his ill health. He continued to tread the path he always cherished. He expressed his views on Facebook and Twitter. He participated in debates on TV. He took part in meetings. He involved himself in directing plays and training artists for them.

In 2016, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Iyakkam bestowed on him the Ayodhidasar Aadhavan award. In between, in 2016 he created and continued to be the advisor to magazine titled Pattam published by Dinamalar for students in Tami, Along with this he was instrumental in spreading and teaching the Ten life skills created by World Health Organisation for children and adolescents.

In 2017, months before his demise, he made a short film for children titled Nilaa for Gnana Banu Visual Media. Actors like Nassar, Velu Saravananan and others have acted in this film.

His last venture into Visual and social media was “O Pakkangal “ YouTube channel owing to his aspiration to continue his journey with his readers. The morning before his demise he interviewed Medha Patkar while oh her way to the airport in the car for his YouTube O Pakkangal. After this his last video uploading was on Vairamuthu and the controversy over Andal, he recorded this video just 4 hours before his demise.

Due to his love for fellow human beings and with a hope for equality among human beings Gnani became the voice for the voiceless. Bharati’s “ஓயுதல் செய்யோம், தலைசாயுதல் செய்யோம், உண்மைகள் சொல்வோம், பல வண்மைகள் செய்வோம்” are the words that were like the guiding Mantra for Gnani.