Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu):Addressing the people of the nation today through the 'Mann ki Baat' Program, Prime Minister Modi spoke to Pon. Mariappan, a barber in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded his initiative to encourage reading by converting a portion of his salon into a library.
Who is this Pon Mariappan?
Pon Mariappan is from Millerpuram, Toothukudi. He has a wife, Indira, and three children. Pon Mariappan, who has not studied above 8th standard, was working as a clerk under a lawyer in Toothukudi. At that time when the lawyer told him about the importance of studying and the importance of reading, Mariappan got distressed at the very thought of his inability to study.
An interview with Pon. Mariappan, a barber from Thoothukudi
Subsequently, Pon. Mariappan took up the barber business which his father had been doing. He started a saloon shop in the area where he lives. He has seen customers and students who come to his saloon often binged in the cell phones and WhatsApp. Pon Mariappan set up a library in his shop so that the customers know the need of reading.
Pon Mariappan who tells the customer indirectly not to do politics in the shop has got the introduction of writer S. Ramakrishnan while he was reading. Later on, Pon. Mariappan broadcast the audio recording of S. Ramakrishnan’s speech on the topic of books as a supplement and continued to broadcast the speeches of Suki. Sivam, Nellai Kannan, Tamilaruvi Maniyan and Parveen Sultana without fail. He requested his customers to record in a register their opinion about the library and the usefulness of the books they read. Not only that, in his saloon, he has the portraits of Tamil, Scientific and national leaders such as Thiruvalluvar, Abdul Kalam, Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda and Mahakavi Bharathi apart from the photos of political leaders. Also, during the Pooja periods, he performs pujas in honour of the national flag with the images of the gods and the image of Abdul Kalam.
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Modi’s Appreciation
In this situation, Prime Minister Modi while speaking through today’s 'Mann ki Baat' Program, spoke to Pon. Mariappan in Tamil, beginning his conversation in Tamil with 'vanakkam' and 'nalla irukkeengala' (how are you). He asked him how he got the idea of setting up a library in the saloon. Pon Mariappan replied that as he has studied only up to 8th standard, he has set up the library to study life. When Prime Minister asked him which book he liked, he answered that Thirukkural is his favourite book. Prime Minister appreciated Pon Mariappan for setting up a library in the saloon.
Mariappan, who was interviewed by ETV Bharat shared with us about this and said that the Prime Minister’s greeting was an encouragement.
