M.K. Kovaimani

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: மோ.கோ. கோவைமணி ‎

Professor, Dr. M.K. Kovaimani (Picture Credit: Website of Dr. M. Elangovan: https://muelangovan.blogspot.com/)

Kovaimani

Tamil.wiki Thooran Award 2024

Tamil.wiki Thooran Award 2024, Acceptance Speech - M.K. Kovaimani

M.K. Kovaimani (Born: June 03, 1963) Professor of Tamil, Researcher, Writer, Publisher, Speaker. He worked as the Associate Professor and Head of the Palm Leaf Manuscriptology Department at the Tamil University, Thanjavur. He wrote and published poetry, researched manuscripts on multiple fields. He digitized more than 75% of the palm leaf manuscripts in the Tamil University collections. Government of Tamilnadu has awarded him for his book on manuscriptology.

Kovaimani with his wife

Birth & Education

M.K. Kovaimani was bord on June 03, 1963, in Podaturpet, Thiruvallur District, to M. K. Kothanda Mudaliar and Theivanaiyammal. His given name was Gopal, and it was changed when he was admitted to school. He studied at Podaturpet Government School.

He completed his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at The Presidency college, Chennai. He obtained a post graduate degree in Tamil at Pachaiyappa's College, Chennai. He received Master of Philosophy degree through his research on Amudhabharathi's poetry. He researched on "Naadi Maruthuvam" and obtained Diploma from International Institute of Tamil Studies. He studied Saiva Siddhanta and received a Diploma from Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. He has also received a diploma in computer science from Tamil University.

He did his PhD from Tamil University, Thanjavur, through his research on "Manuscripts published through periodical magazines".

Career - Field of Education

M.K. Kovaimani started his career in 1989 as Project assistant at Tamil University, Thanjavur. After an year of tenure as Project assistant, he worked as Research Assistant until 1992 in provisional role. From 1992 to 2007, he was a full time Research Assistant. He was an Assistant Professor from 2007-2015, Associate Professor from 2015 to 2023. He retired as a Professor.

He wrote five textbooks for diploma courses and certificate courses for distance education programs offered by Tamil University. He wrote a book, "Introduction to Tamil Manuscriptology", for The Open University of Sri Lanka. He wrote four textbooks for undergraduate and masters degrees on Tamil for the Directorate of Distance Education, Alagappa University, Karaikudi.

He introduced a workshop on reading Tamil Palm-leaf manuscripts, within 2 hours of training, for Research students and enthusiasts. He has conducted such workshops for more than 70 universities and collages. He conducted online workshop on reading palm-leaf manuscripts and Manuscriptology, named 'Vaanga, Suvadi Padikkalam�’, for 33 weeks for Tamil Nadu Government Manuscripts Conservation Centre.

Under the guidance of Dr. Kovaimani, 43 students have obtained M.Phil and 9 students obtained PhD.

Dr. M.K. Kovaimani Books (Picture Credit: Website of Dr. M. Elangovan: https://muelangovan.blogspot.com/)

Literary Career

M.K. Kovaimani has written more than 250 research articles on varying fields ranging from Manuscriptology to Computer Science. He was actively involved in field work and collected palm-leaf manuscripts. He wrote books that span genres like poetry, essays, short stories, plays, novels, travelogue. He has written more than 90 books. He has appeared on Tamil television channels and has spoken about Manuscriptology in Malaysian radio.

He wrote several text books for Distance Education. He created video courses for Alagappa University (Karaikkudi) and Tamil University (Thanjavur). Tamil University of Thanjavur has plans to release more than 10 books written by M.K. Kovaimani. He is known for digitizing more than 75% of the manuscripts in the Tamil University.

Kovaimani honored

Organizational Activities

M.K. Kovaimani conducted seminars and conferences at state, national and international levels. He ran online workshops on Manuscriptology.

He was the director of the following seminars and conferences.

1. National Research Seminar and Conference for 200th edition of Thirukkural.
2. Anaithulaga Muthamizh Murugan International Conference.
3. Anaithulaga Bharathiyar Centenary Memorial Conference.

He conducted research projects through funding from University Grants Commission, Government of Tamilnadu, and Tamil University. He organized the research publishing for several manuscripts like Appachimaar Kaviyam, and Kaliyuga Perungaviyam. He created branch sites such as Kovaikkural, Kovai Kavi, Kovai Manam, Kovaichoodi, Kovai Ootru, Kovai Kani, Kovai Poo, and Kovai Paa through his website and published essays.

Journalism

M.K. Kovaimani ran a handwritten magazine named "Jyothi" as editor for three years when he was a student.

Roles and Positions Held

• Member of Advisory Committee, Newborn Youth Trust, Thanjavur
• Treasurer, Alumni Association, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• President, Alumni Association, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Member of Executive Committee, Board of Teaching Staff, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• President, Teachers' Association, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Member of Advisory Committee, Wings, Thanjavur
• Member of Curriculum Committee, Center for Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Curriculum Committee Member and Associate, Department of Palm Leaf Manuscripts, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Member of SAP (2015-2020), Subramanya Bharathiyar Department of Tamil, Pondicherry University
• External Examiner, Bharathidasan University, Trichy.
• External Examiner, Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore
• External Examiner, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli
• External Examiner, Dravida University, Kuppam
• External Examiner, Alagappa University, Karaikkudi.
• Head of the Department, Department of Palm leaf Manuscripts, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Registrar (In Charge), Tamil University, Thanjavur (from 09.07.2021 to 24.12.2021)
• Controller of Examinations (In Charge), Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Coordinator, Manuscripts Conservation Centre, National Mission for Manuscripts, New Delhi
• Chairperson (Tamil), AIIA, CCIM, New Delhi.
• EAP Project Co-Ordinator, Digitization, Cataloguing and Preservation of Palm leaf Manuscripts in the Tamil University, Endangered Archives Program (EAP), British Library, London, November 2019 to April 2023.

Award for the best book

Awards

• M.K. Kovaimani's book on "Palm Leaf Manuscriptology" was awarded the Best book in 2023 by Department of Tamil Development , Government of Tamilnadu.
• Received the Tamil Wiki Thooran Award in 2024.

Significance

M.K. Kovaimani designed convenient methods for training people on Manuscriptology. He has taught hundreds of people from India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka on publishing related to Manuscriptology.He has travelled widely across Tamilnadu, collecting palm leaf manuscripts and digitizing them. He discovered and published rare palm leaf manuscripts from his field research. He collected both Tamil and Sanskrit manuscripts. He published Folk Poetry, Sitrilakkiyam, religious and spiritual books from palm leaf manuscripts. He is known as the foremost researcher, publisher and teacher of palm leaf manuscriptology in Tamil sphere.

Books

• India Kaalakkaṇitam (Indian Chronometry)
• Sidda Maruthuvaththil Naadi
• Tamilum Visaippalakayum (Tamil and the keyboard)
• Paruva Ithazh Suvadippadippu Varalaru
• Paruva Ithazhkalil Suvadi Padippukal
• Sevviyal Tamizh Suvadigal
• Tamizhil Kathaippadal Suvadigal
• Udhayaththoor Pulaimaadathi Varathu
• Kathaippadalgal Moondru
• Ithazh Padhippu Noolgal
• Olaichuvadiyiyal (Palm Leaf Manuscriptology)
• Padhippulagath Thoongal
• Ithazh Padhippu Varalaartril Ithazhgal
• Purananuru Unarththum Vagaiththinai
• Naadi Maruththuvam
• Tamizhum Visaippalakayum
• Aathichoodi Thiravukol
• Ettuthogai Noolgalil Paadaveṟupaadugal
• Naachiyaaramman Kadhai - Suvadippadippum Aayvum
• Tamil Naavalar Saridhai - Suvadippadippum Aayvum
• Muthumaalayamman Kadhai - Suvadippadippum Aayvum
• Padippulaga Thoongal
• Ennum Ezhutthum
• Tamizh Suvadigalil Ezhutthamaithi
• Purananuru Unarththum Vagaithinai
• Tamizh Suvadippadippu Varalaartril Ithazhgalin Pangu
• Tamizh Palkalaikkalaga Olai Suvadigal Attavanai
• Tamizh Suvadi Vilakka Attavanaigal - from collection 6 to collection 10
• Vannacharabam Thandapani Swami Aaivumaalai - 2 collections
• Kumaraguruparar Aaivumaalai - 3 collections
• Tamizhkkadavul Murugan Aaivumaalai - 2 collections
• Thirukkural Aaivumaalai
• India Kalaviyal (Indian Chronology)
• Tirikatukam Moolamum Naattaar Uraiyum
• Mahakavi Bharatiyar Aaivukkovai
• Murugan Ilakkiya Aaivukkovai - Two Collections
• Sevviyal Tamizh Suvadigal (Classic Tamil Manuscripts)
• Uyarvullal - Tamilology Essays
• Suvadiyiyal (Manuscriptology)
• Haiku Ainuru
• Sembulap Peyalneer (Poetry)
• Kanaa Nool
• Kanavu Nool
• Kumarapuri Murugan Mummanikkovai
• Guruparampara Agaval
• Thiruthondar Maalai
• Thiruppullani Thiruvananthal
• Pazhanimalai Vadivelar Pathigam
• Animurukarruppatai - 1
• Animurukarruppatai - 2
• Arul Murukarruppatai - 1
• Arul Murukarruppatai - 2
• Varumurukarruppatai - 1
• Varumurukarruppatai - 2
• Varumurukarruppatai - 3
• Porun Murukarruppatai
• Porul Murukarruppatai
• Iyal Murukarruppatai
• Oru Murukarruppatai
• Saei Murukarruppatai
• Vel Murukarruppatai

References

• M.K. Kovaimani Website
• Website of Dr. M. Elangovan
• Writings and works of Kovaimani, website
• Introduction to manuscriptology: Youtube
• Suvadigalil Ezhuthamaidhi: Youtube
• Interview with Kovaimani, Andhimazhai.com, July 2024
• Interview with Kovaimani, Kurugu
• History of Manuscript publication by Kovaimani, Kurugu

External Links

• Tamil.wiki Thooran Award 2024, Acceptance Speech - M.K. Kovaimani
• Archival records from Digitisation, Cataloguing and Preservation of Palm-leaf Manuscripts in the Tamil University (EAP1217), British Library Digital collection, M.K. Kovaimani

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✅Finalised Page

First published on: 09-Aug-2024, 10:31:19 IST