ஆத்திசூடி (Athichudi)

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Aathichudi, the First Tamil Lesson in Schools

Updated on January 17, 2018

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Aathichudi is a collection of verses written by the great Tamil Poetess Avvaiyar. This particular contribution is however done by the Avvaiyar who lived during the Chola dynasty. Avvai means 'respected woman'. Her songs are the first introduction to the Tamil language when a child starts school. The meaning of the verses are suitable to any time period which is exactly the reason why even after a millennium, children read her poetry with great interest. Among all her other literary works, aathichudi is the most widely read work. Another specialty of this great work is that it teaches the Tamil alphabet along with moral values. In other languages, alphabets are associated with things. (For example: A for apple) but this poem emphasizes on the alphabet through values for life.

Avvaiyar as a baby was adopted by a childless Brahmin couple. She was brought up with much care. Even from a young age she had a keen interest on poetry. She strongly believed in Lord Ganesh. Her poems were simple with a deep meaning. In her later years , she did not stay at on place. She never married as her aim was to spread the knowledge of divinity and Tamil far and wide. She explored a lot of villages and associated with the poor folk getting to know their lifestyle and needs. Her devotion to the Tamil language was extra-ordinary that even Adhiaman (the then ruler of the kingdom) is said to have given her the Indian gooseberry which was deemed to make a person immortal. Legend says that she did not die but was bodily transported to heaven by Lord Shiva.

In her honor an award is named after her which recognizes women’s contribution to language, arts, science, culture, media and management. Woman who have done great service in terms of social reforms and communal harmony are also recognized for this award.

Though we call it aathichudi, there are different versions depending on the usage of alphabets. So far nine different versions have been found. But the most popular versions are the uyir ezhuthu version , which follows 12 set of alphabets and the urirmei ezhuthu version , which follows 18 set of alphabets. As is the practice of every Tamil poem, this poem too starts with an invocation to the blessings of the Almighty.