Beschi the Italian born missionary arrived in Madurai,India in 1711.A renowned poet in Tamil he
adopted an Indian style made himself sannyasi (Indian Ascetic)and adopted their saffron
colored dress.He learned Tamil in detail and became an expert in Tamil grammar and literature.His friendly nature gave him much influence to protect the christian against exploitation and persecution.Besides composing a literary Tamil Grammar he also wrote a grammar for the common use of Tamil ( urai nadai illakkiam ) the first to do so which earned him the title of FATHER OF TAMIL PROSE.
Beschi changed his name to VEERAMA MUNIVAR compiled the first Tamil dictionary called chaturagarathi.He is responsible to compile Tamil- Latin and Latin-Tamil- Portuguese dictionaries as well.His greatest poetical work is Thembavani Illakiam an extra ordinary epic poem on salvation considered a classical Tamil Literature.Kavalur Kalambagam,Thonool,Vediyar Olukkam are the other writing of his.His translation work on Thirukural to Latin made the Latin countries realize the values of Tamil culture and Tamil Language.
He died in Ambazakad in Kerala in 1747.
The Tamil Nadu government erected a statue for this great man on the Marina beach in Chennai in 1968 as a recognition on his contribution to the Tamil Language and Tamil Literature.
