Ilakkuvanar
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: இலக்குவனார்
Ilakkuvanar (November 17, 1909 – September 3, 1973) was a Tamil scholar, Researcher on Grammar, Professor. He translated the Tholkappiyam into English. He was active in Independent Tamil Movement and also a supporter of the Dravidian movement.
Birth, Education
Ilakkuvanar was born on November 17, 1909 (Thiruvalluvarandu 1940, Karthikaith Month, 1st day) as the second son of Singkaravelu Pillai, a small landowner and a grocer owner and Rathinathachi couple, in Vaimedu, a small town near Tiruthuraipundi in the then Thanjavur district (today's Nagapattinam district) of Tamil Nadu. He lost his father at the age of four.
Ilakkuvanar had his initial education from Thinnai Pallikoodam (Direct schooling from the teachers in front of their houses) from Subbaiah & later Kannusamy teacher in Vaimedu. Later, the schooling of Ilakkuvanar, who was studying from class three to class five at a government primary school in Vaimedu, was suspended. He helped his elder brother Nallaperumal in looking after the farm fields and tending the cows. At the initiative of his mother, with the help of his cousin Sathasivam Pillai, he started his studies in 1924 in the middle school of Thanjavur Sarabhoji King's Trust at Rajamadam in the fifth grade. There, when he studied in the eighth grade, his name Lakshmanan given by his parents was changed by his Tamil teacher, Sami Chidambaranar, to "Ilakkuvan".
In 1924, Ilakkuvanar attended high school in Orathanad, through the trust setup by King's Saraboji. He studied at Thiruvaiyaru King's College and graduated in 1936. While studying there, Ilakkuvanar was elected as the secretary of the Thiruvalluvar Student Union of the college. According to the rules laid down by the University of Madras on that day, he was awarded the BOL (Bachelor of Oriental Learning) degree as he passed the English subject in the second division in intermediate class and BA class. Ilakkuvanar passed the English exams while doing teaching work and got his M.A. English degree. Later, Ilakkuvanar researched on the topic of Origins and Growth of Tamil Language and received MOL (Master of Oriental Learning) degree in Eastern languages.
While working at Thiyagaraja College, Madurai, Ilakkuvanar translated Tholkappiyam into English and presented a thesis titled Tholkappiyam in English with critical studies and received his doctorate in 1963. Due to his various works and layoffs, he was only able to get his doctorate at the age of 53.
Personal Life
While working as a teacher in Nanilam, Ilakkuvanar married Pattammal. Since Pattammal passed away at a young age, he married Malarkodi in an anti-caste marriage when he was working as a teacher in Tiruthani. Later he also married Pattammal's sister Neelakandeswari.
Ilakkuvanar had 11 children with the names of Thiruvelan, Maraimalai, Thiruvengadam, Thiruvalluvan, Mathiyazhagi, Nallaperumal, Selvamani, Nagavalli, Angaiarkanni, Arutselvi & Ambalavanan. Among them, Maramalai Ilakkuvanar and Thiruvalluvan Ilakkuvanar are Tamil scholars.
Educational Works
After graduating from Thiruvaiyaru King's College, Ilakkuvanar worked in the college for some time. He worked as a Tamil teacher in Tanjore District Board High Schools from June 1936 to 1942. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a lecturer at Thiruvaiyaru King's College and was appointed as the Principal of the Tamil College in Kulasekarapattinam started by S.T. Nayakam who was one of the leaders of the self-respect movement of that time. Ilakkuvanar worked as a Tamil teacher in many towns like Kudavasal, Nannilam, Tiruvarur. Ilakkuvanar worked as a Tamil Lecturer in Thirunelveli The Madurai Diraviyam Thayumanavar Hindu College and in V.E. Senthirkumara Nadar college as a Head of Tamil Department, which was started in Virudhunagar on 1947.
