A Thoothukudi salon catches the PM’s eye

For his clients of Millerpuram in Thoothukudi, hairdresser Pon Mariappan’s ardour for books is well-known. His salon is supplied not simply with hair-dressing gear but additionally a mini-library to encourage purchasers to learn a e-book till their flip comes.

For his clients, his small however neatly maintained salon even throughout the pandemic is a ‘temple of knowledge’, the place the portraits of gods and goddesses share area with pictures of icons like Thiruvalluvar, Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda, Bharati and Abdul Kalam.

And his message on the significance of books and studying attracted nationwide consideration final Sunday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to an elated Mr. Mariappan throughout his newest nationwide radio ‘Man ki baat’ after listening to about his hairdresser’s library.

Though Pon Mariappan couldn’t proceed his research after Class 8, his tenure as the clerk of an advocate introduced residence to him the significance of studying. After he began his hairdressing unit at Millerpuram a couple of years in the past, Mr. Mariappan was pained to see his clients indulging in pointless small discuss whereas ready their flip. The scenario, he says worsened with the introduction of smartphones and social media.

“So, I set up the library in my salon having experienced the benefits of reading. After the library became a part of my workplace, absolute silence prevails here as the visitors get involved in a book while waiting. When the waiting customers sit idle without reading anything, lectures of Sukhi Sivam, Nellai Kannan, Thamizharvui Manian, Parveen Sultana, mostly on positive thinking, literature, Thirukkural etc. is played to get them engrossed instead of allowing them to discuss ‘rubbish’,” Mr. Mariappan says.

Once the hairdressing is completed, clients are requested to report thier opinions on the books they learn. “The valuable opinions of my customers encourage me to add more books on diverse topics,” he says.

When Mr. Modi greeted him in Tamil saying “Vanakkam… Nallaa Irukkengala?” and requested him about the purpose behind his making a library in the salon, Mr. Mariappan was on cloud 9 as he might voice his views on the significance of studying to an nationwide viewers. He additionally instructed the Prime Minister throughout the temporary dialog that Thirukkural was near his coronary heart all the time.

“The wishes I could get from the Prime Minister is something special,” he mentioned.