RIP Sujatha

I've been quite upset for a few days now. The demise of Sujatha has struck me real hard. Even as I write this, am confused whether to say “Writer Sujatha” or “Scientist Sujatha” or “Novelist Sujatha” or “Kollywood Sujatha” or whatever!

I have never come across any one else as versatile as Genius Sujatha was. He exhibited a perfect blend of right and left brain skills. And at what degree of achievement! He came across as an intellectual of the highest order, in everything he did.

And add to it the fact that he wrote in Tamil. That was exquisite by itself! For years, he was the only answer to the question of “Who is to promote அறிவியல் தமிழ் (Tamil for Science)?”. This moment I am unable to think of anyone else who wrote about scientific things in Tamil. Maybe, Hai Madhan comes a distant second.

The first time I came to know about him was in my class 3. Doordarshan used to telecast a serial written by him: என் இனிய இயந்திரா (Yen Iniya Iyandhira). It was a sci-fi thing, if I remember right, and I was fascinated by a puppy that starred in it (Geno). What was even more fascinating was that some male was named “Sujatha”. My Mom explained to me about pen names. But I never really understood that then.

After that, Ananda Vikatan became my most regular source of contact with him. I used to dig anything and everything that featured in his name – articles, reviews, interviews, stories, et al. But what floored me definitively was ஸ்ரீரங்கத்து தேவதைகள் (Srirangatthu Dhevadhaigal) – his book on life at Srirangam. The clear flow of his language and his succinct humor greatly touched me, and I became a BIGGGG fan of his. I even read out one full chapter (the one on cricket) from that book to my friend Ananth. That was more than a decade ago. And I still remember that. Such was his impact on me.

I almost met him in person once. Almost. When I was in class 12, a group of us went to meet him at T Nagar in PentaMedia’s office to invite him for our culturals. We were waiting outside when his secretary went in and explained the reason of our visit to him. He replied “What will I do at a school function where kids would dance and sing? Please tell them that I am not interested”. We returned disappointed.

Then it hurt me to hear him say that. But in retrospect, I can understand what he must have thought. Every minute of his was precious and had to be spent on higher causes.

Dunno what to say.. Feeling rather disoriented.. May his soul rest in eternal peace..