Draft:D. A. Thanapandian

Duraipandian Abraham Thanapandian (24 October 1921 – 10 November 1997) was a Tamil musicologist, singer, songwriter, music composer and producer from Chennai, India, who is renowned for his contribution to Tamil Carnatic music research and continuing the work of his grandfather, Rao Sahib Abraham Pandithar. He also served as a radio presenter and Vanoli Editor in All India Radio and was the Dean of Faculty of Arts and Head of the Department of music in Tamil University, Thanjavur.

Early life
Thanapandian was born in Servaikaranmadam, a small village in the Tirunelveli district as the third and youngest child of P. Duraipandian & Maragathavalli Duraipandian, the youngest daughter of Rao Sahib Abraham Pandithar, on the 24th of October, 1921. His older siblings were Raja Perianayagam and Gnanam Thavapandian.

He evinced keen interest in music even as a child and benefitted from his mother's guidance and tutoring. Smt. Maragathavalli Duraipandian completed the second volume of Karunamirtha Sagaram after Rao Sahib Abraham Pandithar passed away, and demonstrated the 24 shrutis of an octave in a music conference at Baroda. Following in her father's footsteps, she also trained her children in classical music, introducing them to the concepts of shrutis, ragas and alapanas. Thanapandian received further training under the guidance of Shri. Marianandham, Sangeetha Vidwanand and honed his skills on the flute under the guidance of Shri. M.M. Nataraja Pillai, Flute vidwan.

He married Freda Padmini, daughter of Doraiswamy & Esther Doraiswamy, and they had 6 daughters together, whom Thanapandian ensured also received extensive training in classical music.

Professional life
He completed his Bachelors in Math & Astronomy at American college, Madurai. He acquired skills in Journalism and Advertising through Diploma courses from the UK and served as a Class 1 officer of the Central Information Services, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), in several positions - Field Publicity Officer, Vanoli Editor and News Editor of All India Radio. He became an auditioned voice of All India Radio for devotional songs, musical features and Katha Kalakshepam (A form of story telling that alternates between narration and music) and served as a member of the Local Audition Committee for Light Music at All India Radio, Trichy. After his retirement from the Central Government service, he worked with ECI for 2 years and then returned to his hometown to work in agriculture, specifically, plantain cultivation.

Tamil music research
In 1983, he was invited by the then Vice Chancellor of Tamil University, Thanjavur, V.I Subramanium to give a guest lecture on Rao Sahib Abraham Pandithar's research work & contribution to Tamil music. He mathematically explained the existence of 24 shruthis in an octave instead of 22 as popularly believed. He augmented his lecture with a demonstration of the subtle shrutis and showed how new ragas can be created using the raga spudam method, put forth by his grandfather, Rao Sahib Abraham Pandithar and his mother, Maragathavalli Duraipandian, in the second volume of Karunamirtha Sagaram. The vice chancellor was impressed by the depth of his knowledge and musical skills and offered him the post of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Professor and Head of the Department of music in Tamil University. Thanpandian accepted the role and began his tenure of 9 years (from 1983 to 1991) at Tamil University and published several books and research articles. In 1987, he was also appointed as Chairman of the Board of Studies, Music, Dance and Performing Arts, at Bharathidasan University, Trichy.

Published works
1.    New Ragas - Kalaimamani Thanapandian's first research book was “New ragas”, published by the Tamil University, Thanjavur, in the year 1985. He followed the “Raga spudam method” as outlined by his grandfather Rao Saheb Abraham Pandithar and mother Smt. Maragathavalli Duraipandian, in the second volume of Karunamirtha sagaram and created 32 new ragas. In the book he provides detailed information about the new ragas with compositions in classical forms like geetham, varnam, swarajathi & keerthanam.

2.    Subtle Shrutis and Ragas - Kalaimamani Thanapandian's second research book “Subtle shrutis and Ragas”, was published by the Tamil University of Thanjavur, in the year 1988. It was awarded the first place among music research publications by the Tamil Nadu Government. The government also conferred the “Kalaimamani award’ on him for this publication. The award was presented to him by Chief minister M. Karunanidhi and Governor P. C. Alexander on April 14, 1990. The book deals with the theory of 24 shrutis in an octave and the many subtle shrutis involved. To prove the existence of the subtle shrutis, he measured the wavelength of the different shrutis using a sonometer in Annamalai University.

3.    The Flute - A research article published by the Tamil University of Thanjavur.

4.    The History of Isai Tamil - Part 1, 2 & 3 - An overview of the history of ancient Tamil music research and it's present day applications.

Apart from books on research, he authored books on spirituality and Tamil musicologists of the 19th century. He also created a beginner's course for students of Carnatic music.

a. Jeba Jeeviyam

b. Isai Vazhi Irai Pani

c. Tamil Valartha Kristhava Periyaargal

d. Life sketch of Thanjai Abraham Pandithar

e. Carnataka Isaiyil Thiruvirunthu Aaraathanai – Sura Thaala Kurippugaludan

f. Carnadaga Isai Payirchi – Volume 1 & 2

Institutions where his lectures and research papers were presented:

1. Music Academy, Chennai (57th Annual conference)

2. Tamil Isai Sangam, Chennai (for 3 years)

3. Tamil Nadu Government Music college, Chennai.

4. Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka manram, Chennai.

5. International Institute of Tamil Studies, Chennai.

6. Tamil University, Thanjavur.

Institutions where music concerts were rendered to demonstrate research:

1. Musical discourse on Vedanayagam Pillai Tamil Sangam, Thanjavur - 1989.

2. Musical Discourse on Bharathiar Tamil University, Thanjavur – Nov.28th, 1987.

3. Music Concert on New Ragas Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College, Trichy - Nov 18th, 1987.

4. Music concert on New Ragas Raja's College, Thiruvaiyaru – June 3, 1987.

5. Music concert on New Ragas Kalashethra, Chennai –September 3, 1986.

6. Music concert on New Ragas Tamil Isai Sangam – Thiruvaiyaru– January 14th & 15th, 1986.

Derivation of new ragas
Thanapandian created 22 new ragas using the raga spudam method based on the Janya ragas.

Musical releases and compositions
As an approved voice of All India Radio (B - High Artist) for Devotional songs & Musical Discourse (Harikatha), he composed and rendered over 60 devotional songs, 20 musical discourses and 25 musical features that were broadcast from All India radio, Chennai & Trichy. Similarly, musical discourses and devotional songs were telecast from Doordharshan, Chennai. Through HMV (His master's Voice), Columbia & Inreco Gramophone companies, he released 18 records of devotional songs. Later he produced cassettes featuring his daughters such as, “Isai paadal pala paadiyae” and “Ratchanya Devara paadalgal” which were released by Christian Literature Society, Chennai. He also produced “Aalaya thirupanipaadalgal” to raise funds for a church in a mission field. Puduraga sandhangal was based on the new ragas he had created.

Contributions to the Christian Community
Thanapandian was a devout Christian, and often served as a lay preacher at churches. He was given titles like “Arut kalaingar”, “Innisai chemmal” and “Isai kathai Selvar” by Tamil Christian organizations for his Katha Kalakshepam performances. He participated in numerous Christian music concerts all over Tamil Nadu, and was a regular feature in Immanuel musical association concerts (conducted by Shri. T. A. G. Duraipandian).

In the autumn of his life, he felt the need to encourage the Christian community to learn the traditional music of the land and designed a two-part course in Carnatic music with Christian sahithyam in Tamil. He published Carnataka Isai payirchi, Volumes 1 and 2, covering classical vocal exercises and the rules of Carnatic music. In these books he included songs written by Abraham Pandithar & by his daughter Mallika Duraipandian for practice. He also recorded an audio version of the course to make it easier for students to follow the books.

Recognition



 * Kalaimamani – Conferred by the State Music and Drama academy, Govt. of Tamil Nadu (April 1990).
 * Arut Kalaingar - Conferred at the World Christian Tamil Conference held at Trichy (1981).
 * Isaikathai Selvar – Conferred at the Theological College, Madurai (1976).
 * Innisai Semmal – Conferred at the Christian Students association, Vellore (1976).

Death
Early 1997, Thanapandian took ill and died later the same year, on November 10, 1997.