One of the greatest treasures of Indian literature is the classical sangam poetry in Tamil. It was born on two sides of the beginning of our calendar, flourished in its time, and then disappeared almost invisible. Sangam-poetry is NOT an oral tradition, instead the poems were written in palm leaf books (see. picture on the left, which has one page of such a book). Yes, they existed all the time, even though they were forgotten in the attics of homes and in the dusty vaults of libraries.
When U.V. Swaminatha Iyer heard of poetry, he was already a university teacher, and when he finally got his hands on palm leaf books, he immediately understood the enormous significance of the discovery. The books were incomplete, damaged, many were missing, but for its long life U.V.S. traveled the Tamil land collecting books. He collected and delivered the best editions of the most important books of sangam poetry. I also used them when I translate poems for my collection "Night flood".
Now my good friend V.R.Devika has written a biography of U.V.S. Iyer ("Aiyyar"). It is simply a fascinating read and tells the life story of one of the most important researcher and journalist in the history of Indian literature in a colorfully and warmly way.

Believe it or not, the book has something to offer, not only for the fans of Finnish folk poetry (and sangam is not folk poetry), but also for other enthusiasts of old traditions. 

- Eero 

(Eero Hämeenniemi is a celebrated music composer and author from Finland. He knows Tamil well and has translated some Sangam poems into Finnish.)