Echoes of Tamil woven on palm leaves

A local linguaphile leads a revolution, training students to unlock the secrets of manuscripts and preserve the language's rich legacy

- N RAMESH @ Thanjavur

In the quiet corridors of Thanjavur, where centuries-old wisdom rests between brittle palm leaves and fading paper, Tamil Pundit Mani Maran finds his true calling—not just in preserving the past, but in passing it on.

Even after the day's work ends, his mission continues as the 55-year-old sits with eager students, guiding them through the intricate art of reading ancient Tamil manuscripts.

What began as a quiet passion has now grown into a mission—to train the next generation to unlock the forgotten voices of Tamil heritage, one script at a time.

Every Sunday evening, on a rented premises adjoining a temple on South Main Street in Thanjavur, 15 students gather around him to learn "Tamil Suvadiyiyal" — the study of old Tamil palm leaf and paper manuscripts.