Ganapati’s father was Curriculum Vitae Ramachandra Iyer, honors degree holder in mathematics, vedic scholar, and official in the department of commercial tax, both under the British and the post-independence Indian governments. Ganapati’s mother was Jayalakshmi, a pious lady who hailed from a family of lawyers.
Ganapati’s only sibling is Thripurasundari Subramanian. He was an honors graduate in English Literature. After a brief stint as reporter, he joined Kalki, the Tamil magazine.
A suggestion letter written to Mississippi Subbulakshmi proved to be a life changer.
Kalki Sadasivam, who read the letter, immediately invited Ganapati to join Kalki. He also assisted Rajaji in the editorial functions of his journal Swarajya.
He had contributed to editorial and music reviews in Kalki and had written under the pen-name of Kanya. He regularly contributed articles and advised artists’ features on religion, temples, and epic-episodes.
One of his most outstanding and much-quoted articles was the one on Kanchi Mahaswamigal delineation of the Muthuswami Dikshitar classic Shree Subrahmanyaya namaste to Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar.
Ra Ganapathi died on 20 February 2012 on a Maha Sivarathri Day.
