TN: TNPWAA Pays Tribute to Three Stalwarts of Progressive Culture
THE Tamilnadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association (TNPWAA) recently lost three of its most prominent cultural figures – poet-orator Nandalala (Trichy), writer Narumpunathan (Tirunelveli), and progressive singer Karisal Kuyil Krishnasamy (Narikulam, Virudhunagar District) – within a short span of time. To honour their contributions, the North, Central, and South Chennai district committees of the TNPWAA jointly organised a memorial meeting that paid homage to their lasting legacies in the literary and cultural movements of Tamil Nadu, on May 2.
Though not official office-bearers of the association, Nandalala, Narumpunathan, and Krishnasamy were among the most recognisable faces of the TNPWAA. Their work inspired generations of writers, activists, and cultural workers across the state.
A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE
Krishnasamy, who passed away on April 11, was a retired postmaster and a committed trade union activist within the postal front. Identified early on by writer S Tamilselvan, he had no formal musical training but taught himself to compose and perform stirring songs that resonated with the masses. Just days before his passing, Krishnasamy moved audiences at the 24th Party Congress in Madurai, and the cultural performances held from April 1-5, especially with a heart-wrenching song on the suffering of Palestinian children under Israeli occupation.
On April 13, hundreds gathered in his native village, Narikulam, to bid him farewell, singing his songs for over three hours from a specially erected dais. In a moving show of solidarity, the villagers hosted a meal– a gesture reflecting the deep connection he shared with his community. Nicknamed “Karisal Kuyil” – the koel of the black-soiled Karisal region –Krishnasamy embodied the lyrical heart of the movement.
THE ORATOR OF TRICHY
Nandalala, who passed away on March 4 after a cardiac illness, was remembered for his fiery oratory and deep engagement with the writings and lives of social reformers like Dr B R Ambedkar and Periyar. A long-time activist of the TNPWAA and a committed member of the Bank Employees’ Federation of India (BEFI) during his service with Indian Bank, Nandalala was also instrumental in building a broader literary movement in Trichy that brought together diverse voices.
A prolific writer, he authored a significant work on the cultural and historical landscape of Trichy. He was widely admired for his eloquence in pattimandrams (literary debates) and was a familiar presence on stages across Tamil Nadu. Known in literary circles by his pen name “Nandalala,” he was also an ardent reader of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi.
A LIFE OF MANY COMMITMENTS
Writer Ira. Narumpunathan, who died of cardiac arrest on March 16, was widely respected in the media and literary circles of Tirunelveli. He was known as a walking archive of the district’s cultural and political history. His activism extended beyond the page – he intervened in the case of Chinnadurai, a dalit student brutally attacked in Nanguneri, and helped secure housing for folk artist Thangarasu.
Narumpunathan co-founded the Sruhti Kalai Kuzhu, a street theatre troupe, and was an active member of the trade union movement within SBI. He also served as a member of the CPI(M)'s Tirunelveli district committee, seamlessly blending cultural work with political commitment.
The TNPWAA, through its commemorative event, highlighted how these three persons –through poetry, song, and activism – embodied the association’s vision of art as a tool for social transformation. Their absence will be deeply felt, but their legacy lives on in the movement they helped shape.
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