Hephzibah Jesudasan

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: ஹெப்சிபா ஜேசுதாசன் ‎

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.

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.

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.

Perosnal 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A History of Tamil literature written by Hephzibah Jesudasan along with her husband Jesudasan, provides a critical overview of the Tamil literature.

Awards

• Vilakku award (2002)

Publications

Novels

• Puthamveedu (1964)
• Doctor Chellappa (1967)
• Anaadhai (1978)
• Maa-nee (1982)

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)

Kids Books

• Titbits for Tiny Tots
• Story Time Darlings

Translations

• Songs of The Cuckoo and Other Poems (Bharathiyars kuyil paatu)

Translated Books

• Puthamveedu translated in Malayalam
• Puthamveedu translated in English - "Lissy’s Legacy"

References

• Hephzibah Jesudasan interview
• Vedhasagayakumar remebers
• Vilakku award ceremony for Hephzibah Jesudasan
• A.Ramasamy on Hephzibah Jesudasan novels
• Hepzhibah's novels: TheHindu

Links

• A critics recommendation on Tamil novels | WriterJeyamohan (jeyamohan.in)

• 100 Best novels | S.Ramakrishnan (sramakrishnan.com)