Ganakalanidhi Dr. Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar

  

Even in 1938, when Vinjamuri was 22, he established himself to be a Musician of great calibre and also, with his charming personality and manners, he commanded respect and affection from the young and the old.

Here is an example:

Sri. T. Lakshmana Pillai was a well-known composer in Tamil, a Musicologist and also a Musician. He was the Principal of Swatitirunal Music College, Trivandrum, prior to Sri. Muthiah Bhagavatar. He was known as "Tamil Thyagaraja" even prior to Papanasam Sivan. (Late M.S. Ramaswami Iyer advocated this!) He was associated with Madras Music Academy from its inception. He had great admiration for Vinjamuri.

The original letter, transliterated on the right:                 
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Ananthavilas, Sastan Koil Rd.
Thycand, Trivandrum, 22-3-38

My dear friend,

Thank you very much for your kind card of 2-2-38. You have not sent me your address at Madras, as you promised in your card and you said there that you would be going to Madras within 4 or 5 days. This omission of yours furnishes me with a good excuse for not sending you a prompt reply, though in the matter of tardiness in correspondence, I am more than a match for you. You need not feel sorry that you did not take leave of me, as your brother has made-up for it by taking your leave of me.
                                            I am very glad to know that you are giving many performances in those parts. As I have already told you, you are bound to become a famous singer, for nature has endowed you with necessary fertility of imagination and you have cultivated it under the guidance of that Great Master of Carnatic Music Mr. Tiger Varadachariar. Continue to sing in the same strain, absorbing and assimilating what ever is good in others, and you are sure to attain the desired goal. You should occasionally take Fellow's Syrup or Angeers' Syrup, according to the directions therein given, in order to strengthen your voice. And never sing when your throat is hoarse, because, by doing so, you will be impairing your voice permanently.
                                           I am continuing to teach songs to pupils who have now swelled to the number 18, and I am keeping good health.
                                          Sharma is quite well and is helping me with the organization of vegetarian society with much earnestness. My compliments to your brother. Hoping to hear from you occasionally, and with every good wish,
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P.S. I am invited to Tanjore to give a lecture with Musical demonstrations, in connection with the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Karanthai Tamil Sanga there, on 15th, 16th and 17th of April 38. I delivered a similar lecture at Pallavaram, near Madras, last Christmas.
TL
(VVI - Replied 25/3/38)

 

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