Dr Murugappa Panchapikesan, a renowned Eezham Tamil expert in Naathasvaram, who passed away on Friday in Colombo at the age of 91, received a heartfelt funeral at his native village of Changkaththaanai in Chaavakach-cheari in Jaffna on Monday. Eezham Tamil academics, artists, civil and cultural activists turned out in large numbers to pay their last respects to the artist, who was held in high esteem for his contribution to the music using Naathasvaram, which is the most widely used wind instrument in weddings and auspicious rituals of cultural and religious significance among the Tamils.
Panchapikesan performed at the 4th World Tamil Conference held in Jaffna in 1974. He has also been Asthana Vidwan of Thirukkeathesvaram temple for 40 years.
Panchapikesan was the most preferred Eezham Tamil Naathasvaram performer by the world-renowned master Thavil player Thadchanamoorthty, who also hailed from Jaffna. Thadchanamoorthy passed away at a young age of 42 in 1975.
The University of Jaffna awarded Panchapikesan honorary doctorate in 2010 for his invaluable contribution in the field of native music of Eezham Tamils.
The artist leaves behind his 3 sons and 3 daughters. Two of his sons, Nagendran and Wigneswaran, have also become popular Naathasvaram Vidvans.
