We are now wasting the freedom that tyagis like VOC got for us
97-year-old Muruganandham at Coimbatore central prison garlands the oil press ran by V.O.C during his imprisonment here in early 1920. (Photo: DC/ File)
Coimbatore:“This garland decorates the oil press here every year on the birth anniversary of VOC. Then they forget all about it, just as they have forgotten about the legacy. The British had yoked VOC to this oil press in the Coimbatore central jail as punishment for fighting for Independence.
We are now wasting the freedom that tyagis like VOC got for us. I wish we would become a nation of truly patriotic people.” This is T.K. Muruganandham, 97, a neighbour of V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, hailed as ‘Kappalottiya Thamizhan’ for running the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company to conduct trade between Thoothukudi and Colombo in early 1906.
The old man was brought to the Coimbatore central prison on Friday to participate in the ceremony to garland the oil press on which VOC was made to toil while receiving whiplashes from the British jailers. It was VOC’s 142nd birth anniversary.
Clad in a khadi dhoti and donning a cap, Muruganandham garlanded the oil press and held his trembling hands together in a brief prayer, while his son Sankaralingam, a mill worker, and daughter-in-law Gomathy supported him.
“I worked in VOC’s shipping company as a coolie in my teens, overseeing the loading and unloading of vegetables and other goods. I got '5 a month as salary,” the elderly man said, recalling how VOC’s patriotic zeal inspired several young people like him to join the freedom struggle.
He said he had also fought as a sepoy in World War II, fighting the Nazis. Sankaralingam said his father used to read VOC’s books to his grandchildren and spoke to them at length about the great man’s role in the freedom struggle.
“Father would always say that VOC did not get the recognition he deserved. His sacrifices were on a par with anybody else’s. At least now, we must tell our younger generation about his Swadeshi struggle and inspire some patriotism in them,” said the son.
Suspended DIG reads poem:
Suspended DIG Govindarajan of the Coimbatore central prison was found in the prison premises on Friday paying tributes to the oil press worked by freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai.
Dressed up in spotless white, Govindarajan, suspended in June 2014 for alleged financial irregularities in the prison, caught the attention of the public by reciting a poem, penned by him on VOC, in a high pitched voice. In his poem, he praised VOC for his Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company and his fight against the British.
He went on say that every Tamil - man and woman - should take pride in VOC and follow his Swadeshi principles. “I wrote this poem for VOC. I believe in his Swadeshi principles. He should be remembered by every Tamil,” said Govindarajan.
When contacted, central prison SP K. Anandhan said he did not participate in the event and so he was unaware of the presence of Govindarajan at the function.
( Source : dc )
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