Sunday Celebrity: Suki Sivam, an ‘agent of social change’

An orator par excellence, an inspirational writer, a spiritual scientist and a social marketer are perhaps a few descriptions which may give an overview of his exquisite personality—‘Kalai Maa Mani’ Suki Sivam, also known with prefix ‘Sol Vendher’ – ‘the King of Words’.

He is known to Tamil community across the globe. For his spell-binding oration but not caught in the narrow circle of politics. His oration is dedicated to positive thinking, self development, time management, personality development, motivation and awakening towards successful living.

It is striking; this young social thinker has been relentlessly at his job for the past three decades, fighting against all forms of social degradations, cultural distortions and religious fanaticism that are clouding the present day people, especially the youth.

It is no exaggeration to say Suki Sivam is an “agent of social change” for he is influencing public opinion by delivering innumerable lectures all over the globe; he is writing columns in magazines and papers; publishing books, conducting workshops / training sessions and he is also releasing audio and video CDs in a continuous and consistent manner.

In his works, Suki Sivam chooses to touch upon heterogeneous areas of public interest such as literature, spirituality, communal harmony, women empowerment, leadership traits, time management, parenting, marital harmony and sustainable development...

Asian Tribune was interested to talk to him after his recent visit to Sri Lanka, especially Yazhapanam. In fact after his return it became a subject matter for a day of his regular discourse slot on the Sun TV titled “Entha Naal Enniya Naal” He settled down for a chat with this writer in his office in between his busy schedule last Thursday.

Although he had visited Sri Lanka several times to participate in literary and motivation programmes, this time he had invitation from Yazhapanam area that is limping back to normalcy. His impressions were: they are coming back to life from war era. What is needed for them now is not sweet political talk but confidence-infusing words.

He says the peoples’ fear could be read into their eyes, although there is lateral peace. “Instead of listing out what caused this, which was responsible for this and that, thought should be shed on what can be done to get the Tamils on road to future.”

More than food, cloth and home what is needed for the war-ravaged people today is confidence. “There should be people to say to them “You can live. You can.”

Different political parties give voice for their facilities, their shortcomings, their return to them home soon, and voice of support. “By more such voice and noise, more unsecure they feel.

What message they wanted him to give Tamils here and in the rest of the world ‘don’t hoot for this and that for us, but try to think of encouraging some NGOs like Red Cross and Seva Lanka and those others recognized by the UN and local government to come forward to work for our future, build our economy and put us on safe road to earn our livelihood’”.

Suki Sivam said as he traveled several parts of the North Sri Lanka, he was heart-frozen to see several houses riddled with bullets and roof less and damaged, but the new houses are made of tin sheets. “Many Tamils who had left the land for safety and for their lives, and living comfortably in foreign lands. But those who stayed back had no other alternative had been worst sufferers. To alleviate their sufferings and reward them will any of those affluent living abroad are prepared to donate their houses through service organizations to be repaired and given to Tamil, who bore the brunt of the war and stayed back. No. Is this ethnic affinity?” he asks.

Talking about his visit to the Manipallavam theevu, he said such an historic place, he read in literature and history was in awful condition. The country with its rich legacy, beautiful landscape, rich soil, fertile greens, the rustling palmirah- when it would be restored to the full,” he heaves.

Being son of the eminent writer couple, ‘Kalai Maa Mani’ Suki Subramaniam and Gomathi Subramaniam, the writing and communication talent came just natural to him.

His illustrious mentors - Thirumuruga Kripananda Variyaar, Thavathiru Kundrakudi Adigalaar, Editor K.V.Jgannathan, Professor R.Radha Krishnan and orator Chidambaram Swaminathan – shaped him during his formative years and sculpted his personality and empowered him to emerge as the undisputed ‘Friend, Philosopher and Guide’ of the masses.

Suki Sivam is a double graduate in Economics and Law from the University of Madras and he has to his credit a lengthy list of awards and citations.

His father worked for All India Radio and many of his serial plays such as ‘Kappu Katti Chathiram,’ ‘Dubash Veedu’ and ‘Janatha Nagar Colony’ were big hits. Such was his thirst for literature that he would buy books whose cost exceeded his monthly pay. Suki Sivam inherited his penchant for good literature from his parents.

As a tribute to his father Sivam took ‘Suki’ as prefix to his name. And his father Subramanian was an avid fan of ‘Kalki’ Krishnamurthy. Combining the first letter (Tamil) of his name and the first letter ‘Ki’ (in Tamil) of Krishnamurthy he had assumed ‘Suki’ as the prefix to his name.

Even as a student (Santhome High School, Vivekananda College and Madras Law College) he was winning a number of prizes in debates and competitions. He never missed any of the patti manram or symposiums. Suki Sivam says he did consider entering politics but thought the better of it. Similarly he did not try his hand in practising Law. But started as religious speaker and with discourses. That was also short lived. For he says, he is not a religionist but spiritualist. His calling was different literature, social tinkering.

Suki Sivam’s serial in Ananda Vikatan on Confidence entiktled “Manase Nee Oru Mandira Savi”, enlightened the youth; His serial “Vetri Nichchyam” (Success Sure) was a h it among the youngsters; his serial in “Kungumam” titled “Nalla Kudumbam” (Good Family) was well read; presently his serial in Sun TV “Entha Naal Eniya Naal” is very much popular wherein he touches different topics.

Apart from the prestigious State Government award of ‘Kalai Maa Mani’, he has been bestowed with various titles such as Sollin Selver, Sendhamizh Thendral, Soll Vendhar Muthamil Peraringar. etc. to name a few. These honors have been conferred upon him by various literary, social and cultural organizations from time to time. Throughout the year, he is flooded with global level invitations from several Tamil organizations which revere him as the ‘Twenty first century Tamil Cultural Icon.”

Suki Sivam has many books to his credit, and to mention a few, “Aadhi Sankarar”, “Kumbabishekam”, “Kandar Anubudhi”, “Geethai Vilakkam” “Nallavannum Vazhalam”, “Gnana Malargal”, “ Nalla Kudumbam”, “Vetri Nitchiyam”, “Sindhanai Muthukkal”, “Paddikka-Jeyakka”, “Sundara Kandam”, “Unave Uyre”, “Vetri Meethu Vetri”, “Oli Paravattum” “Vazhandu Parkalam Vaa”, etc

Suki Sivan travels around the globe giving lectures on Tamil, literature and various life subjects. Tamils from UK, US, Switzerland, France, Australia and Gulf countries invite him. His audience is mostly Sri Lankan Tamils, who he says have keen interest, and not entertainment interest.

Gallery – Click on picture to zoom.

-Asian Tribune-