A.K. Perumal

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"A.K.Perumal"

A.K. Perumal (1947) is a Tamil folklore researcher and literary historian whose area of research includes Kanyakumari district's literary and archeological history. He has experience in field-based research. He plays an important role in collecting and publishing research works on oral history, inscriptions, sculptures, temple architecture, palm leaf manuscripts, folklore and folk artforms of Tamil Nadu.

Birth, Education

Dr. A.K. Perumal (A. Kaakum Perumal) was born in Parakai, Kanyakumari district, to Azhagamperumal and Bagavati Amma in the year 1947. His father Azhagamperumal worked as a Malayalam teacher and as a court interpreter.

He got his school education from the Parakai Government School. He completed his bachelor's degree at the ST Hindu College, Nagercoil and began working as a journalist. He then joined the Government College, Chittur, Palakad for postgraduate studies. Dr. Jesudasan was one of the professors who taught him. He intended to do his PhD research on S. Vayyapuri Pillai under the topic "Vayyapuri's estimations on dating Tamil literary texts", but was unable to pursue it. Instead he did his Doctorate thesis on “Villupaatugal (literally bow-songs, sung by folk singers sitting before a bow balanced on its side) of Nanjil Nadu” from Madurai Kamaraj University and got his PhD. Stuart Blackburn, who later wrote “Inside the Drama-House: Rama Stories and Shadow Puppets in South India” and other such books, was a fellow student.

Personal Life

Dr. A.K. Perumal’s wife is Devakumari and his daughter, Ramya. He worked as a Professor of Tamil literature (retired) at the Arignar Anna College, Aralvaymoli. He lives in Nagercoil.

Research work

Dr. A.K. Perumal was encouraged by Venkat Swaminadhan to engage in folkloristic research. Fr. Jeyapathi and Sundara Ramaswamy also made an impact on his ventures. He published Venkat Swaminathan’s magazine Yatra for a significant period of time.

He has written more than eighty books. Common topics include Tamil literary history, the history of Kanyakumari district, folklore studies, epigraphy, studies on sculpture and temple art. He published critical editions of Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai’s works. He tracked down Kavimani’s essays and brought them into print.”

He has researched extensively on the art of Shadow Puppetry or Play (Tholpavai koothu) and has published an introductory text called Tholpavai Koothu. His Ramayana Tholpavai Koothu includes a recorded version of the Koothu’s oral text of Ramayana along with detailed commentaries based on his research. He brought

He pioneered research in regional microhistory. His research books include Thenkumariyin Kathai (History of Kanyakumari District), Thiruvattar Adikesava Perumal Temple, Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple, Parakkai Mathusoothana Perumal Temple, Thenkumari Kovilgal (Temples of Kanyakumari district) and Sivalaya Ottam. They detail the social and historical significance of these temples, and also the system of land governance that was centered on them.

He published the Mudhaliyar palm leaf manuscripts (found in Mudhaliyar house, Azhagiyapandipuram; detailing 10 centuries’s record of administrative history), which are among the primary sources for Kanyakumari’s history, with commentaries based on his research.

“Written history can be considered a sort of mainstream history. People’s history is seldom written down; it only prevails in their orally transmitted stories and traditions. It was this alternative history that he brought out and recorded through his studies on folklore,” says writer Jeyamohan about Dr. A.K.Perumal.