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{{Read Tamil|Name of target page=ஹெப்சிபா ஜேசுதாசன்|Title of target page=ஹெப்சிபா ஜேசுதாசன்}}
{{Read Tamil|Name of target page=ஹெப்சிபா ஜேசுதாசன்|Title of target page=ஹெப்சிபா ஜேசுதாசன்}}
 
[[File:Hepsibhah jesudasan.jpg|thumb|Hephzibah Jesudasan]]
Hepzhibah Jesudasan (1925 - February 2012) was the author of Puthamveedu, a notable realistic novel in Tamil. She wrote and published a history of Tamil literature in English. She was an English professor married to professor Jesudasan.  
Hepzhibah Jesudasan (1925 - 9 February 2012) was the author of ''Puthamveedu'' (translated into English as Lissy's Legacy), a notable novel in the realm of realistic Tamil literature. Hepzhibah Jesudasan also authored a four volume series on the history of Tamil literature, which she wrote in English. She was an English professor and was married to [[Professor Jesudasan]].  
== Birth and Education ==
== Birth and Education ==
Hepzhibah Jesudasan was born in 1925 in Burma. Her native was Pulipunam in Kanyakumari district. Her family had a background in education. Her grandfather held a B.A degree and worked as head master in L.M.S boys higher secondary school in Marthandam. Later, he resigned from his job and became a pastor. Her maternal grandmother was a teacher in L.M.S girls primary school who was also a pastor. Hephzibah's father worked as teacher in a government school in northern Burma. She had a sister.  
Hepzhibah Jesudasan was born in 1925 in Burma. A native of Pulipunam in Kanyakumari district, she came from a well-educated family. Her grandfather held a B.A degree and worked as head master in L.M.S Boys Higher Secondary School in Marthandam. Later, he resigned from his job and became a pastor. Her mother's grandmother, who was a teacher in L.M.S Girls Primary School, was also a pastor. Hephzibah Jesudasan's father worked as teacher in a government school in northern Burma. She had a younger sister.  


During World War II, her family left Burma and settled in Nagercoil. She studied at Duthie Higher Secodndary School, Nagercoil. She was a favorite student of Madam Duthie, who wanted Hephzibah to become an English writer. She passed out as state first when she studied intermediate at Scott Christian College, Nagercoil. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degree in English at University of Thiruvanathapuram.  
During World War II, her family left Burma and settled in Nagercoil. Hephzibah Jesudasan studied at Duthie Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil. She was a favorite student of Madam Duthie, who wanted her to become an English writer. Hephzibah Jesudasan stood first in the state, in intermediate education (i.e. 11th and 12th grades), which she completed at Scott Christian College, Nagercoil. Later, she obtained her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English at University of Thiruvananthapuram.  
== Perosnal Life ==
== Personal Life ==
Hebzhibah married Jesudasan, a Tamil professor. Though Jesudasan had expertise and interest in Tamil literature, he intended to showcase his wife's talents. He encouraged her to write a novel. Hephzibah and Jesudasan had two sons, Nambi and Thambi Thangakumar and a daughter Puvi. Thambi Thangakumar worked as college professor.  
Hebzhibah Jesudasan married [[Professor Jesudasan|C. Jesudasan]], a Tamil professor. Though [[Professor Jesudasan]] was a great scholar and connoisseur of Tamil literature himself, nurturing and showcasing his wife's talents came to be his sole aim. He encouraged her to write a novel. The couple had two sons, Nambi and Thambi Thangakumar and a daughter, Puvi. Thambi Thangakumar also became a college professor.  


Hephzibah worked as an English professor in Women's college in Thiruvananthapuram. She taught English to the royal family of Thiruvananthapuram. Hephzibah was a devout Christian and she spent most of her final years in religious service.
Hephzibah Jesudasan worked as an English professor in Women's College (now Government College for Women) in Thiruvananthapuram. She worked as an English tutor for Thiruvananthapuram's royal family. Hephzibah Jesudasan was a devout Christian and she spent most of her final years in religious service.
== Literary Life ==
== Literary Life ==
Hephzibah's first novel was Puthamveedu (1964). Her husband Jesudasan encouraged her to write it. The novel told the love story of a simple young Nadar girl called Lissy. It was published by Tamil Puthagalayam run by Gana.Muthiah. She also authored the novels Maa-nee, Anaadhai and Doctor Chellapa. She wrote spiritual notes in English titled Grandma's Notebook. Maa-nee was a novel about her childhood in Burma.  
''Puthamveedu'' (1964) was Hephzibah Jesudasan's debut novel, the primary impetus for which came from [[Professor Jesudasan]], her husband. The novel told the love story of Lissy, a simple young girl who belonged to the Nadar caste. It was published by ''Tamil Puthagalayam,'' run by K.N. Muthiah. Hephzibah Jesudasan also authored the novels ''Maanee, Anaadhai'' and ''Doctor Chellapa''. She wrote short spiritual essays in English, titled ''Grandma's Notebook''. ''Maanee'' was a novel about her childhood in Burma.
 
Hephzibah Jesudasan wrote Countdown from Solomon: The Tamils Down The Ages Through Their Literature, a four volume series about the history of Tamil literature. It was written in English and spanned Sangam literature, Bhakti literature, Kamban and the post-Kamban era. Hephzibah Jesudasan authored this with the help of her husband, [[Professor Jesudasan]]. This work was founded on both the aesthetics as well as the moral codes propounded in the texts of the respective periods. Hephzibah Jesudasan translated ''Nedunalvaadai'' into English. She also translated Bharthiyar's ''Kuyil Paatu'' into English.
== Literary Significance ==
''Puthamveedu'' written by Hephzibah Jesudasan is one of the important novels in Tamil literature. It is a book that tells the story of how, Lissy, a girl born in the Nadar caste, succeeds in love despite several obstacles, in a direct manner. The simplicity of prose and its realism are what elevate the novel. Written at a time when most novels were set in the Brahmin milieu, ''Puthamveedu'' presented the impact of education and modernization in the lives of rural Pannayeri Nadars, a sub-caste of the Nadar community traditionally engaged in palm-tree climbing, with great precision. Written in an era when the usage of regional dialects in novels was frowned upon, a one-of-its-kind novel, ''Puthamveedu'' became a precursor to many more works in the genre. [[Sundara Ramaswamy]] considered ''Puthamveedu'' as one of the best novels written in Tamil.  


She wrote a four part series about Tamil literature (Sanga ilakiyam, Bakthi ilakiyam, Kamban, Kambanuku pin).In English she wrote a book about the same subjects titled "Countdown from Solomon: The Tamils down the ages through their literature". This was written with the help of her husband Jesudasan. This history of literature was written on the basis of aesthetics and moral values propounded in the texts. She translated Nedunalvaadai in English. She also translated Bharthiyar's Kuyil Paatu.
''Puthamveedu'' in the words of writer and critic [[Jeyamohan]]<ref>https://www.jeyamohan.in/84/</ref>: 'This novel, that has given us a village love story in simple, direct prose, underscores the ability of literature to make us take an honest look at ourselves, by sidestepping the pretense that marks populist Tamil writing. Through the unexaggerated portrayal of Lissy, it becomes possible to not only see the personality of Lissy, but also how ''Irserippu'' (the practice of disallowing a girl of marriageable age to step out of the house) is nurtured in the rural social fabric.' The novel also features in Jeyamohan's list of 100 best Tamil novels written before the year 2000. [[S.Ramakrishnan]] too has included ''Puthamveedu'' in his '100 best novels' list<ref>https://www.sramakrishnan.com/%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D/</ref>.  
== Literature Aesthetics ==
Puthamveedu written by Hephzibah Jesudasan is one of the important novels in Tamil. Its a love story of Lissy, a naive girl born in the Nadar caste and how she succeeded despite opposition. The simplicity and authenticity of the story makes it an important novel. At that time most novels were set against a Brahmin background. In contrast, this novel precisely narrates how education and modernization affected a young girl from Panaiyerum Nadar caste in a village. Puthamveedu was written at the time when novels written in local dialects were summarily rejected. It was thus an important forerunner in this genre. Sundara Ramaswamy considered this novel to be  one of the best novels written in Tamil.  


Jeyamohan writes about the novel as follows: The novel narrated a village love story in simple language proves the ability of the literature to see oneself unlike the commercial hypocrisy in Tamil. Crisp narration with no exaggerations displays not only the personality of Lissy, but also the wish to take care of the family in village social life. Jeyamohan included this in 100 best novels list before 2000. S.Ramakrishnan included this in 100 best novels list. The novel Doctor Chellappa by Hephzibah raises existential questions through narrating life of a educated young man under quite ordinary circumstances. It is considered as first existential novel in Tamil.  
Hephzibah Jesudasan's novel, ''Doctor Chellappa'', raised existential questions by juxtaposing the life of an educated young man against his ordinary circumstances. It is considered to be the first existential novel in Tamil.  


A History of Tamil literature written by Hephzibah Jesudasan along with her husband Jesudasan, provides a critical overview of the Tamil literature.  
The history of Tamil literature, authored by Hephzibah Jesudasan with the help of her husband [[Professor Jesudasan]], presents a comprehensive and critical view of the entirety of Tamil literature.  
== Awards ==
== Awards ==
* Vilakku award (2002)
* Vilakku Award (2002)
== Publications ==
== Publications ==
===== Novels =====
===== Tamil Novels =====
* Puthamveedu (1964)
* ''Puthamveedu'' (1964)
* Doctor Chellappa (1967)
* Doctor Chellappa (1967)
* Anaadhai (1978)
* ''Anaadhai'' (1978)
* Maa-nee (1982)
* ''Maanee'' (1982)
===== English =====
===== Works in English =====
* Countdown from Solomon: The Tamils down the ages through their literature
* Countdown from Solomon: The Tamils Down The Ages Through Their Literature
** Vol. 1 Caṅkam and the aftermath (1999)
** Vol. 1 Caṅkam and the aftermath (1999)
** Vol. 2 Bhakti, ethics and epics (1999)
** Vol. 2 Bhakti, ethics and epics (1999)
** Vol. 3 Kampan, 2001
** Vol. 3 Kampan, 2001
** Vol. 4 13th - 20th century A.D.
** Vol. 4 13th - 20th century A.D.
 
* An Early Sheaf (poems)
* An early Sheaf (poems)
* Sky Lights (poems)
* Sky Lights (poems)
* en-Exercises (essays)
* en-Exercises (essays)
===== Kids Books =====
===== Children's Books =====
* Titbits for Tiny Tots
* Titbits for Tiny Tots
* Story Time Darlings
* Story Time Darlings
===== Translations =====
===== Translations by Hepzibah Jesudasan =====
* Songs of The Cuckoo and Other Poems (Bharathiyars kuyil paatu)
* Songs of The Cuckoo and Other Poems (Bharathiyar's ''Kuyil Paatu'')
===== Translated Books =====
===== Works of Hepzibah Jesudasan translated into other languages =====
* Puthamveedu translated in Malayalam
* ''Puthamveedu'' translated into Malayalam
* Puthamveedu translated in English - "Lissy’s Legacy"
* Lissy’s Legacy (''Puthamveedu'' translated into English)
== References ==
== References ==
* [https://azhiyasudargal.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-post_05.html Hephzibah Jesudasan interview]
* [https://azhiyasudargal.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-post_05.html Hephzibah Jesudasan interview]
* [http://kungumam.co.in/ThArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=4511&id1=84&issue=20180201 Vedhasagayakumar remebers]
* [http://kungumam.co.in/ThArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=4511&id1=84&issue=20180201 Vedhasagayakumar remembers]
* [https://www.jeyamohan.in/132/ Vilakku award ceremony for Hephzibah Jesudasan]  
* [https://www.jeyamohan.in/132/ Vilakku award ceremony for Hephzibah Jesudasan]  
* [https://www.geotamil.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=632:2012-02-11-05-21-39&catid=2:2011-02-25-12-52-49&Itemid=19 A.Ramasamy on Hephzibah Jesudasan novels]
* [https://www.geotamil.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=632:2012-02-11-05-21-39&catid=2:2011-02-25-12-52-49&Itemid=19 A.Ramasamy on Hephzibah Jesudasan novels]
* [https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/penn-indru/152211-16-4.html Hepzhibah's novels: TheHindu]
* [https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/penn-indru/152211-16-4.html Hepzhibah's novels: TheHindu]
== Links ==
== Footnotes ==
* [https://www.jeyamohan.in/84/ A critics recommendation on Tamil novels | WriterJeyamohan (jeyamohan.in)]
<references />
 
* [https://www.sramakrishnan.com/%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D/ 100 Best novels | S.Ramakrishnan (sramakrishnan.com)]


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[[Category:English Content]]
[[Category:English Content]]

Latest revision as of 20:06, 12 July 2023

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: ஹெப்சிபா ஜேசுதாசன் ‎

Hephzibah Jesudasan

Hepzhibah Jesudasan (1925 - 9 February 2012) was the author of Puthamveedu (translated into English as Lissy's Legacy), a notable novel in the realm of realistic Tamil literature. Hepzhibah Jesudasan also authored a four volume series on the history of Tamil literature, which she wrote in English. She was an English professor and was married to Professor Jesudasan.

Birth and Education

Hepzhibah Jesudasan was born in 1925 in Burma. A native of Pulipunam in Kanyakumari district, she came from a well-educated family. Her grandfather held a B.A degree and worked as head master in L.M.S Boys Higher Secondary School in Marthandam. Later, he resigned from his job and became a pastor. Her mother's grandmother, who was a teacher in L.M.S Girls Primary School, was also a pastor. Hephzibah Jesudasan's father worked as teacher in a government school in northern Burma. She had a younger sister.

During World War II, her family left Burma and settled in Nagercoil. Hephzibah Jesudasan studied at Duthie Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil. She was a favorite student of Madam Duthie, who wanted her to become an English writer. Hephzibah Jesudasan stood first in the state, in intermediate education (i.e. 11th and 12th grades), which she completed at Scott Christian College, Nagercoil. Later, she obtained her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English at University of Thiruvananthapuram.

Personal Life

Hebzhibah Jesudasan married C. Jesudasan, a Tamil professor. Though Professor Jesudasan was a great scholar and connoisseur of Tamil literature himself, nurturing and showcasing his wife's talents came to be his sole aim. He encouraged her to write a novel. The couple had two sons, Nambi and Thambi Thangakumar and a daughter, Puvi. Thambi Thangakumar also became a college professor.

Hephzibah Jesudasan worked as an English professor in Women's College (now Government College for Women) in Thiruvananthapuram. She worked as an English tutor for Thiruvananthapuram's royal family. Hephzibah Jesudasan was a devout Christian and she spent most of her final years in religious service.

Literary Life

Puthamveedu (1964) was Hephzibah Jesudasan's debut novel, the primary impetus for which came from Professor Jesudasan, her husband. The novel told the love story of Lissy, a simple young girl who belonged to the Nadar caste. It was published by Tamil Puthagalayam, run by K.N. Muthiah. Hephzibah Jesudasan also authored the novels Maanee, Anaadhai and Doctor Chellapa. She wrote short spiritual essays in English, titled Grandma's Notebook. Maanee was a novel about her childhood in Burma.

Hephzibah Jesudasan wrote Countdown from Solomon: The Tamils Down The Ages Through Their Literature, a four volume series about the history of Tamil literature. It was written in English and spanned Sangam literature, Bhakti literature, Kamban and the post-Kamban era. Hephzibah Jesudasan authored this with the help of her husband, Professor Jesudasan. This work was founded on both the aesthetics as well as the moral codes propounded in the texts of the respective periods. Hephzibah Jesudasan translated Nedunalvaadai into English. She also translated Bharthiyar's Kuyil Paatu into English.

Literary Significance

Puthamveedu written by Hephzibah Jesudasan is one of the important novels in Tamil literature. It is a book that tells the story of how, Lissy, a girl born in the Nadar caste, succeeds in love despite several obstacles, in a direct manner. The simplicity of prose and its realism are what elevate the novel. Written at a time when most novels were set in the Brahmin milieu, Puthamveedu presented the impact of education and modernization in the lives of rural Pannayeri Nadars, a sub-caste of the Nadar community traditionally engaged in palm-tree climbing, with great precision. Written in an era when the usage of regional dialects in novels was frowned upon, a one-of-its-kind novel, Puthamveedu became a precursor to many more works in the genre. Sundara Ramaswamy considered Puthamveedu as one of the best novels written in Tamil.

Puthamveedu in the words of writer and critic Jeyamohan[1]: 'This novel, that has given us a village love story in simple, direct prose, underscores the ability of literature to make us take an honest look at ourselves, by sidestepping the pretense that marks populist Tamil writing. Through the unexaggerated portrayal of Lissy, it becomes possible to not only see the personality of Lissy, but also how Irserippu (the practice of disallowing a girl of marriageable age to step out of the house) is nurtured in the rural social fabric.' The novel also features in Jeyamohan's list of 100 best Tamil novels written before the year 2000. S.Ramakrishnan too has included Puthamveedu in his '100 best novels' list[2].

Hephzibah Jesudasan's novel, Doctor Chellappa, raised existential questions by juxtaposing the life of an educated young man against his ordinary circumstances. It is considered to be the first existential novel in Tamil.

The history of Tamil literature, authored by Hephzibah Jesudasan with the help of her husband Professor Jesudasan, presents a comprehensive and critical view of the entirety of Tamil literature.

Awards

  • Vilakku Award (2002)

Publications

Tamil Novels
  • Puthamveedu (1964)
  • Doctor Chellappa (1967)
  • Anaadhai (1978)
  • Maanee (1982)
Works in English
  • Countdown from Solomon: The Tamils Down The Ages Through Their Literature
    • Vol. 1 Caṅkam and the aftermath (1999)
    • Vol. 2 Bhakti, ethics and epics (1999)
    • Vol. 3 Kampan, 2001
    • Vol. 4 13th - 20th century A.D.
  • An Early Sheaf (poems)
  • Sky Lights (poems)
  • en-Exercises (essays)
Children's Books
  • Titbits for Tiny Tots
  • Story Time Darlings
Translations by Hepzibah Jesudasan
  • Songs of The Cuckoo and Other Poems (Bharathiyar's Kuyil Paatu)
Works of Hepzibah Jesudasan translated into other languages
  • Puthamveedu translated into Malayalam
  • Lissy’s Legacy (Puthamveedu translated into English)

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ https://www.jeyamohan.in/84/
  2. ↑ https://www.sramakrishnan.com/%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D/

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