In pursuit of knowledge, books reinforced our bond of friendship. I was an ardent admirer of Mothi who can review the books written by Ayn Rand and conduct a discourse on Nihilism and Nirvana. Reading was not just a hobby but the purpose of his life. He read not only to acquire knowledge from outside but also to evolve wisdom from inside. He was like a Stained glass window who could sparkle and shine with the light of knowledge from outside and reveal his true beauty with the light of wisdom from within.

As a fellow citizen of Tiruchirappalli I saw a growth and development of Urumu Dhanalakshmi College with admiration. Institutions are not founded with bricks and mortars but with concepts and convictions. They are not built by masons but by the leader who has a clear vision coupled with missionary zeal. Mothi Rajagopal was not an idealist but a practical and realist who can transform his dreams and hopes into concrete reality. He was the driving force that accelerated Phenomenal growth of Urumu Dhanalakshmi College.

His desire for knowledge was so persistent that he exploited all possible avenues to keep himself informed. He was a self learnt scholar, he read all popular, ancient, current literature and his understanding always manifested itself when he interacted with the celebrated Literary minds of the day in the Tamil language like the novelist Dr. Jayakanthan, Dr. Irai Anbu IAS and Nanjil Nadan to mention those close to him.

He was a voracious reader of all type of books, though he always enjoyed fiction and poetry. He participated in every meeting of the Book Club of Tiruchy, where he acted many a time as a moderator in initiating discussions and giving a sense of direction to the whole review without a prejudice or partisan opinion which was very scholarly and mature.

Tamil Nadu in the early 1970’s was undergoing a change due to the social advancement created by writers, and planners which matched with the dividend that liberated the illiterates and gradually raised the levels of literacy that made two rare friends Jayakanthan and Mothi Rajagopal relevant to Tamil Society.

Jayakanthan wrote for the masses about the masses and raised their awareness, which urged the common man to shake of his slumber of superstition and backwardness to move ahead to be abreast with rest of the advanced countries of the world. His writings spurred progressive thought. While Mothi S Rajagopal, was a practical businessman who knew the value of modern education and spent his time and money on liberating the less fortunate from illiteracy through the institutions he stewarded. These two friends had a common goal of transforming the society they lived in, and each one worked for it together in divergent ways.

Prof. David Sydney Basil
Head, Dept. of English (Rtd)
U.D. College, Trichy.