The Madras High Court has ordered notices to the Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha and the government on a public
interest litigation petition which asks for the restoration of the original structure of the house where the saint Thyagaraja,
one of the greatest Carnatic music composers lived.
A vacation bench of of this court has stayed further demolition of this house which is in this small town in Thanjavur.
The petition has been filed by Macherla Diwakar.
The petitioner says that the house at No. 31, Thirunanjana Street in Thiruvaiyaru was specially built and gifted to the
composer's father by Maratha King Tulajaji II.
He says that Thyagaraja lived his entire life in the house and composed most of his 'kritis' there. Describing the place
as a pilgrimage centre for Carnatic musicians, the petitioner said it was believed that Lord Rama and Sita visited the
saint's house and spent a whole night with him, discussing various aspects of life.
In its "over-enthusiasm" to build a memorial for the saint composer, the Sabha had razed the building.
If a new, modern memorial was allowed to be built, the younger generation would not have any idea about the way the
saint lived, the petitioner said.
Not just the building but the entire street must be preserved as a monument, says Diwakar.
He also suggests that it was easy to draw inspiration from similar houses on the street and restore the demolished
structure to its original shape.
The petitioner prayed for an injunction restraining the Sabha from proceeding with the construction and sought a
direction to the central government and the Archaeological Survey of India to take possession of the house and
restore it to its original form for being preserved as a national monument.
