The third edition of MRM Sundaram aka Sunda’s well-acclaimed biography of Kalki Krishnamurthy was released on the occasion of his centenary celebrations organised by Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Trust here on Friday.
With the mini-hall at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, overflowing with literary lovers, relatives, fans and well-wishers of both ‘Kalki’ and ‘Sunda,’ Dinamani editor K Vaidyanathan set the tone for the book release function, saying that his Tamil daily tried to emulate the highest editorial standards set by Kalki.
While he did not get the opportunity to work in Kalki magazine, he said he realised his dream by working for editor Savi, whose association with the Ponniyin Selvan author went back a long way and, hence, followed the same literary tradition.
Earlier, unveiling a photograph of Sunda, Vaidyanathan said the biography — Ponniyin Puthalvar — flowed like the Ponni River and vividly brought out the literary genius, wit and humour of Kalki and described several hitherto unknown episodes in his life.
Releasing the third edition of the biography, Amudha Surabhi editor Tirupur Krishnan recalled the simplicity and greatness of ‘Sunda’, a former senior official of All India Radio.
Sunda’s daughter and economist Ramamani Sundar traced her father’s humble career beginnings and later his elevation to a senior position at AIR and a stint in BBC, London. Former Ananda Vikatan executive editor ‘VSV’ and journalist Gowri Ramanarayan also recalled their association with the biographer.
The 912-page hard-bound volume, brought out by Vanathi Pathipagam, is priced at `450. With a preface by ‘Kalki’ K Rajendran on how the biography was born, the back cover shows ‘Kalki’ conceiving Alai Osai, a famous novel set against the background of India’s freedom struggle. The first edition was brought out in 1976 and the second in 1999.
Senior BJP leader L Ganesan, former West Bengal Governor Gopalakrishna Gandhi and former DGP R Nataraj were among those who attended the function.