Madurai, July 18, 2013: Teaching Mathematics and Science in schools might help create engineers and doctors, but it is only music that will create good human beings, according to legendary music composer Ilayaraja who continues to campaign for introduction of music as a compulsory subject in schools.

Addressing the inaugural of a Tamil Music Research Centre at Thiagarajar College here on Wednesday, he reiterated his long-term wish to see the inclusion of music into school curriculum. He urged college president Karumuttu T.Kannan to take up the issue with the government.

“Music alone has the power to bring down violence. It discourages the wandering mind and helps in focussing one’s thoughts,” he said, and doled out a couple of songs, including his evergreen number ‘Idhayam oru Koil,’ totally mesmerising the audience.

Earlier, turning nostalgic, he recalled how he spent days wandering around the streets of Madurai along with his friend Subramanian who did his Pre-University Course (PUC) at Thiagarajar College. “I can proudly say that there is no place in Madurai where my feet have not trodden,” he added.

He also reminisced the days he spent at the hostel of Thiagarajar College of Engineering where his friend pursued his engineering degree. “Then I had composed music for many dramas staged by the college students,” he said, and recalled a few hilarious incidents. Mr.Ilayaraja praised Mr.Kannan, who is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, for keeping the temple premises clean. Appreciating the efforts taken by the college to encourage research in Tamil music, he said the results must be put to practical use.

In his address, Mr.Kannan said Mr.Ilayaraja was the third celebrity after former Chief Minister C.N.Annadurai and M.Karunanidhi to have attracted large crowds to a function organised by the college. “This is an outstanding function,” he said, as a section of the audience watched the programme on giant screens outside the indoor auditorium.

Tamil Music Research Centre coordinator K.Gnanasambandan said Paul C.Pandian, an Indian-American businessman, had donated Rs.6 lakh for its establishment. Principal A.Thamaraiselvan, writer Suga, music researcher N.Mammad and Tamil scholar T.Paramasivan spoke. College secretary Uma Kannan participated.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 18, 2013.