Tamil scholar and Pattimandram stalwart Solomon Pappaiah dies at 90

Solomon Pappaiah, the veteran Tamil scholar and orator whose command of the Pattimandram made him a familiar figure in Tamil homes, died in Madurai on Friday. He was 90 and had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city for an age-related illness.

Prof. Pappaiah's association with The American College in Madurai spanned more than three decades. He joined the institution in 1961 and served there until 1994, heading its Department of Tamil. During his tenure, the department's undergraduate Tamil programme was upgraded into a full-fledged postgraduate department in 1986.

Colleagues and former students recall him as much a mentor as a teacher, credited with shaping generations of students. J. Paul Jayakar, Principal and Secretary of The American College, said the institution and its wider community were mourning the loss of a true giant, adding that his wit, scholarship and lifelong passion for Tamil would be deeply missed.

It was, however, his oratory that carried his reputation far beyond the classroom. Through television and public stages, Prof. Pappaiah built a following for his ability to render complex literary, philosophical and social ideas in language that ordinary audiences could follow and enjoy, bringing the depth of Tamil letters to listeners across the world.

The Government of India recognised his contribution to literature and education with the Padma Shri in 2021.

He is survived by a daughter and a son.