Interview-3: Mr.S.Nellaiappan:

(Here is the third interview in the series of Booklovers! Mr.S.Nellaiappan is Senior Production Manager and Unit-in-charge in a chemical factory at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. He is synergizing 150 minds. He is a chemistry graduate with MBA. He is a book-lover and has a collection of about 2000 books at his house. He has written two volumes of Tamil poems which are in print. Above: Photo of Mr.Nellaiappan with his kid)

1. Outside of your job, what are your interests? What type of books you read?

Reading, Writing, Book collection, Listening to music, especially Ilaiyaraja’s music. Self-improvement including Cultivation of Physical & Mental well-being; Self-motivation; Inculcation of Values in my children; Literature, both Tamil and English, especially short stories and poems.

2. What book did you read last?

Vairamuthu’s “Kallikkattu Idhikaasam”, for the third time (Tamil). And
“Steps to Super Student” by Iraiyanbu, I.A.S. (NCBH publication)(English).

3. You are a busy man. How do you find time to read books or when do you generally read books? Is there a specific time which you devote for reading?

Generally, I read when others at home are asleep; when I wake up during night; and the first 30 minutes after getting up from bed (mostly, 4.40 a.m.). Also I take books with me wherever I go and read during travel.

4. Which is your all-time favourite book? Why?

“Thanneer Desam” by Vairamuthu (Tamil) and
“Kazhuthil Vizhuntha Maalai” by Jayakanthan(Tamil).
Both for their theme, treatment and style.

5. Who is your favourite author? Why?

There are several favourite writers: Baalakumaran, Vairamuthu, Ki.Rajanarayanan, Naa.Parthasarathy and Valampuri John (Tamil).

A.J.Cronin (Adventures in Two Worlds) and Jeffrey Archer (Cane and Abel; Shall we tell the President; Not a penny more, not a penny less; Matter of Honour and his short stories: “A Quill full of arrows”)(English).

For their beautiful, lucid, unique and inimitable style.

6. Is there an unforgettable book in your life?

“Kallikkaatu Idhikaasam” by Vairamuthu (Tamil) and
“Adventures in Two Worlds” by A.J.Cronin (English).

7. Why do you call them unforgettable?

I could empathize myself with the writers and also the characters in the books.

8. Is there a book which you keep by your bedside?

Generally, I keep four to five books by my bedside, books like ‘Management Thoughts’ by Batra and Batra and ‘Tirukkural’ (Ethical literature in Tamil).

9. Is there a book or books which you feel everybody should read?

I feel every Tamilian should read Vairamuthu’s writings.

Thank you, Mr.Nellaiappan!

Interview-2: Dr.V.Sundaram

(Dr.V.Sundaram is a senior-scientist in the Deputy Director grade at the Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India. He did his PG in Chemistry at IIT, Mumbai and Ph.D. in Electrochemistry at Madurai Kamaraj University. He has been working at CECRI for the past 38 years.At present, he is heading Planning and Project Monitoring Group of CECRI. He is a great booklover, reads and collects books. He has a large number of books on Philosophy, Yoga, Health, Nature Cure and Spiritual aspects. He has donated more than 100 books to FASOHD Library at Karaikudi. He loves sharing the knowledge acquired from books with his friends and family.)

You are a scientist. Outside of Science & Technology, what are your interests? What type of books you read?
I developed the habit of extra reading from the age of 13. In the earlier years I was attracted by historical novels and later to crime novels. Then changed to Philosophy and Self-Improvement.

What book did you read last?
‘Unlimited Power’ by Anthony Robins and ‘Who will Cry when you die’ by Robin Sharma.

You are busy man. How do you find time to read books or when do you generally read books? Is there a specific time which you devote to books?
I carry books wherever I go. When I have to wait at the railway station, at the bus stand, at the departmental stores and at the banks. The late-running of trains or buses will not bother me. And at night, I read from 10 pm to 11.30 pm.

Which are your all-time favourite books?
Kalki’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, Sandilyan’s ‘Yavana Rani’, ‘Kadal Puraa’ (all Tamil historical novels). ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle. All books of Isha Yoga Centre, particularly, ‘Atthanaikkum Aasai Padu’, ‘Unakkul Oru Ragasiyam’ (both Tamil) and ‘Mystics and Musings’.

Your favourite authors?
Sandilyan and Sujatha (both popular Tamil writers).

Is there an unforgettable book in your life?
‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie.

Why do you call it unforgettable?
It changed my attitude towards moving with people .

Is there a book which you read again and again?
‘Unlimited Power’ by Antony Robbins and books of Isha Yoga Centre.

Is there a book or books which you feel everybody should read?
‘Unlimited Power’ and ‘Awaken the Giant within You’ by Anthony Robbins.

Thank you, Sir, thank you very much.

Interview-1: Mr.C.Srividyarajagopalan

(Mr.C.Srividyarajagopalan is a senior Scientist in the Deputy Director grade at the Central Electrochemical Resarch Institute, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India. He did his graduation in Electronics Engineering at the Alagappa Chettiar College of Engg and Technology, Karaikudi and after that joined CECRI and has been working there for the past 35 years. He has a rare and wonderful collection of 18,000 books at home, besides a Museum of Antique Objects of Glass, Wood and Metal more than 50 years old.)

1. You are a scientist. Outside of Science & Technology, what are your interests? What type of books you read?
Collection of Rare Books. I have a collection of about 18,000 rare books at home which I have classified myself using Universal Decimal Classification. The books I read generally fall under the category, Relgious/Spiritual and Self-Improvement. Particularly, Vedas and Puranas.

2. 18,000 books! How do you manage to preserve them? They occupy space, attract dust, cobwebs collect and all sorts of tiny insects make them their home. Then they become a real health hazard. My own personal library is small (about 3000 books). I find it very difficult to keep them. I have to earn the wrath of my family members for the above-mentioned botherations they pose. Do you have any paid employees to dust and preserve them? Or at least you need some volunteers to help you. How do you really manage?

Books require light and air to survive. Each book is to be flipped at least once a year. Books are placed in steel racks as seen in the photo above. There are three rooms (250 sq.ft. each) with windows. Each window is fixed with removal Netlan. The door is always closed. Exhaust fan is provided in each room with Netlan trap. So only relatively dust-free air enters the rooms.

An aerosol (like Pest Seal) is sprayed at night after closing all the openings. The rooms are kept open for 2 to 3 hours in the morning. This can be done once in 4 months. This way the rooms will be free from insects.

Some of the books are provided with a brown or plastic wrapper.

3. What book did you read last?
At present, I am reading ‘The Mahabharata’ in Tamil, published by Shri M.V.Ramanujachariyar of Kumbakonam. It runs to 18 volumes consisting of more than 8,000 pages.

4. You are a busy man. How do you find time to read books or when do you generally read books? Is there a specific time which you devote to books?
You can find time if you really want to. I have allotted 7.30 to 8.30 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. for books and reading.

5. Which is your all-time favourite book?
‘Ponniyin Selvan’ of Kalki (a famous Historical Tamil novel) in Fiction and How to win Friends and influence People by Dale Carnegie in Non-Fiction.

6. Who is your favourite author?
KALKI (Popular Tamil Writer) and RAJAJI (who wrote in English and Tamil) are my favourite authors.

7. Is there an unforgettable book in your life?
‘Autobiography of U.V.Swaminatha Iyer’ and Biography of ‘Meenakshisundaram Pillai’ by U.V.Swaminatha Iyer.

8. Why do you call them unforgettable?
For their lucidity. Further, they are the best biographies in Tamil.

9. Is there a book which you read again and again?
‘Mahabharatam’ by Rajaji (Tamil version)

10. Is there a book or books which you feel everybody should read?
Everybody should read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

Thank you, Sir, thank you very much.