SUGANTHY KRISHNAMACHARI (30 January 2014). "A century of service". The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/a-century-of-service/article5634468.ece. "Tiruchi's R. R. Sabha, which turns 100 this year, has been fostering the cause of charity and culture. In 1915 at the Trichinopoly Collector’s bungalow, Sheridan’s play ‘Pizzaro’ was enacted in aid of the Ladies’ War Fund. The predominantly British audience was amazed at the excellent diction of the all Tamil cast. In 1918, two plays were staged as part of the peace celebrations organised by the Carnatic Infantry. In 1918, “At Home” was given to Mr. Blackstone, Deputy Superintendent of Police and the same drama troupe presented a few plays. The troupe staged benefit shows to raise funds for the Manicka Vinayakar temple. The theatre enthusiasts, munificent in their contributions to charitable causes, were all members of the Rasika Ranjana Sabha (RRS), Tiruchi. RRS was inaugurated at a meeting held in the Tiruchi Fort Railway Museum, on November 9, 1914, with Kodiyalam Rangaswamy Iyengar as the first president. The membership fee was eight annas per month. To start with, the sabha had 25 members. Within a year, the number increased to 153. Zamindar of Andipatti, Mc.T. Pethachi Chettiar, Dewan Bahadur T. Desikachariar, Advocate, and G.K. Rengil Doss were among the generous donors to the sabha in the early years. The founder members were men of varied talents. S.S. Subramania Iyer, for instance, wrote two songs for the sabha, ‘Gandhi vakyam’ to be sung before the commencement of any programme, and mangalam to mark the conclusion. The first secretary of the sabha, F.G. Natesa Iyer, popularly known as FGN, belonged to the lineage of Appayya Dikshitar, and his grandfather and father were accomplished veena players."
