R.
NALLAKANNU
In
Tiruvaikuntam’s sacred land he was born,
A child of promise, of a future yet sworn,
From affluence to activism, a bold new tide,
Patriot and fighter, with justice as his guide.
At fifteen, he embraced the red banner's call,
For freedom and equality, he stood tall,
Through prison bars, his spirit would not fall.
The
Communist ideal, he wore like a crown,
For the voiceless, the oppressed, he laid life down.
He walked with the downtrodden, ate their bread,
Teaching courage where fear had once tread.
A casteless dream, his life’s noble song,
To shatter chains of centuries-long,
For truth and reform, he marched strong.
In
battles of sand and rivers’ gentle flow,
He waged wars to let nature’s bounty grow.
Hunger became his weapon, steadfast and true,
Till dams rose and justice broke through.
A voice for the earth, a guardian of green,
His efforts made Thamirabarani serene,
A beacon for causes yet unseen.
Eloquent
in speech, and powerful in pen,
He wrote of reforms, of rights for all men.
Books flowed like rivers, thoughts deep and wide,
To unify the lands and cast discord aside.
In parliament’s halls or on Coimbatore’s stage,
His resolve was fire, his wisdom sage,
Though votes were lost, his legacy’s an eternal page.
Honored
by nations, a Gandhian heart,
Yet simple in life, from wealth apart.
Through hunger strikes, awards, and strife,
He lived the essence of a humble life.
From “Thagaisal Tamizhar” to China’s embrace,
His journey adorned with dignity and grace,
A life unmatched in history’s race.
Now
past a century, yet his fire remains,
A sentinel of justice through struggles and pains.
Respected by foes, revered by peers,
A man who shaped Tamil Nadu’s years.
Let his story inspire, his deeds forever ring,
A hero who rose, a man who made hearts sing,
He is a legend whose praises we bring.
For
those who seek justice, his path is clear,
To walk with courage, to banish fear.
Through rivers and fields, through voices and ink,
He taught the world anew how to think.
Let his life be a torch in the darkest night,
For freedom and equality, the eternal fight,
He is a star burning bright.
Through
jail cells and shadows, his will stood firm,
Each day a battle, each night a term.
Seven years he spent in a prisoner’s cage,
Emerging stronger, a lion uncaged.
He fought for the worker, the farmer, the meek,
Giving them courage, teaching them to speak,
For justice, his life became an endless seek.
In
Nanguneri’s fields, where poverty thrived,
He worked with the people, their hopes revived.
Sharing their meals, their struggles, their pain,
Building a dream where equality reigns.
Through whispers of caste, he roared out loud,
In every village, he gathered a crowd,
To dismantle oppression, his vows were vowed.
No
wealth did he seek, no riches to claim,
For Nallakannu, the cause was his name.
Even the mighty, in his presence, bowed,
For truth and humility made him proud.
A leader beloved by all sides of the aisle,
He spoke with wisdom, free of guile,
Earning respect with every mile.
In
the twilight of life, his battles persist,
For rivers unpolluted, and forests kissed.
Thamirabarani, his native river's soul,
He saved from plunder, fulfilling his goal.
A court’s decree, a fight he had won,
His legacy shines like the noonday sun,
A testament to deeds nobly done.
For
Nallakannu, the world is a stage,
Where justice and peace must fill every page.
From rural hamlets to bustling towns,
He raised his voice for humanity’s crowns.
Awards and honors adorned his name,
Yet his simplicity remained the same,
A leader immune to fortune and fame.
Let
us sing of a man, steadfast and pure,
Whose ideals and vision will always endure.
R. Nallakannu, a beacon of light,
Guiding the oppressed through the darkest night.
In history’s heart, his story will dwell,
A tale of courage no words can quell,
The legend of a hero we’ll forever tell.
*****
