Na. Parthasarathy
N. Parthasarathy (Na. Parthasarathy) (December 18, 1932 - December 13, 1987) was a writer, editor, publisher and journalist who wrote short stories, social novels, historical novels, drama, essays, Q&A, travelogs and criticisms. He is also known as ‘Deepam’ Na. Parthasarathy.
Birth, Education
N. Parthasarathy was born in Nathikudi, a village about 9 kilometers away from Srivilliputhur of Virudhunagar district on December 18, 1932. After schooling he got the ‘Pundit’ degree bagging the Madurai Tamil Sangam’s Pandithurai Thevar Prize. He also got the ‘Vithvan’ degree from Chennai University. After he was 45 he joined evening classes (1977-1979) in Pachaiyappan College, Chennai and obtained M.A in Tamil literature. Having T. Muthukannappar as the guide he submitted his M.Phil theses on ‘Architecture and city planning of Ancient Tamis’ on July 30, 1987. But he passed away before he could be awarded the doctorate. He also knew English, Sanskrit and Hindi languages.
Private Life
N. Parthasarathy’s wife was Sundaravalli. He has a son named Narayanan. His four daughters were named Poorani, Bharathu, Meera and Nithya. For some time he worked as teacher in a primary school. From 1959 he worked as Tamil teacher in Madurai Sethupathi High School.
Political Work
N. Parthasarathy was a member of the Indian National Congress (Organisation) headed by Kamaraj. He became unaffiliated after the death of Kamaraj. He appeared meetings organized by nationalist movements such as R.S.S and spoke about the need for Nationalism between 1970-71 and 1978-79.
Journalism
N. Parthasarathy joined as sub-editor in Kalki on invitation from the editor Sathasivam. Then from October, 04, 1979 he edited Dinamani Kathir weekly and Kalaikathir. In April 1965, he resigned from Kalki and started ‘Deepham’ magazine. He was the managing editor for it for 23 years till 1987, by this he also came to be known as ‘Deepham’ Na. Parthasarathy. Dheeran, Aravinthan, Ponmudi, Valavan, Manivannan, Kadalazhakan, Ilampooranan and Sengulam Veerasinga Kavirayar were his various pen names.
Appointments, Travels
He was appointed as the Head of and Organiser of Sahitya Accademy’s Tamil consulting group. He also held positions such as judge in National Film Festivals, member of the financial committee for films, member of Cooperative of Tamil Writers. He had travelled to Russia, Poland, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Rome, Egypt and Kuwait and written travelogues about his trips. These travelogues have been published in books of two volumes.
Literary Work
Na. Parthasarathy’s first novel was Kurinji Malar. When he was with Kalki he wrote 93 books including short stories and novelas. Many of his novels are noteable including ‘Poi Mukangal’, ‘Mulvelikal’, ‘Sunatnthira Kanavukal’, ‘Kurinji Malar’, ‘Ponvilangku’, ‘Thulasi Madam’, ‘Manipallavam’, ‘Nithilavali’, ‘Pandimadhevi’ and ‘Rani Mangamal’. Kurinji Malar and Ponvilangu, which were long stories, were made into television serieses. The names Aravinthan and Poorani which were names of characters from Kurinji Malar became popular among the readers. His novel ‘Sayangala Mehangal’ won the best novel award from Tamil Development Department in 1983. 51 books of Na. Parthasarathy were nationalised.
Place in literature
With simple and flowing narrative N. Parthasarathy’s works were focusing on self improvement and social reform. Most of his works talk about idealistic characters who attempt to resolve contemporary social issues. The protagonist is usually an idealist. Sundaram Ramasamy has written his experiences with N. Parthasarathy in the book ‘Na. Parthasarathy Ninaivodai’. Though he attracted many readers, presented appealing subjects in an appealing way, made people read and became popular N. Parthasarathy is noted as a commercial-entertainment writer by Jeyamohan.
Awards
- Sahitya Academy (1971) - Samuthaya Veethi (Novel)
- Raja Sir Annamalai Ilakiya Parisu - Thulasi Madam (Novel) (Serialised in Kalki between June 1978 and January 1979)
- Prize from Tamil Nadu Government (Sayangala Mehangal - Novel)
Works
Social novels
- Pirantha Man
- Karsuvarkal
- Netrikan
- Neela Nayanangal
- Nenja Kanal
- Thulasi Madam
- Poi Mugangal
- Ponvilangu
- Athmavin Rahangal
- Nisaptha Sangeetham
- Kurinji Malar
- Samuthaya Veethi
- Paddup Poochi
- Sayangala Mehangal
- Sathiya Vellam
- Sunthara Kanavukal
- Kopura Dheepam
- Moolakanal
- Anichamalar
Novellas
- Malaichiharam
- Diplomat
- Entro Orunal
- Meham moodiya malaikalukku appaal
- Manakkan
- Pookalai yarum mithika koodathu
- Varaverpu
- Ilaiyuthir kalaththu iravukal
- Inru puthithay piranthom
- Sila niyayangalai patriya kathai
- Ninaivin nizhalkal
- Thoongum ninaivukal
- Seythikal
- Prayanamm
- Oru vazhikatikku
- Kala samuththiram thanvazhi theriyavillai
- Makathmavai Theydi
- Poopola oru penn
- Narpathu kodi yezhaikal
- Neerkolam
Short novels
- Puthumugam
- Mulvelikal
- Sulatchana kathalikiral
- Sulabha
- Pargavi labam thrukiral
- Anugraha
- Unarchikalin Urvalam
- Poopola manasu
- Vellam vadinthapin
Historical Short Stories
- Raja gopuram
- Thakadoor yathirai
Historical novels
- Pandimadevi
- Manipallavam
- Kapadapuram
- Vanchimanagaram
- Nithilavalli
- Rani Mangamal
Epic literature
- Arathin kural (prose version of Mahabharatha)
- Vetri Muzhakkam (Prose version of Perungathai, a Tamil epic)
- Kannan kathaikal
Short Story collections
- Nerupu kanikal
- Kothadimaikal
- Mayangkiyathor nilavinile
- Venil malargal
- Oru kaviyin ul ulakangkal
- Pirathipimbam
- Thakaimurai Idaiveli
- Kalathukku vanakkam
- Moovarai ventran
- Puthiya Palam
- Kangai innum vatri vidavillai
- Valampuri sangu
- Ithu pothu vazhi alla
- Devathaikalum sorkalum
- Opuravu
Poetry
- Manivannan kavithaikal
- Poomiyin punnagai
Drama
- Putha njayiru
- Jothaiyin kathal
- Vazhithunai
Essay Compilations
- Sollin selvam
- Mozhiyin Vazhiye
- Kavithai kalai
- Puthiya parvai
- Kadarkarai ninaivukal
- Sinthanai medai
- Sinthanai valam
- Thiranaiyvu selvam
- Kalithohai pari padal kadchikal
Translations
- Sarathsanthirar
- Veeresalingam
- Nanalaal
Travelogues
- Puthu ulagam kanden
- Ezhu nadukal eddu varangal
Research
- Pazhanthamizar kattadak kalaiyum Naharamaippum
