Blogpost by Dhanu

Atlast I found this article about my thatha (maternal grandpa), B. Nataraja Pillai, founder of B.Nataraja Pillai & Sons Gopuram Works which I had seen in Thinamalar, 21 Nov 1999. For long time, I had been thinking about writing this. My grandfather is the one of the skillful architect whose works were approved by Tamil Nadu Government and had received many honorary awards. I want him to be known by my fellow beings.

To say some of him and my uncles’ best known works are Sucindrum temple ceiling & mini construction works, Trichendur back entrance arch, Nagercoil Park (Dinosaur statue & those miniatures), Vadeeswaram Perumal Temple arch, Kanyakumari entrance arch and list extends beyond my knowledge.

And my uncles (mom’s siblings) are neatly following the steps on his skills and keeping up with the works of traditional-modernity. And proudly presenting themselves as unique builders.

My first uncle N.Subramania Pillai and last two uncles N.Lekshmanan & N.Renganathan Pillai are separately taken the responsibility of contract works. My second uncle N. Murugan & third uncle, N.Saravanan are skillfully practicing my grandpa’s skills on doing the traditional temple art works.

Their works are famous among Keralites, and the most of the parts in Tamil Nadu as well as in South India. The Government of Tamil Nadu have approved my grandpa and his first son, B.Subramania Pillai as skillful “Sthapathi”.

The uniqueness and traditional touches in the works under BNP Construction have uniqueness from others.

He narrates his experiences of his works and places that he had gone for. (Among his narrations, Bhilai the city in Chattisgarh is one of his favourites).

And I’m privileged to hear some of his experiences. May be this is because I’m much more interested in mythologies and artistic works!

PS: My research projects are based on Indian mythologies in contemporary narratives.

PC: Myself (preserved in our home for years, one of my Amma’s prized possessions)