A. S. Gnanasambanthan

A. S. Gnanasambanthan (1916 - August 7, 2002) was a Tamil scholar and a Saiva scholar. He was a renowned stage speaker and cultural literature researcher.

Birth, Education

A. S. Gnanasambanthan was born in 1916, to a famous Tamil scholar from Arasankudi near Kallanai in the Tiruchirappalli district, Aa. Mu. Saravana Mudaliar, and Sivakami. His father, Aa. Mu. Saravana Mudaliar, was awarded the title Peruncholvilakanaar. He ran a clothing store; that was when he got in touch with Na. Mu. Venkatasamy Nattar. Aa. Mu. Saravana Mudaliar, who was already well versed in literary novels and Kambaramayanam, wrote a commentary on Thiruvilayaadal Puranam, along with Na. Mu. Venkatasamy Nattar, and published it. Later, he worked as a Tamil teacher at the Board High School, Lalgudi. A. S. Gnanasambanthan received his primary education from his father. He completed his secondary education at Board High School, Lalgudi. In 1935, he did his intermediate studies in physics at Annamalai University. A novelist, Somasundara Bharathiar, who was a Tamil professor at Annamalai University, recognized his knowledge and interest in Tamil; he persuaded him to switch from physics to Tamil. While he was studying at this college, he got acquainted with Tamil scholars such as V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, Thiru. Vi. Kalyanasundara Mudaliar , R. Raghava Iyengar and Te. Po. Meenakshisundaranar. He finished his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Tamil at Annamalai University.