Great  Journalists of Kanyakumari : Part III:

Kodikal Sheik Abdullah :   He   is not only a great   journalist  but also a great social revolutionary, social reformer ,social and political activist, orator,   and educationist and he was born on 2nd February, 1937 in Kanyakumari district.  He was  originally named  as Kodikal Chellappa,  but  on certain social compulsion  and at a historical occasion he changed his name  from Kodikal Chellapa, to Kodikal Sheik Abdullah, in 1980.  Its  is not simply a change of  Kodikal's name but it is a change of his  conviction and execution of that  social  conviction  on the open social dais of the society. The change of  his name  is not an event but it is a history and a  preface to a silent  social  revolution. But even today he is fondly  called as Kodikal  by his friends ,relatives and admirers.

Kodikal  Sheik Abdullah was born on 2nd February,1937 at Vazhavilai, Thakalai,  in Kanyakumari district. But as he changed his permanent residence to Kodikal village near Eethamozhi  in kanyakumri district,  from his place of birth and stayed there for very long period of time , he got the prefix 'Kodikal" in front of his name .Due to  poverty  and other social conditions he could not  continue his formal school education beyond certain limit  but he became a great scholar by reading books on various interested subjects. He was a born journalist and social and  political  activist

His journalistic accomplishments:   While he was 14 years old his friends and he  , started  an Youth Organization at Ammacharkovil village, near Eethamozhi and  he served as one of the edditorial board members  of "Mantam" the  journal of that youth organization .  During 1971-1972 , Kodikal Chellappa started  a  bi- monthly in Tamil  called  'Puthumai Thai" [Modern Mother ], the name of this journal reminds us, about  the impact that the great  novel' Mother', authored by the great writer Maxim Gorky, on Kodikal. In the beginning days of " Puthumai Thai  "  it was published as a  News Paper  only, with a capacity of 20 pages. In the first year 500 copies were sold  but  in the third  year 1500 copies were sold  . The copies of "Puthumai Thai" were sold in  book stalls in  towns and rural betel shops  .The people of sea-shore villages gave strong support to "Puthumai Thai".

Kodikal Chellappa  , in tune with journalistic dharma boldly published  many stories and articles  highlighting the problems connected with the mounting  corruption charges  of the Government officials and  the problems faced by the poor people and voiceless  village  people. As an editor kodikal  not only  wrote many thought provoking editorials and  articles but also he  encouraged  many  writers  and journalists to write in Puthumai Thai.  The article written by the great Trade Unionist  K.LS. Santhanam  were well received by the readers. During the period 1972-1974 , great writers like Ponneelan,  Poet Rajamarthandan,  Vanamamalai,  Thathaththiri,  Prof. A. Sivasubramanian, Vanna Nilavan and some others ,  wrote many thought provoking articles in Puthumai Thai.  Due to some  obstacles the publication of "Puthumai Thai " was stopped in 1976.  Again  Kokodikal   restarted his" Puthumai Thai" , in1984 and  he was forced by circumstances  to stop its publication  in 1986 once for all.  After some break, the sleeping journalistic urge in him forced to start another magazine in Tamil called  "Ungal Thuthuvan "[Your Ambassador] and it's first issue was released in 1992, at Nagercoil  and continued till 1997. and it was an Islamic religious Magazine and  he published  many articles  highlighting the practical social  life problems faced by the Muslims along with religious articles.  Kodikal had the privilege to serve as the Secretary of the Writers Association of Kanyakumari district for some period of time.

Kodikal's political life:  The communism attracted  the radical mind  of  young Kodikal  even when he was very young  and he believed that Communism and Communist  Party rule would establish an egalitarian society in tune with his vision , and  so he became a member in The Communist Party of India. Kodikal  participated in the All India Conference of The Communist Party of India  held at Cochin in 1971and in that  Conference , Delegates from !9 foreign countries  also participated.  As he was a tireless and dynamic   worker  he was elected as the Kanyakumari District Executive Committee member of the Communist Party., and then as the District Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of India and finally as the District Secretary. However due to some  reasons he did quit the Communist Party.

Kodikal Chellappa  changed himself as Kodikal Sheik Abdullah:    As a natural and creative thinker,  since his birth he was restless , longing for  liberation  and self dignity . He wanted to come out the clutches of social chain and stigma and  his mind convinced   him to come out from  his original  religion  was the only way to escape from  the clutches of caste system and so he embraced Islam in 1980. He changed his name from Kodikal  Chellapa to Kodikal sheik Abdullah  as a social metamorphosis  and liberation and became one of the tallest milestones in the social history of Kanyakumari district and Tamilnadu.

Conclusion  & Educational Service of  Kodikal Sheik Abdullah :    Kodikal  Sheik  Abdullah was a born thinker , visionary ,a  man of action and social activist. As a boy who lost his parents at an early age he did not get proper guidance and monetary support for his education . However the natural urge  and thirst for knowledge forced him to become a great reader and a knowledgeable person . As a good human being he wanted to do useful educational service to the society and specially to the poor sections.  Mr. Kodikal Sheik Abdullah was responsible  for starting some important  Engineering Colleges in Kanyakumari and Tirunelvelii districts .Kodikal  Sheik Abdullah  was one of the founding  fathers of the  famous P.E.T. Engineering College [1993]. He had the privilege to serve as a Director M.E.T. Engineering College , Chenpaharamanputhur[2006-2013]. At present he is serving as the Director of the Universal Engineering College , Vallioor and also as a member of the Executive Committee of the Muslim Arts  & Science College ,Thiruvithancode . Mr. Kodikal Sheik Abdullah  was an old student of the then AVD High School, Ganapathipuram,   the mother institution of the present   A.V.D. College , Ganapathipuram.. As Kodikal played a vital role for the  approval of the A.V.D  Teacher Training College , Ganapathipuram ,  the College Executive Committee gave him the privilege to open the main  building of the College recently .Now Kodikal Sheik Abdullah  serves as an Advisor to the  AVD College .  Really Kodikal sheik Abdullah is a remarkable person ..

P.S.Mani   : P.S.Mani  was the editor of the famous  magazine "Kanyakumari"  and  he  was a native of Kanyakumari district and was a   multifaceted  personality. He was one of the founding fathers of Travancore Tamilnadu Congress Party and was also the The Central Executive Committee  Memmber of Tamilarasu Party founded by Ma.Po. Sivagnanam.   He was the Editor of two Tamil magazines namely ," Mani "and "Kanyakumari".  By his tireless writings in  his magazine , Kanyakumari , he championed the cause of  the Tamil people of kanyakumari district  regarding  the merger of  kanyakumari district with Tamil Nadu along with other leaders.

Eraniel Kalaithozhan :   Earniel   Kalaithozhan  is one of the unsung heroes of Kanyakumari district; he is a Tamil writer,  dramatist, short story writer, editor of magazines,  journalist and so on . Definitely  he is a versatile personality  and he was  born on 3rd September , 1930  at  Mangkuzhi,  near Neyoor,  in Kanyakumari district. He is generally known by his pen name as  Eraniel Kalaithozhan .  He is not  only  one of  the greatest   Dramatists of   Kanyakumari  district but also Tamilnadu.

Eraniel  Kalaithozhan  and his writing record:  He is   a great dramatist and he has written more than 75 dramas in Tamil and they have been staged nearly 2000 times in states like  Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andra Pradesh and Maharshtra.  He has been in the drama field for nearly 56 years. The  Tamil  poetical dramas written by him are: Kal Nenchan[ Man of stone mind], Tholilazhi [Labourer], Mannippu[ Forgiveness], Nalmanam Good mind],  Kalaithantha  Parisu [The prize of art],  Inbathental [ Joyful breeze],  Gnana soundari,  Rupah 2000[ Rupees 2000],  and  Anbin Aatchi[ The reign of love].

His published short stories are more than 80 and poems more than 30.  He has worked as  editor in three Tamil monthly magazines namely: Roja,  Nadahakalai{The art of drama],  Nadahaththirai[Drama Screen]. He has also worked as joint editor in  four Tamil monthly magazines namely;  Ythaya tharahai, Sirumalar, Cheithimalar, and Helen.Six of his books including Kalnenchan have found  their places in Govt libraries. He has received many honours and awards like    Nadaha Kalai mani, Nadaha kalai venthan , Masco Manivarman ninivu  Paratithazh and so on.  Many university students  have done research study on his dramas including his son who got a Ph.d  degree award for his  research study  about the dramas of Eraniel kalaithizhan .His profile have been published in popular Tamil magazines like  Ananthavikadan, Amuthasurabi, Dinamalar,  Rani and so on

A.P. Edward :  A.P. Edward  is one of the unsung  heroes of Kanyakumari district. He was born at Nagercoil on 25th June , 1925.  As a student leader he  led the students' agitation for India's independence in 1942.  He was expelled from the College  and  in  1945 he got his B.A. Degree from a famous   University , U.S.   He has written two books namely : " As I watch the world in 1946  and   "Toward the Indian Republic"  He  worked as a  Reporter in  " Dinamalar" and also worked as the  Special Correspondent of Dinamalar at Trivandum in 1955.  He  had the privilege and honour of working as the Secretary of  the 'South Travancore Journalists Association"  in 1952.

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Other  Journalists: There are so many unsung great journalists in kanyakumari district.  G.A. Britto, the editor of the Tamil monthly "Amutham ",  Kunjan Nadar [Thenkural],  Kulaintha Swamy{Iykia Thamilaham], R.K.Ram[Puthumai], Thopoor Subramaniam[Ilainjar Murasu],  Sri.V.Dhas{Venadu], Nathaniel[Savukku], Nesamani[Thingal], J.D. Raj[Express], K.P.Jeganathan {Election  Express] , Pithalis  [Ozhi vellam] , V.M. Jesudhas [Then Thilaham], Sivani Satheesh [ Mutharchangu] and so  many others .

P. BABU MANOHARAN,M.A,.[ Rights reserved-  this Article will be modified or altered later if needed].