‘Journey of Man’—Maanuda Yaaththirai

An Epic Grandeur by Professor V.C.Kulandaiswamy

–Pen-name: Kuloththungan

Tamil is one of the longest surviving classical languages in the world. It has been described as "the only language of contemporary India which is recognizably continuous with a classical past.” by a renowned Indologist Kamil Zvelebil. George L.Hart, an illustrious scholar of Sanskrit and Tamil and Emeritus Professor at University of California confirms with substantiating evidences that Tamil is having "one of the richest literatures in the world”. The variety and quality of classical Tamil literature has led to its being described as "one of the great classical traditions and literatures of the world".

With this introduction about Tamil language, we wish to introduce a Tamil poet, whose pen-name is Kuloththungan.

The personality behind the penname Kuloththungan is a multifaceted genius. Dr.V.C.Kulandaiswamy is an Educationist, Administrator, Engineer, writer, Orator, poet and a free lance journalist.

We know Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) the Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer and scientist. Nobody can deny the fact that he is a supreme example of Renaissance genius Poet Kuloththungan may be described without any hesitation as a Leonardo da Vinci of India.

Kuloththungan is an extraordinary poet, who has taken poetry for the expression of his concern over growing social problems and ventilation of his rage over the hypocrites who pretend to do social service. His mightier pen is producing thought-provoking poems for the past six decades. As an engineer he has proven his genius by developing a model in Hydrology studies known in his name as Kulandaiswamy model. As an educationist he has been celebrated as a ‘Great Commonwealth Educationist’ and he is a Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning.As an administrator he had adorned the posts of Vice-chancellorship at Anna University (1981-1990), Madurai Kamaraj University (1978-1979) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (1990-19994).He may rightly be described as the Architect of Anna University in its formative years and made it as the citadel of Specialized Technical education.

As a writer he had been awarded ‘Sahitya Academy award.(1988).Poet Kuloththungan, a myriad talented genius, insists through his poems the supremacy of Man. Human energy is the source of all kinds of energies in the universe, according to Kuloththungan.Man, a paragon of living beings in this globe, has no comparison. Kuloththungan sings in all praise for man and assures us that Man is the supreme power in the universe.

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            There’s no species known so far            that towers above the species human,             we must found a world on earth            where men in flesh would rise to be divine.Without knowing his potentialities man is highly depressed in the false hope that there is a supreme power. The lazy man, who always dreams that miracles may happen anytime to favor him with fortunes, never cares to do anything for the betterment of mankind and develops illusions and superstitions which only induce divisions among mankind. Kuloththungan clearly expresses:“……………………there is            No heaven in the Universe            The abode of Gods            After all our own mind.”

The poet never delves deep in romanticism, but enlightens his readers with an aim to motivate the present generation in a more pragmatic way.            Humans are an evolving species            A refined form of life on earth            ……………………………….            Countless are the produce            Yielded by the tiller’s toil;            Human society took many strides            and massive assets were created.The late lamented leader Jawaharlal Nehru, who is undoubtedly the architect of modern India, was a prolific writer and eloquent orator. He had contributed many thought-provoking writings. He declared that science and technology alone will redeem the poor Indian from all his evils and salvation can not be expected from anywhere else.In Kuloththungan also we see another Jawaharlal Nehru.            Science and Technology holds            Potential unbounded;            Handled with lofty intent and deftness,            It can conquer the breadth and depth of oceans,            It can triumph over the mountain peaks,            Irt can make winning expeditions in the skies,            It can gain access to nature’s wealth,            It can lead into more realms of knowledge,            Then human mind can open up;            And set up on the earth            A heaven of its own            Man will then verily be God.Here the voice of an internationally renowned Engineer as well as a unique Hydrologist is expressed through a progressive poet. Kuloththungan’s poems may rightly be described as “The fusion of Science and literature for the progress of mankind. “Gender biased attitudes in working places and sexual assault on women angers Kuloththungan and he asks:           

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Are our womenfolk sinners?            Should their misery remain interminable?His outburst is expressed in multiple questions which make everyone to realise the mistakes committed by the ‘male ego’ for many centuries.            Is not your mother a woman?            Are not your sisters elder and younger            and your loving daughter too             of the species of women?            Should there be impediments            For these divine souls            To find parity of standing with men?(Are our Womenfolk sinners- An Unending Ascent)

Kuloththungan can not be underestimated as one among the poets who pay lip-service to the emancipation of woman. He respects and reveres womanhood and he is in all praise for it in all his poems.  Womanhood is the spring in sand  whence wells up freshness perennially,  Womanhood is the garden of flowers  wherein blossom a million beauties,  Womanhood is the perfected whole  with every part embodying. .(It is Womanhood all purveying-An Unending Ascent)

This is not praise for catching a bigger vote-bank, as Kuloththungan is not a politician. He knows the value of the womanhood and he assesses the important role played by the womanhood in a befitting manner.  It is the womanhood with its  Blossoming smile through the ages  that has swayed the minds of the poets,  that has formed the fount of every art,  that goes deep to touch one's Soul itself and fascinates.(It is Womanhood all purveying-An Unending Ascent)The poet adopts a pragmatic approach to the social problems. Social justice is given the first and foremost place in his poems. As an educationist, he has done his best to achieve social justice in educational institutions whenever and wherever possible. His poems reflect his inner mind.  Social justice is a sacred river  A sanctified ambrosial fount  that nourishes the soil all thro' its course  Rooted it's in the pursuit of cultivating and harvesting human resource in its entirety.(No Desert No Fallow - An Unending Ascent)

Among the poets of contemporary India, Kuloththungan has a unique place, as he is a

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myriad talented artist-scientist. He uses poetry as a medium to express his social concern. To him poetry is the vehicle of powerful feelings and provoking reflections on societal set-up. He considers poetry as a mode of discourse with his fellow-citizens. He not only records his feedback on what is happening but also suggests what should happen. When there are plenty of poets who pretend to be prophets, he communicates louder thinking through his poems with a desire to get a feedback. He neither tries to instruct nor desires to impress the readers. His aim is to discuss the present situation with an intention to analyze it objectively. Kuloththungan never stooped to populist gimmicks to attract a wider range of audience. As a result his poems possess a wide range of theory discussions and problem-analysis and appear to be theses in verse. His poems appeal to the head and not to heart. Rich Intellectual appeal and lack of emotional appeal may seem as a defect in the process of communication. But that is what Periyar E.V.R. adopted in his lectures and writings. Did he not succeed in changing the mindset of people? In fact Kuloththungan is a sincere follower of Periyar in all aspects. Iconoclasticity, deconstructing age-old myths and condemning the hypocrisy of men in all walks of form the main themes of his poems. One among the national leaders of India, Periyar, was an emancipator who fought throughout his life against the atrocities committed in the name of religion, against the oppressive measures that carried on perpetration on our brothers and sisters who are labeled as Dalits and marginalized in the societal setup for many centuries.Kuloththungan as an ardent follower of Periyar, through his poems convey the ideology of Periyar in a fine form and successfully motivates the readers successfully. Kuloththungan's poems dream for a brighter future; the dreams are not romantic fantasies but realistic layouts for a stronger Nation and a unified world.

About his epic grandeur,’ Journey of Man’ -Maanuda Yaaththirai

This is an introduction about his epic grandeur in Tamil titled ‘Maanuda Yaaththirai’ which means ‘Journey of Man’ a masterpiece of our age which should be celebrated by the whole mankind.Why should the entire mankind celebrate this work and the poet?I will give you some information which every lover of Poetry should know.This work is being translated in English and the English translation of this epic will be available soon through market. Before that I wish to introduce this epic. The translations of some selected passages, quoted in this article, are by an acclaimed scholar Dr.Maruthanayagam. The first part of Maanuda Yaaththirai begins with an invocation to the Nature.Stopford Brooke observes in his study of “Naturalism in English Poetry”: There are two great subjects of poetry; the natural world. . .and human nature. When poetry is best, most healthy, most herself, she mingles together human nature and Nature. and the love of each.”.

Our poet, Kulandaisamy admires and adores Nature in the beginning of this epic itself through his Invocation to Nature.

You highly honoured thing, youHave been happily conferring

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Riches on the seekers, who searchAnd search, you, the whole thatHolds a crore of stars shiningIn the space immense; you haveConfined within the atom the wholeOf shakthi which exceeds the senses,Which excels the mind boundless;

(Journey of Man-I: 1.lines; 1-11)

Stopford Brooke clearly states:“Human nature is first in poetry and Nature second but they must be togethert, if the poetry is to be great and passionate, simple and perceptive, imaginative and tender.”Kulothungan mingles human nature and Nature together in all his poems and he follows the same trend in his Invocation to Nature.

You have created a universeConfined within a human being;You have placed countless planetsAnd stars dancing in the spaceLimitless and never deviating a bitFrom the rhythm of the path assigned;The world besides humanBeings live a life flourishing;O mother dear, let there bloomHarmony so that peace may bud.

(Journey of Man-I:4,5.)Kulothungan always combines facts with his unique perception thereby making the fusion of science and poetry a successful one. When he tells

When we think of the vastnessOf the universe, we realize manIs small in size; (Journey of Man-I: 6)

He highlights the fact to emphasize the humbleness of man. As a scientist he contrasts the vastness of the universe with the smallness of man. Feeding facts may appease our thirst for knowledge but they never help to motivate the man or mould his personality.Switching from the role of scientist Kulothungan plays the role of the poet immediately in the next lines:

…………………; but is he notBig in dreaming dreams immense?’ (Journey of Man-I: 6)

Before the vastness of the universe man is small in size. But because of the dreams of man, he gained more knowledge of the universe. He dreamt of new discovery of planets which accelerated his exploration of the universe. The poet continues:

Who has found out the fence forThe expanding cosmos of the desireOf mankind to grow in mindBigger than all the biggest here? (Journey of Man-I: 7)

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The desire of mankind, according to the poet, is the expanding cosmos. What the poet suggests is clearly explicit. Before the vastness of the universe man may be small; If his dreams are big and he strives to translate dreams into realities (if his exploration gains success) the universe may become small. This kind of motivation makes the poem more appealing with an aim, to kindle the urge to achieve something, to activate the latent potentialities of the readers, to be more and more useful to the society. From time immemorial such kinds of activism had resulted in inventions of new instrumenst,tools and instruments.According to the poet, language is such an invention. Man expressed his emotions through sounds and by a gradual process of the evolution of his expressions he invented language, a wonderful instrument which accelerated the process of civilization and culture.

By bodily movements and gesturesHe began to express his emotions; havingLived like that, by slow steps delayedAnd on bended knees he could reach

The bigger stage of expressing hisEmotions through sounds made and Then invented the instrument calledLanguage, the ladder to move forward.

(Journey of Man-I: 11, 12)By just his eight lines of poem the poet is able to narrate the history of language in a lucid style and lovable manner.The poet enlists the other inventions our forefathers invented for the progress of mankind.

He found what he called education;He found what is known as wealth,Which even the gods desire toPossess; he went oh to secure all the riches.

(Journey of Man-I: 25) The inventions,’ Education’ and ‘Wealth’ helped the mankind to march forward in the path of civilization and climb the highest zeniths. The invention of ‘Agriculture’,according to the poet, converted the world into a field. (Journey of Man-I: 26)As per the poet, human life is shrouded with mystery and man is a puzzle. His constant endeavor to probe the mysteries culminated in a broader understanding of the Universe and the invention of new theories and more and more disciplines in advanced research.The poet hails marriage as a wonderful social institution.Love, the driving force behind marriage is more superior to God, he tells.

There is none that has seenAnything that surpasses love;There is no God that has witnessedA virtue that transcends love. (Journey of Man-I: 77)

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The poet with due consideration to arts and aesthetics praises music,If even Ishwar who is hailedAs God by the whole world standsPermeating the universe as musicWho would have seen an equal to this?

In a land marked by softnessBeauty, splendour of rhythm andThe divine bliss of music, there isNothing that is considered as lacking.

(Journey of Man-I: 92)

As the Part-I of the epic Journey of Man is titled as ‘Society& Politics’ the poet extensively deals with the evolution of society, social institutions and modes of governance in a historical perspective. We are always reminded that it is a historical epic, as the poet adopts brevity as the soul of wit. Facts are mingled with poetic techniques always adorned by rhythm and cadence whenever and where ever needed.The poet describes the evolution of monarchy and how the kings varied in their administration and governance. He enlists famous poets of ancient India and Chine admiring their scholarship and contribution.The poet, with an ailing heart, describes the wars that lead to mass destruction. He reminds the horror of crusades which remains as a black spot in the history of mankind. The Crusades were religious conflicts during the High Middle Ages through the end of the Late Middle Ages, conducted under the sanction of the Latin Catholic Church. Pope Urban II proclaimed the first crusade in 1095 with the ‘goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem.’ It is not my aim to elaborate the further six major Crusades against Muslim territories in the east. While some historians see the Crusades as part of a purely defensive war against the expansion of Islam in the near east, many see them as part of long-running conflicts at the frontiers of Europe, including the Arab–Byzantine Wars. It is no wonder, to see our Poet, belonging to this twenty-first century shedding tears and voicing protest against the conduct of the Crusaders. The Crusaders pillaged the countries in transit, living off the land, as did all transiting armies of the time. The First Crusade resulted in the massacre of 8,000 Jews in the Rhineland in the first of Europe's pogroms. It also resulted in the slaughter of a purported 70,000 citizens in the fall of Jerusalem.

For the sake of JerusalemThe old city, in the war that

Lasted for three centuries,Total victory being elusive,

Those who died, those who were defeated,Those who fell on the way, those whoBehaved like brutes because of religiousAnimosity that was worst than poison

Constituted a saga causing a blot

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On religion, which to remove, the FloodFinal brimming with waters and waves,Oh dear, will not be enough at all.(I-172-174)

The poet while narrating the history of mankind sheds tears and pays homage to the departed souls who lost their lives massacred by cruel warriors and war-craze Monarchs. This empathy and sympathy expressed in a poetic form marks the distinction of the poet from the historians. A historian while narrating historical sequences will never feel sorry for the past events. But the poet who is a dedicated humanist can not avoid the expression of sympathy.Yet another tragic episode in the history of mankind, which makes the poet lament over, is the atrocity of the Mongol ruler Chengiz Khan in the thirteenth century.

Cities were burnt and razed and ` It seemed as though the lord of death

Had made his cruel march; there` is one more story terrifying to tell.

The city of Baghdad in the ArabNation where science arts andLearning had bloomed and reachedTheir peak of glory was by MongolsSurrounded; (I-189-190)

The poet recollects the historical tragedy and weeps in his inner heart for the gruesome mass-murder done by a cruel tyrant. He recollects the merciless massacre and makes us to weep for the brutal butchering of millions of people.

. . . . . . .. .. . . . .. ; there is no languageThat can express the horror ofThe deed done by the army;About fifteen lakhs of people

Were killed and their bodiesHeaped; Bhagdad becameThat day a rubbish dump; whatMankind took a long time to foster

A great culture, was wiped outWithout a trace; who will speak ofThe wailing of the civilizationThat stood having lost its eyes?(I-191-193)

As the first part of the epic is on Politics and religion, the poet had explained in detail how politics and religion dominated the lives of human beings the world over. He tries to bring to the readers’ attention the periodic conflicts between the monarchs, the religious heads and the selfless leaders. He describes in detail the struggle for democracy which was an arduous task. Noble-minded revolutionaries and thinkers who guided the people in the path to attain democracy were compelled by the selfish rulers to shed blood, court imprisonment and sacrifice life. The path to attain democracy was never an easy task.

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In the path replete with thorns,Bushes, pits and mounds andOther stumbling blocks, people,With grit and determination

Undertaking a long time journeyWalked for several days, inOrder to seek the shade of a fortWhich is known as democracy.(I-229-230)

The poet narrates the history of humankind in an interesting manner, keeping the continuity of the epic in tune with the chronology of significant developments in all fields. He describes the civilizations in the east particularly India, China, Egypt and Persia with due consideration to their contribution to the mankind.He continues to narrate the advent of new scientific theories and inventions in the west.The voyages conducted by the adventurers and the expeditions and discovery of America are well explained by the poet. While the poet expresses his pleasure for the progress in the various fields of science and technology, he can not control his anguish while he narrates the First World War. We are always reminded by the poet that we are reading a historic epic which depicts the history of humankind in a unique manner where we find the fusion of poetry and facts. Just to cite an example I wish to quote the poet’s reflection on the First World War.

The First World War lastedFor about four years, thoseWho were blind-hearted floatedMankind on a river of blood.(I-334)

Evil begets evil and war leads to another war. The world witnessed the Second World War due to the arrogance of Fascist and Nazist demons. Tyrants turned blood suckers and with the help of science and technology. The poet’s grief continues:

The writhing painful cry ofHumanity can be heard evenAfter the kaliyuga has passedThe mighty won the war andMankind, oh dear wailed bitterly. (I-349-350)

Poetic justice needs an amicable solution to the dastardly war and a pleasurable end to the calamity. The policy of Non-violence propagated by Gandhi from India naturally comes as a panacea for all social evils and a sure remedy to the chaos caused by the war-mongering countries.

Only if a new path blossoms outOf the splendor of the ideologyOf Gandhi, the saint who preachedNon-violence, will the world live. (J.M.PartI-361)

The first part of the epic ‘Journey of Man’ ends with a positive note about the promising future.

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:The second part of the epic ‘Journey of Man’ titled as ‘Science’ consists of Thirty-seven chapters. In this part of the epic he narrates the history of science through vibrant verses in a lucid style. I have never heard of an epic depicting the history of science and the dedicated pursuits of the scientists who were the unsung heroes for a long time and glorified in a befitting manner by our poet Kulandaiswamy.This part starts with an invocation to truth.Truth is the ultimate goal that every scientist wishes to reach; to attain and understand it every scientist performs arduous tasks, undergoes many trials and tribulations. Truth is the almighty which every one wishes to worship. It is the unquenched thirst for Truth which pushes every scientist to perform many experiments which may sometimes be dangerous for their lives. Every scientist considers the attainment of Truth as the salvation of life. In this context, the invocation to Truth by scientist-Poet Kulandaiswamy is more meaningful and magnificent.You a thing incomparable foundIn the brightness of the bright!The Supreme Being that declaresWith joy that the world is real!(II-1)Truth alone drives away many illusions and fantasies which ail our minds and obstruct the society in the journey towards progress. Truth gives us boundless joy. It produces energy and induces inventions for the welfare of mankind.The poet addresses Truth as follows:You, fountainhead of deathless beauty!Embryo of energy! We, who search for you, in many many thousands of ways and means Bow down with great respect.(II-6)In the first chapter of the second part, the poet stresses the need for a dedicated and continuous endeavor to find out the secrets of Nature. a consistent and meticulous search can alone open a new vista to .understand the Universe.Diamond and coal will be available only to those who work hard to dig a mine and are prepared to search in the deep. Whenever man determines to work hard he will surely reap the benefits. We are indebted to our forefathers who dedicated their lives by such hard works for the inventions of many instruments which ushered in a cultured and civilized life.The poet hails the invention of plough which was essential for agriculture and through this invention mankind found the way to harvest a powerful way to drive away hunger.Let us sing the glory of the lifeOf this wonderful instrumentThe plough that is still extant;Let us honor tradition and change.(II-45)The poet hails the achievements of the scientists for their inventions of new instruments and devices to make the human life more and more pleasurable. He describes scientists as ‘Sages engaged in research’. According to the poet previously sages engaged in penance to attain divine power. They were considered possessing divine power and thought they performed miracles. But the scientific inventions gave many new benefits which

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everyone can enjoy crossing the barriers of religion and race. Science provided not only amenities for a cozy life but also made us fight diseases. The average age of man increased as the eradication of endemic and epidemic diseases was achieved by the invention of new drugs and vaccines. Man was able to achieve longevity and a hundred years of life had become a common sight.Of all the instruments, the poet declares, human mind is a wonderful instrument which has no comparison in the whole Universe.The power to seek the smallest of the small andThe greatest of the great Far beyond is the wealthHuman mind is endowed with;No instrument possesses that sacred property.Man’s mind is a thing marvelous That transcends magic and wonder.(II-82,83)The poet describes the plights and perils undergone by the scientists,who dedicated their whole lives in their efforts of path-breaking inventions.This Scientist-Poet has done a marvelous achievement in giving this epic depicting the contribution done by the scientists in a wonderful way In no other language we can see scientists like Galileo,Marconi,RobertHooke,IsaacNewton,Louisde Braglie, Schrodinger, Max Bern, Copernicus, Herschel, Kelper, Bruno, Dalton, Avogadro, James Watt, Joule, Helmholtz, Maxwell, Volta, Coulomb, Edison, Faraday, Benjamin Franklin, Gilbert, Hertz, Roentgen, Darwin, Mendel, Schlaciden, Schwann, McLeod, Harvey, Boyle,Reamer,Halier,Pavlov, Louis Pasteur being glorified as epic heroes by a poet.The horrible torture experienced by Bruno, just because he proclaimed his belief in the heliocentric theory of the universe at the hands of the religious fundamentalists find a significant place in this epic. It makes the readers shed tears as well understand the sacrifices undergone by the scientists and path-breakers for the welfare of the humanity.

“Light a fire and set him ablaze” The great man stood firm like A bull, was burnt to death, andCreated history for glory itself.(II.164)

When we read the torture experienced by Galileo we are moved very much.“The artist whom generations of menGlorify bowing down their headsToday and do so tomorrow tooWas then called God’s enemy by fools.” (II-194)“During the last days he lived inDarkness and his eyes that searchedThe sky crossing a long long distanceWere damaged and lost their luster.” (II-196)

Generation after generation epics were composed on Gods,Angels,Kings and Rulers,but nobody came forward to sing the glory of scientists who are the real martyrs,as they sacrificed their lives for the progress of mankind.Kulandaiswamy laments over this indifferent attitude of poets and as a poet he ventilates his agony over this:

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We haven’t brought out epicsComposed by bards or poemsThat sings the lives of divineMartyrs who were burnt to death.(II-205)

The poet is determined to sing the glory of scientists who toil ceaselessly through their experiments and analysis to bring forth many new innovations and inventions.

I will sing the glory of men;I will sing the glory of the holyMen who work day in and day outFor the progress of the world, andTo create a state in which the raceOf man lives without any grievanceCrossing all the hurdles and achievesAll its needs overwhelmingly!(II-235-236)

The third part of the epic is titled as “Spiritualism and Religion”. It deals with the major religions of the world and the prominent philosophical systems of the world. The sections or divisions of this third part illustrate the essence of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity,Judaisn,Budhdhism,Jainism,Confucinism,SaivaSidhdhanthaa,Vedantaa, Materialism,Sankhyaa,Nyaayaa,Vaiseshika,Yogaa,Mimaamsaa,Adhvaithaa,Visishtaaidvaidhaa,Dhvaithaa and asceticism.The poet is affiliated to Rationalism and always stands neutral and non-committal in his approaches. Humanism is his religion and service to mankind alone can be considered as his religious practice. As a result he analyses all the major religions in an objective manner.This third part is more than 50% of this epic and it contains 1145 verses of the total 2122 verses of it. It shows the vast knowledge of the poet and how a voracious reader he is. The poet has a wider knowledge of the major religions of the world and he has neither affiliation nor hatred to any particular religion.Any reader of this epic will gain an extensive knowledge of spirituality and religion as the poet has done a wonderful job in narrating their essence in this part of the epic.After a thorough study and deep understanding of all the major religions he has endeavored to introduce them, discuss their approaches to human life and accomplished his target in emphasizing the role of humanism as a substitute of other religions.

There is no religion superior to humanismThere is no trait that stands outsideOf the sacred thing called decorous conductThe scripture of faith we hold dear isAn abode of bliss is this worldWhich Nature has gifted into humanityAnd human life is a boon coveted;And will make a Heaven of this earth.(III-1144-1145)

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III

Let the whole world appreciate this Masterpiece2013 is the 100th year anniversary of the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature to Rabindranath Tagore.I can not understand why for the past hundred years Indian literature is ignored by Nobel award committee. After Tagore, India had seen many illustrious men of letters who had not only contributed to Indian literature but also had produced masterpieces of international standard and unique excellence. For a very long time none had gained the attention of the Nobel award committee.Now the time has come to consider this significant award to a noteworthy poet striving his every nerve to elevate the mankind to a superior place. In Kulandaiswamy we see an apostle of humanism spreading the message of mutual love and peaceful co-existence.Luring the readers by praying lip service to lofty ideals was never his practice, Right from his entry as a poet he always adopted a pragmatic approach while highlighting the maxims to be adopted in the contemporary society to usher in an egalitarian society. The epic “Journey of Man” ( Maanuda Yaaththirai ) is a rare breed of its kind. We have not seen and we can not see such an epic dedicated to the whole mankind envisaging a massive victory in its struggle to overcome the hurdles and triumph over the hazards in its path.Every poet maintains his/her territorial integrity, patriotism and cultural nationalism in spite of the humanistic ajenda.In Kulandaiswamy alone we see a poet purely cosmopolitan and truly universal. Shunning the ethnocentric pride Kulandaiswamy sings the glory of man. He never indulges in praising the mercy of Gods.We surely have scientific literature in all languages; but this epic is a literature on science. Every language has its own history of Literature. But this book is a literature on History.

Epics usually exhibit imaginative skills of the poets. Here we have got an epic which will surely educate us the whole history of mankind narrated objectively and impartiallyThis epic “Journey of Man’ if translated in all the languages and read will surely inspire every reader to initiate the journey of mankind towards a golden era of .peace and amity.

Sequences and settings in this epic do not emerge from the poet’s imagination. They are events that occurred in the history. Here in this epic man is the superhero; man is the villain; men are minor as well as major characters; some men perform miracles; some other men commit crimes; miracles are performed to induce many miracles in the future; reasoning and rational inquisition are the causes and base for the miracles; selfishness and ignorance remain as the source for the crimes committed generation after generation.Paradise is gained by wise and righteous persons who cherish humanism and strive for the uplift of society; Hell is created by men who practice religious fundamentalism and by people who always indulge in atrocities destroying social institutions.God and Satan reside in the minds of men; saviors and crusaders are born again and again; War-mongers, Despots and Tyrants act as Satans.Heaven and Hell are experienced by them. The history of mankind reveals the fact that man can make a Heaven in this world itself. While Milton says that when the mind in its own place, it can make a Hell of Heaven or a Heaven of Hell, the poet differs from him. Poet Kuloththungan, as a scientist

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emphasizes inquisition, innovation and expedition; as a humanist he requests everyone to offer mutual respect and adopt a self-less devotion for common cause; as a moralist insists dedication to duty and adopting lofty ideals. Noble thinking and tireless service can surely create a Heaven in this world. Towards such a Heaven we are moving forward.The poet assures:

“Gods don’t come down to earth;Gods don’t give their divine appearance;Let us become Angels by livingWith our bodies a life divine.”(III-1014)

At the same time with his pragmatic approach he thinks it can not be achieved suddenly.We will accept we may not achieveIt today; but we won’t accept it isImpossibe; we may not win today;Tomorrow we will; we will never fail. (III-1039)

A complete epic based on the whole history of mankind is narrated in a wonderful way; avoiding bombastic style and archaic usages. He has used choice words and lively similes.Universality in theme and impartiality in approach add allure to this epic.It is the epic of this Twenty-first century voicing an appeal for the advent of a borderless world. All the artificial walls created by man are shattered and thrown away by the poet.Here by his epic the poet has produced a World classic.Since from the attempt of Goethe there were several attempts and definitions to establish what a world literature meant..The Communist Manifesto, was published simultaneously in many languages and several locations. It. was supposed to inaugurate a new type of world literature. Some scholars thought Manifesto as a world literature as it succeeded in becoming one of the most influential texts of the twentieth century. Some scholars are of the opinion that international distribution alone is not a sufficient condition for attributing works to world literature. The decisive factor is the influence of the respective work on the development of humankind and science in general, and on the development of literature(s) of the world in particular. If published in all major languages this epic will gain the name as The Humanist Manifesto. It will powerfully propagate the voice of the Seers and Saints If Nobel Prize is not awarded to this priceless treasure of exalted thoughts then to which one?

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