Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar is a real life example of success through hard work, says OPS

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, on Saturday, heaped praise on the late Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar for his success achieved through dedication and hard work. “Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar is famed for his contributions to the field of education, sports and journalism. But he did not achieve them overnight. 

He had started his career from the scratch, learnt the profession as a labourer and worked hard to attain this status,” said Panneerselvam, delivering his special address at the inaugural function of the memorial for Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar.

Panneerselvam said that after Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar completed his college and entered journalism, he was sent to the printing centre by his father Si Pa Aditanar to arrange printing blocks. 

“We usually see the sons of the owners becoming the owners. But in the case of Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar, he started his life as a worker in a printing press, wearing the same blue-coloured dress of the press workers. 

With huge respect for the words of his father, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar commenced his life by arranging wooden blocks and succeeded in his life,” said Panneerselvam.

“The present generation will not be able to understand how difficult it was to print a newspaper those days as several new software are in place now to aid printing. But those days, the entire process was mechanical and one has to have extreme skills to master the art of printing,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister further recalled that after Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar excelled in arranging printing blocks, he was taught to operate machines and then was sent to do reporting and marketing. 

“Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar mastered every single aspect of journalism before taking charge of Daily Thanthi,” said Panneerselvam adding that Dr Sivanthi Aditanar lived with the principle that people dependent on him should also live happily and so indulged in extensive philanthropic activities. “It was in appreciation of his social service that several universities offered him the Doctorate,” noted Panneerselvam.

Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju, speaking at the function, said, “Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar had reached great heights in his life and the memorial is another feather in his cap.”

The Minister also said the Thoothukudi district has been contributing a lot for the country since the Independence movement, starting from the revolt of King Veerapandiya Kattabomman against the British. 

The district is the birthplace for many freedom fighters and poets such as Bharathiyar, VO Chidambaranar, Umaru Pulavar and so on. “On their lines, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar is one of the gems from Thoothukudi, who made Daily Thanthi the number one Tamil newspaper in the country. Even Nature has blessed this inauguration of Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar memorial with mild showers,” the minister said.

“Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar made Daily Thanthi number one and the number one Chief Minister in the country has respected the number one newspaper by inaugurating the memorial of Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar,” he remarked.

From education and sports to philanthropy and spirituality, Dr Sivanthi Aditanar left his mark on several facets of life in his hometown, Tiruchendur, which is visible even to this day. 

Born in Kayamozhi village near Tiruchendur on September 24, 1936, Aditanar grew up as an energetic sportsperson. Aditanar excelled in the game of shooting and brought laurels to Tiruchendur.

This close connection to sports and games led to the establishment of a physical education college at Tiruchendur to nurture talent among local youth and bring sporting activities closer to them.

Dr Sivanthi Sports Club was another such facility established in Tiruchendur aiming to support and encourage local sportspersons. When the club was launched in 2004, it recorded an enrolment of 45 persons. Now, over the years, the enrolment has risen to 148.

It was a one of its kind facility in Tiruchendur, which boasted of an indoor facility that was built on a par with international standards, explained S Balakumar, retired professor, Department of Chemistry, Sivanthi Arts and Science College.

Now, the shuttle club had been named after Aditanar, who has served as the president of Indian Olympic Association.

An equally important contribution by Aditanar was on education front, especially when it came to encouraging women’s education.

In the early years, though there were colleges in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, most of the orthodox families there remained reluctant to send the girls in their families to these institutions. 

But all this changed after women’s colleges were set up in Tiruchendur, which made these families confident enough to allow their daughters to continue their education, Balakumar recalled.

Now, hundreds of students pass out from the various institutions in Tiruchendur every year, and about 400 students from various disciplines get placed in prestigious jobs, including many in high profile positions, the former professor added.

In addition to being an educationalist and an enthusiastic sports promoter, Aditanar was also known for his spiritual bend of mind and the generous contributions he made to the temples. 

Sivanthi Aditanar was also known as Parakrama Pandian–II, as the Raja Gopuram of Kasi Viswanathar temple, which was built in Tenkasi by the Pandyan ruler, was restored by him.

Earlier, manimandapams were built in memory of former Chief Minister and legendary Congress leader, K Kamaraj, poet Kannadasan, and Shivaji Ganesan. Now, after being credited with similar honour, Sivanthi Aditanar has joined the pantheon, Balakumar noted.

Director of the Daily Thanthi Group, S Balasubramanian Adityan, on Saturday, said that the memorial constructed for his father Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar “will serve as a guide to youngsters”.

Delivering his thanksgiving speech, he said as many as five universities had honoured Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar with the Doctorate for his service in the field of education, sports and journalism. 

India government honoured Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar with Padma Shri for his philanthropic activities and social service. “But the memorial constructed by the State government for Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar is special,” said Balasubramanian Adityan. 

“My father, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar, worked with the sole principle of hard work. He worked tirelessly and I am happy that the memorial has 

reflected it,” he said.

He also thanked Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for inaugurating the memorial. “Ever since the memorial was announced, Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju made several visits to Tiruchendur to monitor the development of the memorial and I extend my special thanks to him,” said S Balasubramanian Adityan.  

He also extended his thanks to other Ministers, MLAs, officials and several party leaders, including All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi Founder R Sarathkumar. S Balasubramanian Adityan, along with his two sons, B Sivanthi Adityan and B Adhavan Adityan, presented mementos to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

Srivaikuntam MLA and former Tourism Minister SP Shanmuganathan, on Saturday, said  that Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar had earned the confidence of the late chief ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, fondly called as MGR and ‘Amma’, respectively.

“Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi was constructed without a ‘Raja Gopuram’, and the task of constructing the mammoth structure was handed over to Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar by MGR. Taking the task as a challenge, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar constructed the Raja Gopuram, which even kings could not construct,” said Shanmuganathan. He also said that similarly, during the reign of Jayalalithaa, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar was made the Trustee of Tiruchendur Murugan Temple.  

Now, the memorial for Dr Sivanthi Aditanar has been constructed in such a way that devotees visiting the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple cannot pass without visiting the memorial, he said.

Minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture and Archaeology K Pandiarajan, on Saturday, showered encomiums on Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar for his philanthropic activities.

“Dr Sivanthi Aditanar built schools and colleges, laid roads and drinking water pipelines, conducted temple festivals and organised sporting events. He did everything that a government did,” said Pandiarajan, delivering his address at the inaugural function of the memorial for Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar.

He said that when Si Pa Aditanar founded Daily Thanthi, he ran the company by making papers out of straws. Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar mastered journalism at a young age, as he was only 17 when he took over the administration of Daily Thanthi.

Tiruchendur has several identities like that of the Murugan Temple, but the memorial for Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar will be a unique identity for the coastal town of Tiruchendur, he said.

Pandiarajan further said Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar is known for his contributions to volleyball and Indian Olympic Association. “Ask a national-level volleyball player from Manipur, he will recall Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar’s contribution to the game. 

Also, Dr Sivanthi Aditanar strengthened the Indian Olympics Association as its president for 18 years,” said Pandiarajan.  Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar should also be credited for his donations to temples,” he added.

The whole of Tiruchendur and its suburbs wore a festive look on Saturday as the ‘manimandapam’ in memory of Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar, former Director of the Daily Thanthi Group, was dedicated to the nation. The memorial for Sivanthi Aditanar – a recipient of Padma Shri for his contributions to various spheres of life – was set up by the State government at a cost of Rs 1.34 crore at Veerapandiyanpattinam in Tiruchendur taluk of Thoothukudi district.

The morning was unusually pleasant as cold weather prevailed following mild showers and scores of people got access to the manimandapam, decked with flowers, before getting a glance of Sivanthi Aditanar’s life-size bronze statue, after being inaugurated by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur C Raju, Daily Thanthi Director S Balasubramanian Adityan, his family members, among others. Many could be seen taking selfie in front of the memorial.

According to E Vetrivel of Paramankurichi village in Tiruchendur taluk, the manimandapam will be something the region will cherish in the years to come. “Despite being qualified, many students hardly pursued college education earlier. 

With his efforts, Aditanar brought education to the reach of rural masses, especially those in backward and undeveloped areas. Initially, in 1965, the late Si Pa Aditanar, father of Sivanthi Aditanar, established an Arts and Science College in Tiruchendur,” he recalled.

Impressed by his generosity and altruistic acts, A Rajamarthandam, a resident of Tiruchendur, said the deeds of Aditanar, who was fondly known as ‘Chinna Iyah’, inspired this generation and built a lasting legacy for the coming generations. “The much awaited manimandapam for this legendary man is a dream come true,” Rajamarthandam said.

Known for his big heart and public charity, Aditanar was instrumental in transforming Tiruchendur region into a centre of education, M Chockalingam, state vice-president of Janata Dal (S), told DT Next. “As a major donor, Aditanar lent a helping hand in developing the schools.

Some 15 years ago, Aditanar offered Rs 1 lakh towards building a science block for Kamaraj High School in Nalumavadi. After Thoothukudi was bifurcated from Tirunelveli district, the District Court came into existence in Thoothukudi in 1992, after Aditanar offered books worth Rs 50,000 for the Law library,” he recalled.

G Esakimuthu of Paramankurichi Kaspa Yadavar Street said Aditanar didn’t have any bias towards any caste, creed or religion when it comes to rendering public service. P Esakimuthu, president, All India Gandhi Kamaraj Congress, said on behalf of his party, demands were made before the Chief Minister for the manimandapam.