A. Muthuthambi Pillai

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: ஆ.முத்துத்தம்பிப் பிள்ளை ‎

A. Muthuthambi Pillai

A. Muthuthambi Pillai (April 18, 1858 - November 2, 1917) was a Sri Lankan Tamil scholar. He was a history of literary professor and a small literature writer. He was the author of the first Tamil classical Dictionary called Abithana Kosam.

Birth, Education

A. Muthuthambi Pillai was born on April 18, 1858, in Manipay: in the Jaffna peninsula. He was the eldest son of Arumugam Pillai and Seedevi Pillai. His primary education was taught by a teacher named P. S. Page, at the teacher’s house. This later became the Manipay Memorial English School. He later joined Wesleyan Central School, founded by Priest Percival, which is now known as Jaffna Central College. He learnt English from Muthukamarar Chidambaram Pillai, who was the headmaster of that school. He learnt Tamil from Sunnakam Murugesa Pandithar, also popularly known as Illakana Kottar, who has composed songs such as Kudandhai Venba.

Personal Life

Yazhpana Varalaru

In 1876, at the age of eighteen, he went to Nawalapitiya and worked as a teacher for a Ceylon Company Estates officer. In 1880, he went to India; worked as a private teacher in the house of Thiruthuraipoondi Alagiyanathan Chettiar, and taught his children. Later, he worked as the chief clerk and accountant for Anderson & Co, in Nagapattinam.

Later, he became the editor-in-chief of Satyabhimani, a weekly magazine, run by Thavasimuthu Nadar, who lived in Purayaru, Karaikal. The Nadar community donated a sum of money to him; as he quit from Satyabhimani, with which, in 1885, he set up a printing press called Jubilee Press, in Chennai.

In the year 1893, he returned to Jaffna, bought a house in Vannarpannai; where Arumugam Navalar lived, he named the house Navalar Kottam. He set up a bookstore, and a printing press, called Navalar Press, next to it. Hence, he was called Navalar Kottam Muthuthambi Pillai. He also founded a store called Ward & Davy: which sold medicine and grocery. He published a monthly magazine called Vaithiya Visarani for three years.

At the age of 25, he married Thangamma, the eldest daughter of Kandhappar from Sandilipay.

Magazines

• Satyabhimani (1884), weekly magazine (Tamil Nadu)

• Vaithiya Visarani (1897), monthly magazine (Eelam)

Literary Work

In 1898, a Tamil Sangam was established by the son-in-law of Arumugam Navalar and T. Kailasapillai, who had utmost involvement in the son-in-law’s work. A. Muthuthambi Pillai, was also involved. After the formation of the Madurai Fourth Tamil Sangam, by the advancements of Pandithurai Thevar, he worked as an examiner for the examinations conducted by the Sangam. He also wrote articles for their Senthamizh magazine. The articles written by A. Muthuthambi Pillai for this magazine, are an acclaimed forerunner in the Tamil language. It’s a clear representation of his ideologies and perspectives through quizzes.

Among the literature and history of literature novels written by A. Muthuthambi Pillai: Abithana Kosam, a Tamil classical Dictionary, was his first novel. It is considered to be the first dictionary in the Tamil language. Sixteen years of work went into finishing the book. Abithana Kosam was printed and published in 1902; at the Jaffna Navalar Press.

Death

On November 2, 1917, A. Muthuthambi Pillai passed away.

Literary Significance

Primarily, A.Muthuthambi Pillai is considered to be a pioneer in Tamil dictionaries. Abithana Kosam is an eminent work. He is also regarded as a researcher who has paved the path by making the first attempt to understand Tamil literature texts.

Books

• Illangai Sarithra Soosanam
• Illangai Sarithra Soosanam (1883)
• Kalidasa Sarithram (1884)
• Prabodha Chandhrodhaya Vasanam (1889)
• Vivekanandha Swamigal Sorpolivugalin Saaram (1897)
• Abithana Kosam (1902)
• Bharatha Surukkam (1903)
• Nanool Ilakkupodham- Ezhuthadhigaram (1904)
• Nanool Ilakkupodham- Soladhigaram (1905)
• Angila-Angila-Tamil Agaradhi (1907)
• Civilian Tamil Grammar (1912)
• Nanool Udharana Vilakam (1912)
• Yazhpana Sarithiram
• Ilangai Bhoomisathiram (1914)
• Saiva Palabhodham (1916)
• Thenmozhi Varalaru (1920)
• Eelamandala Pulavae Sarithram
• Kalamega Pulavar Sarithram
• Arpudhayogi Sarithram
• Chandrakasam Kadhai
• Shreemathi Annie Besant Samaya Varalaru
• Thiruvasagam (Edition)
• Nikandu 1-5 Thogudhi (Edition)
• Pudhiya Ilakkubodha Pillaipadam (Textbook)
• Pudhiya Ilakkubhodha Palapadam, 1-8 std (Textbook)
• Pudhiya Ilakkubodha Ilakanam, 4-5 std (Textbook)
• Thamilkoppi Sattaveluthu 1-4
• Sentamizh Agaradhi (not published)

References

• ஆ.முத்துத்தம்பிப்பிள்ளை, உரைத்திறன், முத்துக்கமலம் இணையப்பக்கம்
• Muthuthambi Pillai's biography
• A. Muthuthambi Pillai's Thenmozhi Varalaru
• Abithana Kosam Noolaham
• 17ம் - 20ம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் வாழ்ந்த ஈழத்து சிற்றிலக்கியப் புலவர்கள், தொகுப்பு: கனக ஸ்ரீதரன் ஆஸ்திரேலியா|யாழ்ப்பாணச் சரித்திரம் - நாவலர் கோட்டம் ஆ. முத்துத்தம்பிப்பிள்ளை (1912)|சிற்றிலக்கியப் புலவர் அகராதி - ந.வீ.செயராமன் (1983)|இந்துக் கலைக்களஞ்சியம் - கலாகீர்த்தி பொ பூலோகசிங்கம் (1990)
• ஆ. இரா. வேங்கடாசலபதியின் “தமிழ்க் கலைக்களஞ்சியத்தின் கதை” நூலை முன்வைத்து…Arunmozhi Varman –

Notes

• ஆ. முத்துத்தம்பிப் பிள்ளையின் நன்னூல் உரைத்திறன் - முனைவர் மு. சங்கர் | muthukamalam.com

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