Coordinates	26°46′08″N48°38′45″N
Native name	Karaikkudi
Type	City
Locator position	right
State name	Tamil Nadu
District	Sivaganga
Altitude	82
Population as of	2001
Population total	186,422
Area magnitude	sq. km
Area telephone	04565
Postal code	630001
Vehicle code range	63
Website	www.karaikudi.com

Karaikudi () is a city in Sivaganga District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the largest city in Sivaganga district, and is the biggest city in the Chettinad region. Chettinad literally 'Chetti land' in Tamil, is a collection of 76 villages/towns. Chettinad stretched from Ramnad District and Pudukottai State of 'British' India. The Chettiars, or more properly the Nattukottai Chettiars, came from the Chettinad. Originally involved in salt trading, sometime in the 18th century they became more widely known as financiers and facilitators for the trade in a range of commodities. By the early 19th century finance had become the primary specialisation of the Chettiars, and they became famed lenders to great land-owning families and in underwriting their trade in grain through the provision of hundis. Several members of the Chettiar community migrated to nearby Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Burma, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Karaikudi became pouplar because the area is famous for the type of houses built with limestone called 'karai veedu' and also may be due to a plant called "Karai" which is widely spread over this area.

Demographics

India census, Karaikudi had a population of 86,442. Males constitute ~50% of the population and females ~50%. Most notable feature is the male:female ratio is favouring females with about 1006 females for every 1000 males.

Karaikudi has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 73%. In Karaikudi, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

There were nearly 20,000 households in Karaikudi; meaning an avearge size of 4 persons per household..

The estimated population of Karaikudi urban agglomeration in 2001 is 127294.

It is very interesting to note that for the religion statistics about 400 people in the Sivaganga District urban area (that includes Karaikudi) opted not to state any religion. Out of this two third were females.

Geography

Karaikudi is located in Sivagangai district on the Trichy - Rameswaram Highway. Earlier it was a small village in Ramanathapuram District. In 1928 it was changed from Panchayat to Municipality. The city is well connected by Railways and Roadways since 1930. The Thennar River flows through South Karaikudi. Karaikudi's Postal pincode is 630001 and Dialing code is 91-4565. It is 300 km from Coimbatore, 90 km from Trichy, 80 km from Madurai, and 400 km from Chennai, 50 km from Pudukkottai. Karaikkudi is located at . It has an average elevation of 82 metres (269 feet).

Topography: The terrain of Karaikudi is predominantly flat. Rocky areas are found in the surrounding areas of Karaikudi town and intensity of rocks is more towards western side of the town. The soil is hard red lateritic type and is not suitable for cultivation.

Ground water: Ground water in the area is generally found in depths of 3 to 6 feet and rises to nearly 1m below the ground level during rainy seasons. However, in some places there are bore wells operating at a depth of 100’ to 200’ also. The most important source of groundwater is from the deeper aquifer under artesian conditions. Locally known as "Semponootru" or "sembaiyootru" the goundwater pours out on its own pressure e.g. near the Devakottai Rasta. Since 1970s the water supply for the Karaikudi residents rely on this deeper aquifers.

Climate and Rainfall: The average maximum annual temperature is about 34°C and average minimum annual temperature is about 24°C. The annual average rainfall in Karaikudi is about 920mm. The monthly averages are:

33.0 35.8 37.3 37.8 36.8 36.1 35.7 35.0 32.5 30.3 29.5

Month !! Maximum Temperature (°C) !! Minimum Temperature (°C) !! Rainfall (mm)
January	30.5	20.6
February	|	21.5	11.5
March	|	23.4	24.4
April	|	25.9	44.2
May	|	26.4	75.1
June	|	26.4	47.9
July	|	26.1	59.2
August	|	25.6	73.4
September	|	24.9	121.7
October	|	24.1	160.8
November	|	22.9	196.5
December	|	21.1	92.3

Tourism

Tamil Nadu government is trying to promote the region as a place of tourism interest. All potential future visitors may like to have a look at the article by Pablo Chaterji , which is one of the few well written web pages with less prejudice.

Places of interest

NattarasanKottai-Kannudayanayaki Amman Temple

Pranmalai Seik Oliyulla Darga - religious place, Muslim Darga(40 km)

Ariyakudi Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (5 km)

Koppudai Amman Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (0 km)

Kalaiyar Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (30 km)

Kanadukathan - tourist place (16 km)

Kovilur Madum - religious place, Hindu Mutt (2 km)

Kundrakudi Kovil- religious place, Hindu Temple (10 km)

Nagara Sivan Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (0 km)

MuthuMariyamman Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (0 km)

108 Pillaiyar Kovil, Hindu Temple (Near Nagara Sivan Koil)

Nemam Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (12 km)

Pillayarpatti Kovil- 1,600 years old religious place, Hindu Temple (12 km)

Vairavan Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (14 km)

Sakkottai Kovil - religious place, Hindu Temple (12 km)

Gandhi Square at Maharnonbu Pottal - a place where famous personalities have delivered great speeches

Aayiram jannal veedu - Tourist place; palatial house with 1000 windows.

Events

Koppudaiyamman Kovil Ther (Temple Car) festival in the month of May, it is held on the first Tuesday of the Tamil month of vaikasi (check for exact dates)

MuthuMariyamman Kovil palkudam festival in April/May (check for dates)

Pazhani Padayathirai (start of a pilgrimage walk) in Mid to late January

Chettiar Marriages

Santhai (English: Shandy) - the weekly Monday market; a lively place where everything from fresh produce to snack items and traditional clay utensils are on sale.

Stay and food

The city has many hotels and lodges.These are the more popular ones:

Hotel Annapoorna - Hi Class Vegetarian Foods

Hotel Amsavalli

Deluxe Lodge

Hotel Malar

Hotel Plaza

Karthik Lodge

Lakshmi Lodge

Majestic Lodge

Hotel Ganga

Sugam International

Golden Singer Mahal

LT Lodge

Hotel Subbulakshmi Palace

Hotel Nachiappa Palace

Hotel Jagan

The Bungalow - a good place to stay and dine, a show case of local culture

The President - an excellent place to dine / take away serving local cuisine

Welcome Tourist Lodge

Plenty of take aways or small to medium size local food stalls

Bakery and Sweets

Karaikudi bakeries are local favorites. The region is characterised by several small villages and the villagers who frequently travel to Karaikudi patronise the bakeries in Karaikudi. The key favourite items are sweet buns, macaronis and milk rusks. The traditional bakeries to name a few are:

Chekkalai Bakery

The Best Bangalore Iyengar Bakery and Sweets

Bakery Desotta

Kumar Bakery

Jhansi Bakery

Charles Bakery

Bakery Marina

Corner Bakery

Local speciality

When in Karaikudi one must look for local food specialities. A new genre of cuisine has been named after this region known as "Chettinad" or "Karaikudi". The type of cooking is also called as "Achi Samayal".

The foods are cooked with a special masalas (curry) and using special processes.

Some of the local food specialities are:

Light refreshments

Cheeyam

Ilandhosai

Kandharappam

Kuzhi Paniyaram

Masala paniyaram

Paal Kozhukattai

Paal paniyaram

Vellai Paniayaram

Thaalicha idiyappam

Snacks

Adhirasam

Karuppatti Paniyaram

Maa urundai

Murukku Vadai

Porulvilanga urundai

Seepu cheedai

Seedaikaai

Then Kuzhal

Education

The educational institutions developed to its peak in 1947, by Alagappar who is the founder of today's Alagappa University.

Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology (ACCET), and Alagappa Polytechnic located in Karaikudi, are among well known educational institutions in Tamil Nadu.

These institutions have produced numerous great personalities who have made significant contributions in various spheres of life.

Dr. Alagappa Chettiar is also responsible for establishment of Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI). It is one of a kind in whole of India. CECRI provides research cum teaching facilities in collaboration with Alagappa University.

Secondary education

Education administered by State Board, Matriculation and Central Board are available.

Alagappa Matriculation Higher Secondary school

Alagappa Model Higher Secondary school

Alagappa Preparatory School

Alagappa Primary and Nursery School

Chettinad public school

Kamban karpagam Matriculation Higher Secondary school

Kendriya Vidyalaya

Leaders Matriculation School

Little Flower RC School

M.V. Higher Secondary School

Maharishi Vidya Mandir(Preparatory)

Maharashi Vidya Mandir(higher secondary)

Muthiah Alagappa Mt Higher Secondary School

Sahayamatha Matriculation Higher Secondary School

SMS Vidyasala Higher Secondary School (Boys)

SMS Vidyasala Higher Secondary School (Girls)

Sri Raghavendra Matriculation Higher Secondary School

Subbiah Ambalam Matriculation School

Sree Ayyappa Residential Nursery and Primary School

Tertiary education

Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology

Central Electro Chemical Research Institute

Alagappa Government Arts college

Alagappa Institute of Management

Alagappa Polytechnic

Alagappa University

Alagappa Institute of Technology

Ramasamy Tamil College

Subramanian Polytechnic College

Umayal Ramanathan College for Women

SeethaLakshmi Achi College(SA college)for Women

Annamalai Polytechnic (chettinad)

Sri Sarada Niketan College for Women

Nachiappa Swamigal Polytechnic College

Karaikudi Institute Of Technology (KIT)

Karaikudi Institute Of Management (KIM)

Sree Raaja Raajan College of Engineering and Technology

Transports

By road

It has two Bus-termini, one is the "Old Bus-stand" in south Karaikudi and the other is "New Bus-stand" located in north Karaikudi.

All town buses that connect the nearby villages and smaller towns (example Devakottai, Puduvayal, Mithravayal, Embal, Kallal, Ariyakudi, Thirpathur, Rayavaram, Thirumayam, Konapet etc.) with Karaikudi terminate at the Old bus-stand. The State Transport Corporation that runs long-distance busses to Coimbatore, Chennai, Bangalore, etc. also operates from Old bus-stand.

All mofussil busses that connect other towns like Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy, Madurai, Dindigul, Palani, Pattukottai, Thanjavur, Theni, Erode, Aranthangi, Nagoor, Thiruvarur, Rameshwaram, Ramanathapuram, Kalayar Kovil, Paramakudi terminate at the New bus-Terminus.

By rail

Railway Station - Karaikudi Junction is located where two railway lines viz. Trichy - Rameshwaram and Mayiladuthurai - Karaikudi join.

Following Trains stop in Karaikudi Junction Railway website:

6701 & 6702 Chennai - Rameshwaram Express (daily via villupuram, mayiladuthurai, trichi)

6713 & 6714 Chennai - Rameshwaram Sethu Express (daily via villupuram, vridhachalam, trichi)

4259 & 4260 Varanasi - Rameshwaram Express (weekly)

8495 & 8496 Bhubaneshwar - Rameshwaram Express (weekly)

829SR & 832SR Trichy - Rameshwaram Passenger (daily)

830SR & 831SR Trichy - Karaikudi Passenger (twice daily)

861SR & 863SR Karaikudi - Thiruvarur Passenger (twice daily in the MG section)

Karaikudi - manamadurai passenger (daily)

Karaikudi - Thiruthuraipoondi passenger (daily)

Service to Coimbatore and Bangalore have been propsed by Railway Authorities.

By air

Nearest airport - TRZ Tiruchirapalli (aka Trichy) International Airport (90 km).

Tiruchirapalli International Airport is connected by air to Chennai,Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Abudhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, sharjah and Colombo

Aasha Industrial School(T.N.G.Regd) (For Beauty Theraphy) Aasha Herbal Beauty Parlour

Theatres

Pandiyan (A/c DTS)

Sathiyan (DTS)

Sivam (DTS)

Rama Vilas (DTS)

Nataraja (A/c DTS)

New Cinema

Sankar (DTS)

Historic events

Subramanya Bharathi has visited Karaikudi in 1906 and has sung a poem praising the good work done by Chettiar youths of Karaikudi. It is reported that only two photographs of Bharathiar exists to-date . One of them was taken at Karaikudi when he visited the Hindu Madhabhimana Sangam. The Sangam still continues to function very well and their office is located close to the Nagara Sivan Kovil.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India opened CECRI (1948)

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, then Vice-President of India laid the foundation stone for ACCET main building (1953)

Mahatma Gandhi visited Karaikudi and delivered two speeches in Karaikudi (1927)

Gandhiji's speech at public meeting at KARAIKUDI

on September 25, 1927 {This speech is of historical importance as one of the greatest personalities of our time, M. K. Gandhi spoke at length on the characteristics of the people and land of Karaikudi in 1927. The contents are very much relevant today. If you are visiting this site for the first time please take time to read the speech}

FRIENDS, I thank you for address and the different purses, the chief purse containing over Rs. 4,000. It is a good purse but not good enough for the people of Chettinad and it is certainly not good enough, when I compared it to the seventeen-rupee purse given to me by the Adi-Dravida boys. You can well afford to give four times as much whereas the Adi-Dravida boys could hardly afford to give as much as they have given. Nevertheless I am thankful for whatever you have been able to give for Daridranarayana out of a willing heart. I wish to start my remarks by repeating the offer I made yesterday, at last night's meeting. I want to expose to you this beautiful piece of art prepared in your own place, and the yarn of this beautifully fine muslin which I call khadi was spun by Mr. Sjt Chokkalingam Chettiar of this place. I had the pleasure of seeing the very different processes through which he passed his cotton before he could draw his thread so fine as the threads from which this khadi piece is woven. And if you had witnessed his handicraft you would have envied with me and with me you would have also been proud of his art. I cannot make any personal use of so fine a piece of muslin. If therefore I cannot evoke your love of local art and love of the country, I must take this piece away and put it among the exhibits of the All-India Spinners' Association. But I would really like you to possess this piece of cloth. If you will do so, you have to pay a fancy price for it. Works of art all the world over carry always fancy prices and I have fixed the reserve price of this piece of cloth at Rs. 1,000; but you may, if you wish, ask what is the artistic value about this piece of cloth or in other words you may, if you wish, enquire why is it that I value khadi so much as I do. I was told by one who has lived in your midst for years that there are in Chettinad many people who do not understand the message of the spinning-wheel nor do they understand how all these purses are to be utilized. I propose to devote a few sentences by way of explanation of the message of the spinning wheel. It is designed to provide work for millions of starving men and women who are living in the seven hundred thousand villages of the land. Everyone who knows anything about India has testified that they have no work for nearly six months in the year and apart from the spinning-wheel it is impossible to find work for these millions of people, and so, through the spinning-wheel we can produce sufficient cloth to cover the whole of India. And I venture to suggest that anything produced by the hands of starving millions such as this muslin is necessarily a work of art. All art that is true and living must have some correspondence to the life that we live. True art must not debase life but it must sustain and ennoble life. And now you understand why I prize khadi so much. But it would be valueless if you and I do not wear khadi. Now I shall tell you something about the organization which is producing khadi and selling it. here are 1,500 villages at least being served through this organization. In these 1,500 villages over fifty thousand sisters are receiving the benefit of the spinning-wheel and through this spinning-wheel nearly five thousand weavers are weaving the yarn spun by these fifty thousand women. Side by side with these spinners and weavers a class of men has been brought into being who do the special laundry work that is required in connection with the khadi as also dyeing and printing. The whole of the beautiful art of printing and dyeing which had become extinguished in Masulipatam and elsewhere has now been revived and has been given an honorable place. It was through this organization that over seven lakhs of rupees were distributed amongst a network of workers. And if it is of any consequence to you to know, let me inform you that the vast majority of these artisans are non-Brahmins. This organization is being conducted and controlled by a council of nine men, the majority of whom are again non-Brahmins, if you want to know that. Its president is a non-Brahmin who is miscalled Mahatma. (Laughter.) Its treasurer is again a non-Brahmin whose qualities as a treasurer are not to be surpassed by any treasurer on the face of the earth and its secretary is another non-Brahmin, the son of a distinguished banker in Bombay. This organization is finding work for nearly 1,000 middle class men, the majority of whom are again non-Brahmins. It has also some workers who not only get no honorarium whatsoever but actually feed this organization. All the accounts of the central organization as also provincial organizations are periodically audited and those account may be inspected by friend and foe, donors or non-donors. No official of the organization gets more than Rs. 175 per month. No man or woman can approach this organization or belong to it unless he or she is dominated by a spirit of self-sacrifice. When I mentioned women, I have pleasure in informing you that there are several distinguished daughters of India who are working for this khadi, free of charge. For instance I may mention the three granddaughters of the Grand Old Man of India and the distinguished sisters belonging to the great Petit family. The organization is operating with a capital of about 20 lakhs of rupees. But great as these figures may appear to you to be they are nothing when compared with what you and I should want them to be. If the khadi spirit possesses the whole of India we should be serving not 1,500 but 7,00,000 villages and not fifty thousand spinners but one hundred million spinners. It is for this work that I ask the rich people of Chettinad not to give me some portion of their superfluity but a substantial portion of their substance. You may also now understand that when I put the reserve price Rs. 1,000 upon this beautiful piece of khadi I rather underrate than overrate. Now I must repeat in a hurried fashion some of the most important local matters about which I have been talking during the last four days of my pleasant stay in your midst. I do urge you to look after your sanitation and your water-supply. Your palaces do not look to advantage at all in the midst of unsanitary streets and tanks full of not pure sparkling water but foul water. I can show you how you can do these things at an incredibly small expense, not out of your capital but out of your savings. I understand that some of your marriage customs are very bad. There is very often a price put upon the head of a bride as much as Rs. 30,000. I understand that you do not hesitate to spend as much as Rs. 50,000 per marriage; but this custom I consider to be immoral. There can be no price put either way in the matter of such a sacred contract as marriage. It must be as easy for a poor man to get a virtuous bride as for a rich man. Merit and mutual love are the sole tests for marriage contracts. The expenses for marriage ceremonies, though I do not consider them to be immoral, I regard them as a criminal waste. It is not becoming of a rich man to dangle his wealth before the multitude in the fashion in which he very often does. The art of amassing riches becomes a degrading and despicable art if it is not accompanied by the nobler art of how to spend wealth usefully. So, out of this marriage reform alone and putting a wise restraint upon your extravagance on these ceremonies, you can turn this Chettinad into a fairyland. You can have if you will, without much effort, public parks, recreation grounds, water-works and profitable dairies that will give supply of cheap and pure milk to the poor people living in your midst. And as I tell you as a man of experience and as a fellow Chetti that you treble your earning resources if you conserve your health by wise sanitation, by an absolutely pure supply of water and by ensuring pure milk for the rich and the poor. A lady doctor writing to me tells that I should remind you about the immoral custom that is prevalent in Chettinad and that prevents you from thinking of these things of public usefulness. She tells me that the rich people of Chettinad had a due share in perpetuating a hideous immoral custom of assigning girls of tender age to a life of shame under the name of religion. She tells me that there are many Devadasis in your midst. If this is true it is really a matter for hanging our heads in shame. Let not possession of wealth be synonymous with degradation, vice and profligacy. And is it not a tragic irony that, in spite of these vices, you are also spending money lavishly in erecting what you flatter yourselves to believe as temples for gods to reside. Not every structure made of brick and mortar labeled temple is necessarily a temple. There are, I am sorry to say, many temples in our midst in this country which are no better than brothels. Do you know that in our religion it is not possible to call any single place a temple unless elaborate ceremonial of purification has been made inside that building and unless the spirit of God has been invoked by men full of piety, so that God may reside in that? And so, I would urge you to restrain yourselves and not lavishly spend in building temples but in the first place dedicate your own bodies to the service of God and for that reason first of all purify by ridding yourselves of the evils to which I have drawn attention. But I am glad to be able to inform you that I received only today a gratifying letter in which whilst the writer admits most of the evils to which I have referred just now he tells me that there are in your midst several noble-minded Chettis rich enough not only in gold but in treasure of virtue also. He tells me that there are in your midst several brahmacharis going on with their godly life in a silent manner. He also tells with hope and pride that several young men were conducting against heavy odds a reform movement and I assure these young men that whilst the path of reform is not all roses and that, whilst it is bestrewn with countless thorns, success is theirs if they will persevere prayerfully and with a pure heart. I understood that they are gradually trying to solve one very difficult question that faces every one of you. I understood that a rigid custom has grown up in your midst whereby no Chettiar going either to Burma, Singapore or Ceylon takes his wife with him. I regard this bar sinister against your womanhood as a double drawback and a great sin. It exposes you when you leave homes to avoidable temptations and it deprives your life partners for a number of years of the privilege of your companionship and the opportunity of broadening their outlook by traveling to distant lands with yourselves. I wish these young men therefore very early success in their chivalrous fight and I urge the elders, to whom my voice may reach, to give every assistance to the young men in their endeavor to carry on the necessary reforms in your midst. And now that silence prevails in this meeting and as this is perhaps the last meeting in Chettinad that I shall address, I should like to say a few words to the sisters in front of me. I am glad to see so many of you attending this meeting. I am afraid you have no notion that this message of khadi is a message principally devoted to the betterment of the condition of your starving sisters living in thousands of villages. I do not know how much men in India will have to pay for keeping you, the women of India, in darkness about so many things of the highest importance in life, both to men and women. But thanks to God that since the advent of the movement for reviving the spinning-wheel, thousands of women have learnt to come out of their homes and listen to the music of the charkha. And I would love to think that you, the women of Chettinad, had begun to think beyond the threshold of your houses or palaces. I would like you to realize the deep and distressful poverty of millions of your sisters and I would like you independently, apart from your men, to part with your possessions, your rupees and your jewellery for the sake of these sisters and it fills me with gladness to be able to tell you that the response from the women of India has been spontaneous so far as this message is concerned and they have even given their moneys and jewelleries willingly and in many cases lavishly. But to give me money or your jewellery is by no means enough. If you will establish a living bond between yourselves and your starving sisters, it is absolutely necessary for you to discard your foreign fineries and adopt khadi permanently for your wear; because, if you do not wear the products of their labors, all the money that you give for khadi is a waste of effort. The beauty of a virtuous woman does not consist in the fineness of her dress but in the possession of a pure heart and virtuous life. Millions of men and women all over India early in the morning invoke the blessed and immortal name of Sita in order that her name may surround them during the whole day with her protecting power, not because Sita wore costly jewels but because she bore a heart that was of pure gold and purer diamond. Sita did not remain in her palace when Rama went into banishment but she insisted upon accompanying him through all these eventful years of exile. Sita did not consider Nishadaraja, whom in our ignorance we consider today, to be untouchable but Sita embraced Nishadaraja and accepted with a grateful heart the services he nobly rendered. And I would like you to imitate Sita's virtues, Sita's humility, Sita's simplicity and Sita's bravery. You should realize that Sita for the protection of her virtues did not need the assistance of Rama, her Lord and master. The chronicler of the history of Sita and Rama tells us that it was the purity of Sita which was her sole shield and protection. And if you will but recognize the power that resides in your breast it is open to you by force of your purity, love and spirit of self-sacrifice to bend the haughty spirit of your men and shame them into forsaking the life of vices and debauchery. I would like you to develop the courage to insist upon accompanying your husbands wherever they go. May God give you that strength and goodwill. I am now very nearly done and as is usual at all meetings I must follow the custom here also of asking those who have not yet contributed to this purse to do so if they believe in khadi and if they wish it. I would also urge those men and sisters here to give if they wish as much as they can and therefore if there are those who have not really given enough I would like them if they believe in the statistics I have given and in the importance of the message of khadi not to be niggardly but give generously. [after this,] the auction of the jewels, silver cups and rings, etc., presented to Mahatmaji commenced. Mr Shanmugam Chettiar announced that he was willing to give for the muslin cloth presented to Mahatmaji at Devakottah his (Mahatmaji's) own fancy price of Rs. 1,000. . . . A small ring which was presented to Mahatmaji for a second time worth not even 10 rupees fetched a fancy price of Rs. 135. Gandhiji became responsive to the mood of the audience exhibited during the course of the auction and was touched by their boundless affection for him and addressed a few words after the auction, a thing unusual. [end] Gandhiji continued: I shall never forget the scene. This will remain as one of the pleasantest memories in my life. I have had many a pleasant and unpleasant experiences in my life outside and this will remain among the very few pleasant remembrances and especially so because I have been saying ever since I have set my foot in Chettinad many unsavoury things to you. You might have easily misunderstood my word and my motive. But I have seen that the more harsh words I have spoken, the greater the affection you have showered on me. You have received me as a blood brother and taken the words I have said exactly in the spirit I have delivered them to you. That is really my joy. But I would like you not to forget the words that I have spoken to you but I want every word I have said to you to penetrate your hearts and if I hear that the word having remained in your heart has fructified I think it would give me much greater joy than if you give me millions. I have no use for your money except to serve you with it and it is a strange thing but it is true that I cannot serve you even with your own money if you do not give me your hearts. And so in order that your money which is in my possession may bear ample fruit I request you to do what I have asked you to do. You know that if you can do that, it will do good to you, it will do good to me and also the whole of India. May God bless you and give you the power to understand my message and act up to it. Source: The Hindu, 27-9-1927

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Personalities

Karaikudi is eternally indebted to one man - Padma Bhushan Dr. R. M. Alagappa Chettiar

.

Dr. Alagappar is known as "Vallal" meaning a great philanthropist. Most established educational institutions as well as commercial institutions in Karaikudi reverently display the photo of this personality, without whom there would be nothing but a dry village.

Dr. Alagappa gave all his wealth to create an outstanding educational empire purely with a noble thought of providing affordable quality education to the rural mass residing around Karaikudi.

Another personality synonymous with Karaikudi is Muthaiah popularly known as Kavignar Kannadasan

Several famous creators who contributed significantly to South Indian cinema are from Karaikudi. To name a few:

Mr. SP. Muthuraman - Film Director. A string of box office hits in early 80s

Mr. Panju Arunachalam - Tamil Lyricist, Screenplay writer, Producer Film Director.

Mr. AV. Meyyappan - Producer / Director. Tamil world is indebted to this man for making Bharatiyar songs copyright free and available to everyone.

Mr. Rama Narayanan - Director with an entry in Guinness Book of World Records for directing 12 movies in 1984

There are several other great personalities born or lived around Karaikudi:

Nelliyan ambalam- A freedom fighter who lost his life to bullet of British government

Raja Annamalai Chettiar - Industrialist, Philanthropist, Founder of Annamalai University

Kundrakudi Vaithiyanathan - Violin Maestro

Karaikkudi Mani - Mridagam Maestro

Revered Kundrakudi Adikalar - Relegious leader, Tamil scholar

S.A.P. Annamalai - Founder of Kumudam, the largest selling Tamil weekly

Tamil Vanan - writer / publisher

P. Chidambaram - Politician, lawer, Hon. Union Minister for Home affairs

Ariyakudi Ramanuja Aiyangar - Carnatic Maestro

M.A. Chithamabaram (MA. CT) - Industrialist, Philanthropist, Past president of BCCI

SP Ramanathan Chettiyar , Donor of Thiru Avinankudi Temple , Palani

M.A.M. Ramasamy (MAM) - Industrialist, Philanthropist, Pro-chancellor of Annamalai University

Kamban Adipodi Sa Ganesan - Founder of Tamil Thai Kudil (A temple for mother Tamil), Kamban Hall and organiser of Kamban Vizha

Karumuthu Thyagarajan Chettiar - Founder of Bank of Madura (now merged with ICICI), founder of Thyagaraja College of Engineering, Madurai

AMM. Murugappa Chettiar (AMM) - Founder of AMM group of companies

AR.A.RM. Chockalingam Chettiar - Freedom Fighter, First MLA of Karaikudi after India's freedom

RM.VR. Ramasamy Chettiar - Philanthropist

RM. Periyakaruppan Chettiar - Founder of Ramasamy Tamil College

Landmark institutions

Central Electro Chemical Research Institute(CECRI) is one of the forty national laboratories under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) New Delhi.

CECRI was started at Karaikudi at the behest of Vallal Dr. Alagappar who generously donated INR 1.5Million and 300acres of land to the Government of India in 1948.

Karaikudi is the birth place of AVM Studios, one of the famous and biggest movie studios in Tamil Nadu. It later shifted to Chennai.

Hindu Madha Abhimana Sangam, which is functioning for about 100 years and is focussed on maintaining a library of relegious books, organises lectures by renowned persons and cultural events to propagate the glory of the religion among the youngsters.

Politics

Karaikudi assembly constituency is part of Sivaganga (Lok Sabha constituency).

References

External links

Karaikudi's official website

Sivaganga District Administration

Karaikudi.biz

Karaikudi.com

sivagangaionline.in

Alagappa University

Central Electro Chemical Research Institute

Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology

Category:Karaikudi

fr:Karaikudi hi:कराईकुड़ी, तमिलनाडु bpy:কারাইক্কুড়ি it:Karaikkudi pam:Karaikudi new:करैक्कुडी ta:காரைக்குடி vi:Karaikkudi war:Karaikkudi

Coordinates	26°46′08″N48°38′45″N
name	Karaikudi R Mani
born	R. ManiSeptember 11, 1945
background	non_performing_personnel
origin	Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
instrument	Mridangam
label	HMV, Amrutham, Gita, AAO, Charsur
genre	Carnatic music
website	http://www.karaikudirmani.com }}

Karaikudi Mani (born as Ganapathy Subramanyam on September 11, 1945 in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian percussionist, primarily adept in the mridangam, a south Indian drum instrument. He is a renowned mridangist around the world.

Personal life

Karaikudi Mani was born on September 11, 1945 at Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. He is the son of Late Sri.T. Ramanatha Iyer and Smt. Pattammal. He stepped into Carnatic Music at the tender age of 3. Although he commenced with Vocal training, very soon he realised his special interest was in Percussion and switched over to the Mridangam.

His Gurus were Karaikudi Sri Rangu Iyengar, Sri T R Harihara Sharma and Sri K M Vaidyanathan. His first stage performance took place when he was 8 years old at Karaikudi. Thereafter his dedication and hard work to excel in the chosen field resulted in the Karakudi Mani Bhani (Style), which won the hearts of many young percussionists and others all over the World and has earned him the status of being a trend-setter in the field of Mridangam.

He was well known as "Master Mani" down south wherein he has shared stage and performed with many local artistes and won many awards and gold medals.

Career

“Master Mani” as he is now known, was soon performing regularly. He was growing up in what is now hailed as the Golden era of music. It was the time when the Great father of Mridangam, Sri Palghat Mani Iyer was in his prime. Mani professes immense admiration for the veteran Mridangist. In his early days, Mani idolised the great Palghat Mani Iyer, and soon became noticed by the Mridangam giant himself. Mani proclaims one of his greatest accolades to be the instance when Sri Palghat Mani Iyer praised Mani in a public concert.

Master Mani was soon making a mark in Carnatic world through his natural born flair and devotion to music. He commenced tutelage under Sri Haihara Sharma after moving to Chennai. Master Mani received his first national award from the then President of India, Dr Radhakrishnan at the tender age of 18. For the next four decades, he declined scores of prestigious awards that were offered to him, until 1999 when he accepted the national award from "Sangeeth Natak Academy". This was presented by the President of India at the time, Mr K.R. Narayanan.

As a teenage musician he performed with some of the finest in the Carnatic industry. Mani progressed quickly from strength to strength and became a highly sought after Mridangist, performing with the likes of D K Pattammal, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer,Lalgudi G Jayaraman,Dr. M BalamuraliKrishna, Madurai Somu, Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bagavathar, T. R. Mahalingam, Voleti Venkateshwarulu, M D Ramanathan, and M.S.Subbulakshmi, to mention a few.

Sruthi Laya

In 1986, he started a unique ensemble combining melody and percussion under one roof with some leading artists called "SRUTHI LAYA". He gave importance to taalavadya concerts and released CDs namely Sruthi Laya Vol 1 and 2, Laya Chitra, Laya Priya, Pushkaram, Melodessey etc. With these unique ensembles, the talavadya instruments and thani avartanam concerts gained respect and elevated Mridangam to a different league. This awareness gave a thrust to many contemporary artists to bring out audio and CD albums.

Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani was the pioneer in bringing Mridangam to the centre stage. He also gave a new dimension with the fusion of the Mridangam with other traditional instruments such as Thavil and Chendai. He has presented many Lec-Dem programmes all over the world. Students and enthusiasts have greatly benefited from these.

In 1989 , SRUTHI LAYA SEVA School was started in a small room in Rangarajapuram, Chennai with 5 minutes thani avarthanam by Sri Guru Surajananda's Mridanga Naadam. With Guruji's blessings now the school has its centres at Chennai, Bangalore, Australia, London, USA, and Canada. More than 1000 students learn to play the Mridangam through this school directly or indirectly.

Bhani

Karaikuidi Mani remembers with jovial nostalgia his first international tour with Madurai Somu. Since then he has traveled widely and established centres in many foreign destinations. It was during this period that the seeds were sewn for the inception of a new style of playing Mridangam, The Karaikudi Mani Bani (style). Mani was beginning to develop his own techniques of playing Mridangam. Traditionally there are different styles in Carnatic music. These have been passed on for generations through the Gurukula system. It takes a lifetime for many to even comprehend one style of music. In this context, we can begin to understand what an extraordinary achievement it is to create a bani /style, which is what Mani has successfully accomplished. In the 1960s and 1970s, this young musician was taking the Carnatic world by storm. He was now well established, performing with the cream of Carnatic musicians. His flawless clarity and supreme sound quality appealed to audiences, musicians and students, both in India and world wide. The Karaikkudi Mani Bani was born.

What's So Special with Mani-Bhani

So what is so special about Karaikudi Mani Bani ? It is an optimum blend of precise mathematics, scientific logical reasoning presented through expressive aestheticism. There are clear structures and patterns in this Bani , the approach to music is systematic, yet maintaining all the spontaneous attributes of the artform. The style advocates purity and classism, with no place for “gimmicks”. Mani has composed and formulated such an intricate system of music, embellished by novel fingering techniques and strokes. Many of his senior students and fans will tell you that it was his refreshing style coupled with his enthralling presentation of music that initially attracted them to him. It is believed that currently, Mani has over 2000 students under his Bani . However, the influence of his music has more far reaching consequences. A senior vocalist recently commented in a public gathering that over the last 20–30 years, a significant proportion of Mridangists (both within and outside of the Karaikkudi Mani Bani) have been influenced by mani's music and have adopted elements of this style.

Spiritually Musical

As the 1970s drew to a close, a major change in the life of Mani occurred. He met his Spiritual Guru, Sri Guru Surajananda. Mani often talks about his Guruji, and has proclaimed that his way of thinking and lifestyle was completely transformed after meeting this celestial mentor. He attributes his success and achievements to the heartfelt blessings of his great Guruji. He soon attained the status of being one of the world's foremost Mridangists, performing regularly with leading artistes such as Lalgudi Jayaraman, N Ramani , Maharajapuram Santhanam, DK Jayaraman, K V Narayanaswamy and other stalwarts of that era.

For an artiste who had reached the pinnacle of his profession at such a young age by Carnatic music standards, one felt what else is there left to strive for professionally? However, amongst Mani's most admirable attributes are his desire to innovate, persevere and his dedication to hard work. The next highlight in his life came when he founded his institution, Sruthi Laya Seva. This was humbly inaugurated in 1986 in Madras by Mani's guru, Guru Surajananda. Since then, Mani has established several centres within India as well as in the UK, Australia, Germany, and the US.

Mani's inherent desire to propagate the highly sophisticated structure of South Indian rhythm and present innovative rhythmic ideologies led him to set up the Sruthi Laya percussion ensemble. This was supported by a large orchestra. For this he composed several musical pieces as well as rhythmic compositions; these have been released on CDs. (One of his pieces, “Vasantha Pravaham”, has been performed by students in the programme as a tribute.) The group performed all over India as well as abroad. This venture was well received by Carnatic fans and critics. Such talavadya kutcheris (percussion ensembles) have contributed significantly in raising the profile of Indian percussion both in India and worldwide. Mani's aptitude as a composer as well as a music director has been brought to the forefront over the years.

Thani Avarthanam - A Concept

He conducted and orchestrated several such concerts, notably a collaboration with Sri VS Narasimhan in 1990 presented Melodyssey, a project with 40 artistes, including Western and Indian Instruments. This won widespread appreciation and was released on tape.

Already acknowledged as one of the titans in laya (Rhythm), Mani's bani had spread worldwide. His service to his art continued with his next endeavour, the concept of “Thani Avarthanam” concerts. Whilst Thala Vadya (Percussion ensemble) concerts in Carnatic music were not unheard of, the concept of just two percussion instruments performing solos without any other “sruthi” performers (e.g. vocal, violin) had never been attempted. In 1993 Karaikudi Mani presented his first Thani Avarthanam concert along with the late Kanjira wizard G Harishankar. This spellbinding performance is regarded a landmark moment in the classical percussion field. It has revolutionised the role of the mridangam, proving that as an art form, South Indian percussion instruments can be played as solo instruments in their own right. A concept initiated by Mani has since been undertaken by several leading mridangists who have also performed Thani Avarthanam concerts. Since then, Mani has conducted several “Thani Avarthanam” duet concerts featuring leading percussionists on Ghatam, Thavil, Chendai, etc.

The musician Karaikudi Mani has the ability to mesmerise audiences. A perfect unison of rhythm and melody, a wonderful blend of intricate laya patterns, and soulful sarvalaghu exemplified by crisp clarity make this artiste complete in every sense. This combined with majestic valour in Mani's playing enables him to produce a magnetic vibration on stage that is simply infectious. In a Thani Avarthanam concert, the talent of this inimitable musician is not only displayed through mridangam. Mani is a proficient vocalist also, and will often sing a short Ragam, Thanam, Pallavi before commencing his solo. He is also distinguished in the art of Konnakol which also sometimes forms part of his performances.

Fifty Fest

In Mani we see the rare quality of being not only a captivating performer but also one of the most successful Carnatic teachers of recent times. Mani has attracted students from all corners of the world. Many of his students are fully fledged musicians. He has the inherent ability to assess a student's capability and tailor his teachings in a way so as to amplify their potential. A tribute to mani's dedication and affection to his students was demonstrated by a unique felicitation to the Maestro. On the 12th of June 2003, the overflowing hall of Narada Gana Sabha honoured Mani with thunderous applause as he received a luxury car presented by his senior students to mark his golden jubilee (Fifty Fest - 50 years service) as a musician. Yet another landmark moment as Mani became possibly the first musician to receive such a tribute from his students.

Fusion

Having conquered the South Indian music field, Mani set his eyes to the West. As a person, Mani has always been generous, let it be in the act of giving material goods or in sincerely imparting knowledge to students. He is a wonderful host. It is this quality, his willingness to share ideas, eagerness to experiment and innovate, open mindedness and dedication to hardwork that has made him a master in fusion music also. mani's involvement with fusion started in 1996, when he collaborated with the Australian Art Orchestra. This led to the release of a jazz fusion CD, “Into the Fire”.

Many would have thought it unlikely that such a pious Carnatic classicist would move into fusion music. However, mani's approach to fusion is methodical and produced after much research, planning together with innovative ingenuity. He believes that fusion is not just the coming together of musical instruments but the fusing of musical systems done by musicians who have sufficient expertise to produce music that is inseparable. A notable aspect of Mani's fusion is the technical perfection that is maintained with the fusion adhering to the rules of classical music at all times.

International Collaboration

Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani has performed with many international artists like Paul Grabowsky of Australian Art Orchestra, Eero Haemmeneimi of Finland Naada group, Elio Marchesini La Scala percussionist and Livio Magnini of Italy, Paul Simon of USA and with Finland Philharmonic Orchestra. A piece called Layapriya was performed with Finland Philharmonic Orchestra which was later performed by the Battery Dance Company as a dance ballet. The Australian Art Orchestra has adapted his Bahudari and Ranjani compositions into Jazz style and released it as "Into The Fire". The Naada group of Finland has converted the Behag composition into Jazz orchestrization and released it as "UNMATCHED". It is his greatness as a percussion maestro that made Eero Haemmeneimi dedicates 4 compositions in his name.

Guru Karaikudi Mani's innovative mind, with a desire to explore fresh avenues, has been responsible for the enviable slot that he occupies in the field of percussion. His latest venture titled "Amrutham - Fusion for Freedom" is an imaginative, novel effort that has captured many fans. Apart from that, he has also collaborated with Japanese musician John Kaizan Neptune to create an album named "Steps in Time". In this album, Guru Karaikudi Mani has created a unique synthesis of shakuhachi and Indian percussion.

In 2007, Mani has started the Sruthi Laya Kendra institution in New Jersey Ramsey, USA and Mridanga Seshthiram of Toronto-Canada merged with Sruthi laya Kendra.

In 2011 he played on Paul Simon's album So Beautiful or So What.

Musician, Editor, Founder

Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani is the first percussionist to start a music magazine called " Layamani Layam " and it is running successfully now for the past 13 years.

SRUTHI LAYA KENDRA, Chennai, for the past 19 years has been conducting winter music festival dedicated to Guru Surajananda. The Guru Surajananda and Gowri Manohari awards with a cash award of Rs. 10,000 each are given to eminent personalities and best performers during the festival season.

SRUTHI LAYA KENDRA, Secunderabad center has been conducting annual music and dance festival for the past 7 years. Cash award of Rs. 10,000 is given to eminent personalities in the name of Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamigal of Mysore.

Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani's involvement in the last 55 years to development of Mridangam art has been exclusive and innovative. To mark this occasion , a group of students have presented him with a luxury car. An effort such as this has not been attempted before, in any part of the world for any kind of music.

Mani has still on the mission with multiplied determination and enthusiasm, of propagating the value of Rhythm in music and the role of Mridangam and the importance of rhythm in music to reach the masses worldwide and catapulting mridangam with multiplied determination and enthusiasm to more curious heights

SEASUN - The Gurukulam

Guru Karaikudi Mani has launched a gurukulam called "Seasun Gurukulam" off East Coast Road near the seashore at Panayur Chennai - 600-119 (18 km away from mylapore chennai). The Seasun School is situated near a seashore environment. It is strongly emphasized that the curricula demand high-quality academic achievement. It requires concentrated and consistent study. The gurukulam consists of guestrooms, classroom, common kitchen and music library for learners. The intensity of the program normally consists of weekend study, daily classes, and field exercises. Several short trips are made during the year in connection with courses.

Motto - Stay, Study, Shine

The motto behind the gurukalam is Stay, Study and Shine

Stay

Stay - Self-discipline is important in any endeavor of life. It is best defined as the ability to regulate one's conduct by principle and sound judgment, rather than by impulse, desire, or social custom, starting from keeping the time, finishing what has been started, and, last but not the least, respecting and valuing parents and elders. Clinically, self-discipline may be summarized in one word: obedience. To exercise self-discipline is to avoid evil by staying within the bounds of God's law. Staying in gurukulam will also helps in the development of self-discipline in their own life.

Study

Study - Learners will be given rigorous practice and strenuous exercise during the tenure at gurukulam. It helps the learners to excel in their specific art.

Shine

Shine - Apart from Hard work, Smart work makes a person prolific in his career. Gurukulam not only makes learners work harder, but also makes them work smarter which makes them shine in the future.

The Legend

Guru Karaikudi Mani, a veteran of fifty-five years in the field of Carnatic music is not just a great performer, but a dedicated teacher too. With a zest and passion rarely found elsewhere, he has created a veritable generation of musicians and artists to sustain his style into the next millennium. A composer of considerable acclaim, he has wowed audiences the world over with the Carnatic and jazz ensembles. To truly take Carnatic Music to masses, he has been single-handedly editing and publishing a bimonthly magazine called Layamani Layam for the past 13 years. His unique organizing skill (as exemplified by the many percussion schools he runs worldwide and the annual music festival he conducts at Chennai, India) makes for a really multi-faceted personality. Quite interestingly though, it is not the above qualities that set him apart. His humility, down-to-earthness, dedication, discipline and honesty are what set him apart as a shining sun in this constellation of lesser stars.

WebSite

Karaikudi R. Mani's home Page

External links

A review of Karaikudi Mani's collaboration CD with a Finnish composer

References

Category:1945 births Category:Living people Category:Tamil musicians Category:Mridangam players Category:Carnatic instrumentalists Category:Indian percussionists