Some people stay in our memories.
A rare few shape the way we think, speak and see the world.

Professor Solomon Pappaiah was one such person in my life.
A Tamil scholar, professor, author, Pattimandram moderator and Padma Shri awardee – Solomon Pappaiah carried many distinguished identities.
Yet, in the hearts of millions of Tamils, he always felt like one of our own.

From my school days, I grew up listening every day to his “Dhinam Oru Thirukkural.”
Through simple explanations and memorable stories, he made Thirukkural feel less like an ancient text to be memorised and more like living wisdom – something we could understand and carry into our everyday lives.

He became one of my greatest role models in public speaking.
I admired his ability to explain the deepest ideas in the simplest words.
He never needed complicated language to prove his knowledge.

A story, a touch of humour and a few carefully chosen words were enough to make an audience laugh, think and remember.

Pattimandram is a distinctive tradition deeply rooted in Tamil language and culture. It brings together literature, logic, humour and everyday life.

Professor Solomon Pappaiah took this beautiful tradition from literary halls to villages and cities, from local stages to television, and from Tamil Nadu to international platforms across the world.

He kept Pattimandram relevant across generations and brought it into millions of homes. For many Tamil families, a festival morning felt incomplete without his familiar voice.

His greatness was not only in the stages he occupied, but also in the space he created for others. He recognised young talent, encouraged emerging speakers and gave them opportunities to find their own voices. He did not simply preserve a tradition – he nurtured a generation that could carry it forward.

I feel truly fortunate to have been associated with his Pattimandram and to have shared the stage with him. To meet and learn from someone whose voice had shaped my childhood remains one of the proudest and most precious memories of my life.

Interacting with him made me admire him even more.
Despite his knowledge, experience and recognition, he remained remarkably down-to-earth. He listened to others with genuine interest, was eager to understand the thoughts of younger generations and always remained curious to learn more.
Behind his effortless brilliance was a lifetime of reading, preparation, discipline and hard work.

Today, it feels as though a familiar voice from my childhood has fallen silent.
But a voice that awakened so many minds can never truly disappear.
It lives on through the stories he told, the simplicity he embodied, the young speakers he encouraged and the generations he inspired.

Rest in peace, Professor Solomon Pappaiah. 🙏

The voice may be silent, but the wisdom will continue to speak.