K.T. Gandhirajan

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: க.த. காந்திராஜன் ‎

K.T. Gandhirajan (June 5, 1970) (Koundampatti Thangaraj Gandhurajan) is a researcher of ancient rock art and engravings in Tamil Nadu. He was responsible for documenting and bringing the famous Karikiyoor rock art to the attention of the research community.

Birth, education

K.T. Gandhirajan was born on June 5, 1970 to Thangaraj and Veerammal in the village of Goundanpatti (Koundanpatti) in the Usilampatti taluk of Madurai district in Tamil Nadu. He has two siblings, elder sister Meena and younger sister Latha. Meena and Latha are school teachers

K.T. Gandhirajan did his primary schooling at Chengalpattu Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya School and Avinasilingam School in Coimbatore, followed by 10th grade at Theni Nadar Saraswati School and senior grade at Usilambatti Nadar Saraswati School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Devar College, Usilambatti. He studied painting for two years as an integrated preparatory course at Madras Government Arts college. Later he graduated from Kamaraj College, Madurai with a Master's Degree in Art, History and Painting.

At Madras University, Gandhirajan researched Tamil Naicker era paintings for about three years as part of his PhD. He did not complete the dissertation due to differences with his PhD guide.

Personal Life

Gandhirajan married Sumathi in 1998. Sumathi is a teacher. They have a son Hemanth.

Research

K.T. Gandhirajan worked as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Art and History at Madras College of Art from 2001 to 2007. He performed research work on Nayak period wall paintings at Madras Christian College. He also performed field work (2010-2012) documenting rock paintings across India under the Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts.

During the period 2012-2015, he worked as a tour guide for scholars visiting from abroad in the Humanities discipline. Since 2015, he has been working as a research expert at Tamil Virtual Academy.

Training

K.T. Gandhirajan has conducted nine training sessions on art and tradition for students. He has delivered speeches at more than fifteen locations across India.

Exhibitions

K.T. Gandhirajan has coordinated more than fifteen exhibitions including 'Madurai through the Ages' (2011) at Gandhi Museum Madurai, 'Art of Cholas' (2010) at the Thanjavur Millennium Festival, and 'Pre historic rock painting' (2003, 2004) on behalf of the Tamil Department of Chennai University.

Significance

K.T. Gandhirajan is considered an expert on rock art in Madurai and Karikaiyur areas. He has discovered more than fifty five rock paintings, rock carvings and hero stones in Tamil Nadu. The rock paintings of Karikaiyur in the Nilgiris district were presented by Gandhirajan with detailed research notes and brought to the attention of the academic world.

Books

• Keezhadi - Madurai, Sanga kaala thamizhar naagarigam, 2018
• Karikaiyur - Nilgiris paarai oviyangal, kandupidippugal
• Tholliyal - thamizhar varalaatru thadangal, 2018 (Essayist)
• Eru thazhuvudhal jallikkattu, Seminar, 2017 (Essayist)

Documentaries

• Conceptualisation - Rajendra Chola's sea voyages, Tamil Virtual Academy, 2022
• Research - Sathiyil Devaradiyargal, Life and art of Muthukkannammal, Danseuse of Devadasi tradition, Directed by Shanmuganathan, NFDC 2019
• Director, Kannagiyin payanam 2015
• Assistant Director, Kattabommalattam, 2014
• Assistant Director, Kurumbargalin Thenvazhi, 2011
• Assistant Director, Oorum Seerum, 2009
• Assistant Director, Oor (essay)

Links

• Lifestyle of ancient Tamils through rock art, a perspective, K.T. Gandhirajan, Oct 2023
• Recently discovered rock art, K.T. Gandhirajan, Jan 2024
• Karikaiyur rock art, Tagavalaatrupadai, Tamil Virtual Academy
• Karikaiyur rock art, Archaeology officials step in with help from Forest department, Vikatan, June 2019

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✅Finalised Page

First published on: 10-Aug-2024, 22:07:03 IST