Great Vice Chancellors  from  Kanyakumari:  Part  I:

Prof. Dr. V.I. Subramaniam [1926- 2009] : Dr. V.I. Subramaniam  had the distinctive honor of serving as the first Vice Chancellor of the Tamil University , Thanjavoor;  and  he  was a native of Kanyakumari district, and he was one  of the greatest  Tamil scholars of the world.

Birth  of Prof.  V.I. Subramaniam :      Vadasery Iyempermal Subramaniam [ V.I. Subramaniam ] was born at Vadesery in Nagercoil  in the year 1926, in an orthodox Hindu family.  He carried the lovely name of his village" Vadasery"  with him throughout the world and popularized the name of his native village by prefixing his  village name  with his name. Definitely Vadesery has assumed  and attained a new status because of V.I.  Subramaniam.   Prof.V.I.S. , that was the way he was well  known  to his friends ,colleagues,students and fans .

Education  :  Prof. V.I. Subramaniam ,did his  High School studies at S.M.R.V. High School , Vadesery and continued his Intermediate course at Scott Christian College , Nagercoil.  and  went to  Annamalai University ,  Chidambaram ;  to do his B.A.[Hons], in Tamil Literature.  This period laid the foundation for his bright future. The great Tamil Scholar Thani Naygam Adihalar,    Mr. Anbazhagan[ Former minister of Tamil Nadu] ,  Mr. V.R. Nedunchezhian [Former Minister of Tamil Nadu]  . Mr. Mathiazhahan { Former minister of Tamil Nadu]  were some of his   remarkable   class mates  in  Annamalai University and the last Trio played a dominant  part in the  Dravidian Movements and   Dravidian  Parties'  politics.

Higher Studies.  : V.I.S. was a research student under the great Tamil scholar  Pro. Vaiyapuri Pillai in the Kerala University  for some time.    V.I.Subramaniam's  thirst for linguistic research   forced him to   proceed to U.S.A. for his higher studies in Linguistics. He did his Ph.D., in Linguistics in the famous Indiana University , U.S.A .

He was a dedicated teacher : He was a great teacher in all sense of the term.  He had the privilege of working as a Tamil Lecturer  in the famous  Annamalai University, one of his Alma Maters.   Then he moved to the University of Kerala.  Till then  the  great  Tamil  research scholar  Prof. S.  Vaiyapuri Pillai , was working as the Professor of the Tamil Chair in the University of Kerala University [1951-1954].  Prof. Dr. V.I. Subramaniam  succeeded  Prof. S. Vaiyapuri  Pillai , and  took  very keen  interest to upgrade the status of the Tamil Chair into a full fledged Department and he succeeded  in his effort ;  and as  a result  Prof .Dr. V.I. Subramaniam became the first Professor and Head of the Department of Tamil in the University of Kerala.  He held that post with great distinction  and served the department with great dedication [1954-1966]..

The First  Vice Chancellor of the Tamil  University : The Tamilnadu State Legilative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for the establishment of the Tamil  University   in Thanjavoor, in   September , 1981  and Prof. Dr. V. I. Subramaniam took charge as the first Vice Chancellor of the Tamil University in September , 1981 . He served the cause of Tamil through  the Tamil University with complete dedication and competence . In recognition of  the valuable and constructive service to Tamil and  the Tamil University, the Government of Tamil Nadu  gave him a second term extension as Vice Chancellor but due to some reasons he resigned  from the V.C. Post before the completion of the V.C. term.

Pro Chancellor of  the Dravidian University , Kuppam;    The Dravidian University,  at Srinivasa Vanam, , Kuppam , Andra Pradesh was established in 1997  by the Government of Andra Pradesh.   Prof. Dr. V.I. Subramaniam  played a crucial role in line with his mission and  vision  for the establishment of the Dravidian University at Srinivasa Vanam, Kuppam , Andra Pradesh., for the cause of  linguistic research  on Dravidian languages and to promote a greater sense of fraternity and spirit of integration among the speakers of the major Dravidian languages in South India. .  In tune with   it's objectives  the Dravidian University is located at a  Tri-lingual junction in the South-West tip of Andra Pradesh  at Kuppam, ; 4 Km from Karnataka   border and 8  km    from Tamil Nadu border  .  V.I.S.  was appointed as the first Pro Chancellor of the   Dravidian University at Kuppm , Andra Pradesh.   He discharged  his duties and responsibilities with  great distinction and dedication  as  Pro- Chancellor of the Dravidian University ,Kuppam.

Prof. V. I. Subramaniam and the Central Institute of Classical Tamil : For  a pretty long period of time, great Tamil scholars  and intellectuals  and the Tamil speaking people throughout the world had been striving   for the official recognition  of  Tamil language  as a Classical Language ,on par with the other Classical Languages  like Hebrew language,  Greek language , Latin language. Sanskrit  language ,  Arabic language  etc.  At last ,Tamil  was officially recognized  as a Classical  Language by the Government Of India in  2004.  .  The concerned  Ministry of the Government of India informed the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2008,  regarding  it's  decision  to establish the "Central Institute of Classical Tamil [CICT]"  in Chennai .  A long pending cherished goal of the Tamil speaking people  was at last realized  as a reality. The dream of Prof. Dr. V.I. Subramaniam   and all Tamil speaking people  became a reality.  The great Classical Tamil scholar  Prof V.I. Subramaniam  , a native of Kanyakumari district, was aptly selected to function as Vice Chairman  of the " Central Institute of Classical Tamil " Chennai  and he did real justice to his  post as Vice Chairman.

Prof. V.I. Subramaniam and  Dravidian Linguists' Association , Thiruvananthapuram : The Dravidian Linguists' Association was jointly established  on 15th March ,1972 by Dr. V.I. Subramaniam [Kerala University], R.C. Hiremath {Karnataka Unversity], and Mahadev Sastry [ Sri Venkateswara University]. It is an association  of scholars of Dravidian languages , at Thiruvanthapuram . It publishes , The International Journal Of Dravidian Linguistics and  related books.

Prof. V.I. Subramaniam and  The International School of  Dravidian Linguistics [ISDL] :    It   was established  on 25th February, 1977  with   R.C. Hiremath as the internal Director and Franklin C. Southworth as  the first external Director of the ISDL.  A Council of Directors was also formed . The first annual conference of Dravidian linguistics  was held in 1971. The primary objective of this  School is to undertake , organize and   guide original and advanced research in Dravidian studies.  This important school was started on a low pulse rate but  the  then Chief Minister of Kerala. Sri. Achutha Menon  took sincere interest  in the growth of this school. Prof V.I. Subramaniam was the founder and honorary Director of ISDL.  By the efforts of  Prof. V.I. Subramaniam , the I.S.D.l. purchased 20 acres of land near  St. Xavier's College, Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram . Prof. V.I.S. loved this School very much.  I.S.D.L has published several volumes of  books like the monumental  " Dravidian Encyclopedia " .  I.S.D.L also brings out a bi-annual  journal, "International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics"  to disseminate knowledge on various subjects related to Dravidian  languages, linguistics and literature.

Prof. V. I.Subramaniam and Dravidian Linguists' Association  Institute ,Thiruvananthaouram :

Prof.Dr. V.I.Subramaniam the internationally acclaimed Linguist was the founder  Director of the, Dravidian Linguists' Association  Institute, at Thiruvananthaouram  .The prime objectives if this Institute  are:  To undertake , organize and guide , original and advanced research in Dravidian studies.   Prof.V.I. S was conducting the inter disciplinary academic activities till his death on June 2009.

Conclusion:    Prof. Dr. V.I. Subramaniam was an era and he was a great visionary and force. The internationally famed Tamil and Linguistic scholar  Prof. Dr. V.I. Subramaniam was a multifaceted personality ; he was a thinker, researcher, linguist , writer, administrator ,scholar, visionary and good human -being.

He had the privilege and opportunities  to rub  shoulders  and move with many great personalities  of all walks of life  like academicians, politicians,  journalists,  State Ministers ,  Vice Chancellors, writers, Chief Ministers and so on.   T. V. Ramasubbaiyar ,the founder of Dinamalar, was one of his best friends and  he liked and respected  T. V. Ramasubbuaiyar  very much.   He had great admiration and regard for the  former Union Cabinet Minister  late C. Subramaniam  and Kee.Aa .Pa .Viswanathan and Prof. Vaiyapuri pillai .  In recognition of his service for the cause Tamil language and Dravidian linguistics  ,  more than  6 Universities have honoured him with honorary doctorate degrees , including the famous Jaffna University, Sri Lanka and   Tamil University , Thanjavur.  He was a tall and towering personality in all sense of the word. He was not only an intellectual designer and builder of intellectual and research institutions  but he himself was an intellectual  Institution  . No doubt he was one of  the greatest  Tamil sons ever born to a Tamil mother. After having lived a checkered  intellectual life he passed away on 30th June , 2009.

P.BABU MANOHARAN.[Rights reserved].