Coimbatore, TAMIL NADU :
THEN AND NOW: Dr M G Anwar Batcha started writing a Thirukkural couplet with its meaning everyday since 1977 on a black board kept at a cycle shop at Coimbatore Gandhi Park. Post retirement, he continues his mission of popularising and promoting Thirukkural among the public.
So goes the inspiring quote of Missile Man of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam – “Every small step taken with determination leads to great achievements.” Taking a cue from this, a former Tamil teacher Dr M G Anwar Batcha, known as Kural Yogi in the literary circle, celebrated 50 years of his literary journey penning books, writing a couplet with its meaning everyday on a board kept at a cycle shop at Gandhi Park in the heart of Coimbatore city since 1977.
It’s always fascinating to rewind the golden days of teaching, speaking at literary meetings and what not. As a faculty with 25-year service at Chokkampudur SBOA Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Coimbatore city, Thirukkural Batcha, a resident of Kuniyamuthur, took a trip down the memory lane to share his experience about Thirukkural, which is close to his heart.
It may be noted that a special story was featured on him in 2010 in The New Indian Express when S Kamalakannan was a senior photographer and during a routine round across the city found him writing a couplet on a black board. Worth mentioning that he makes it a point to sensitise people through his books and speeches at a plethora of events both inland and abroad. Words cannot express the amount of happiness he has in doing this literary service for over 50 years or so.
In all smiles, he said, “Life is indeed a journey filled with ups and downs, and how we navigate these fluctuations defines our resilience and character.” And that’s what Saint Thiruvalluvar had said in his 1330 couplets. Elaborating on it further, he remarked, “This ancient Tamil text is a profound testament to the intellectual and cultural achievements of Tamil civilization. Beyond its philosophical depth, the Thirukkural holds immense historical significance as a cornerstone of Tamil literature and a universal guide for human conduct. Shedding more light on it, he said Thirukkural’s focus on equality is evident in its rejection of caste discrimination, a radical stance in an era when hierarchical structures were prevalent.
Crossing a 50-year milestone, Anwar Batcha no doubt is creating a silent revolution. All credit goes to his mentors Pulavar Rasiannan and Pulavar Arumugam, while studying at City Municipal High School at Variety Hall Road, who groomed him and brought the best out of him to be what he is now. In a step further, they motivated him to enhance his skills in Tamil.
To his credit, Anwar Batcha has awards including Tamil Nadu Government honour, Kural Neri Chelvar, Thirukkural Thoothar, Thirukkural Vendar and Thirukkural Thondar. And he penned a book on Thirukkural with English translation besides a book titled Valluvar Manimozhigal and Valluvaridam Kettathum Kidaithathum. Batcha is quite proficient in Urdu, Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu.
Retired, but not tired to actively involve in literary organisations like Thirukkural Aaivu Kazhagam, Ulaga Kalai Tamil Mandram, Coimbatore World Thirukkural Centre and organiser of Kovai Islamiya Tamil Sangam, Anwar Batcha did his doctorate on ‘Samuga Nokkil Thirukkuralum, Thirukkuranum’. US-based writer of inspirational maxims William Arthur Ward rightly categorised teachers thus: The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. True to his words, Dr Anwar Batcha has inspired scores of his students who have made their ‘guru’ proud.
[The author is former Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle chief]
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News / by M Rafi Ahmed / by Radiance News Bureau / August 16th, 2025
