Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu – September 18, 2025: A compelling new memoir by Tamil Nadu-based educator S. Maria Viswasam, writing under the pen name Mr. S.M. Visu, is gaining attention for its honest and thought-provoking account of a personal journey through faith, identity, and self-realization. Titled “The Memoir”, the book follows the life of a young boy nicknamed Ponthan —a Tamil term meaning “chubby”—as he grapples with his long-held dream of becoming a Catholic priest.
Set against the backdrop of rural South India, the book offers a unique narrative that challenges long-standing religious conventions within the Catholic tradition. Ponthan, a reflection of the author’s younger self, enters a Catholic seminary with dreams of priesthood, encouraged by family and local clergy. However, after nearly a decade of religious training, he begins to question the cultural relevance and personal significance of commonly held beliefs such as “Divine Calling” and “God’s Call.”
In a candid and reflective tone, Viswasam details his gradual realization that the path he was on did not align with his true self. The memoir culminates in his courageous decision to leave the seminary after nine years and chart a new course in life.
Readers have described “The Memoir” as both engaging and insightful, with a storytelling style that is accessible yet deeply introspective. It has already begun resonating with readers across India and among global Christian communities, drawing praise for its authenticity and universal themes of purpose, identity, and transformation.
About the Author Mr. S. Maria Viswasam
Mr. S. Maria Viswasam, affectionately known as Mr. Visu, is a respected educator from the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. With nearly three decades of experience teaching in rural schools, he has played a vital role in shaping the educational landscape for young children. Since 1988, he has also served as a private English tutor, helping countless students master the language.
Born into a Catholic family and baptized in 1961, Viswasam’s early ambition to become a priest was heavily influenced by his maternal grandmother and local nuns. Despite academic setbacks in his early years—specifically a low English score in the 1977 state board exams—he pursued seminary training with persistence. Eventually, he made a conscious decision to walk away from the priesthood and embrace a different path, one marked by education and personal growth.
His life story, captured in “The Memoir,” is a testament to the power of perseverance and the transformative impact of self-discovery. The book is being lauded as a must-read for students, educators, and those interested in personal and spiritual evolution.
The author learns that his book published in 2021 by Book O Pedia publisher from Odisha has not paid a single paisa as royality and the same publisher seems to have sold the book to one international platform known as eBay from Australia.And worse still, he seems to be home-bound, suffering from severe nervous pain, even unable to meet both ends meet.
The author’s mail id: jesussaviour2016@gmail.com
