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Ilakkuvanar

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இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: இலக்குவனார்

Ilakkuvanar
Portrait of Ilakkuvanar

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's first book when he wrote it while he was a student

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".

Ilakkuvanar speaking, near by K. Appadurai

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

Ilakkuvanar when he was young

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. 1952 to 1955 in Pudukottai, Ilakkuvanar conducted Thirukkural classes every Sunday in the Thirukkural Kazhagam created by B.A. Subramanianar.

In the academic year 1955-1956, Ilakkuvanar was the Headmaster of Thiruverumpur Mukulathor High School, from 1956 to 1958 he was a Tamil Lecturer at Kasana College, Erode, from 1958 to 1961 he was the the Head of Tamil Department at D.T. Hindu College in Nagercoil, Head of Tamil Department at Thiyagarasa Arts College, Madurai from 1961 to 1965, Head of Tamil Department at Madras State College and Head of Tamil Department at Osmania University, Hyderabad. Ilakkuvanar worked as the principal of Nagercoil D.T. Hindu College till December 31, 1970 before retiring. M. Karunanidhi, R. Nallakannu, K. Venkatasubramaniam, R. Kalimuthu, Meera, Inkulab, M. Mehta were some of the known people who studied Tamil under him.

Journalism

  • The weekly "Sanga Ilakkiyam" which ran from 1944 to 1947, spread Sangam literature among the masses, which was considered only for the poets. He introduced Sangam Literature in the form of short stories and as Oranga dramas (One-Act-Plays).
  • Ilakkiyam (Twice Monthly) is an Independent Tamil Movement magazine from Virudhunagar.
  • Dravida Kootarasu is a journal of Dravidian movement politics published from Tanjore. It was also published as a daily newspaper for seven months from May 1965.
  • Kuralneri came out from Madurai. This is a book that promotes Thirukkural.
  • Ilakkuvanar has also brought out English versions of his magazine under the names Dravidan Federation and Kurnlneri.

Politics

Ilakkuvanar learned Dravidian movement principles from his teacher Sami Chidambaranar in his youth. He also became an ardent supporter of E.V. Ramasamy. He wrote articles in the Kudiyarasu magazine during his school days. Ilakkuvanar was arrested on February 1, 1965, charged with fourteen charges including attempting to kill ministers during the anti-Hindi war that began on January 25, 1965. After a month and a week of imprisonment, he was released with an order not to leave Thirunagar and to be 'imprisoned at any time'. In the general election held in the year 1952 in Virudhu Nagar Constituency, Ilakkuvanar campaigned in support of G.T. Naidu who contested against K. Kamaraj. Due to this he was expelled from Virudhu Nagar College. He wrote a poem called 'Thurathapatten</>' on being expelled.

Ilakkuvanar Walking for a cause

On May 5, 1965, Ilakkuvanar planned a Tamil rights march from Kanyakumari to Chennai with the demand that Tamil should be made the medium of instruction in colleges and at all levels just like how Tamil was made the medium of instruction in high schools. So on May 1, 1965, Ilakkuvanar was arrested under the National Security Act and imprisoned in Vellore Jail for three and a half months. As a result, he was removed from his post as a Tamil professor in Thiyagaraja College, Madurai.

Organizational Works

On August 6, 1962, in the town Thirunagar next to Madurai, Ilakkuvanar started Tamil Preservation Society with the aim '</>Tamilmozhi Vaaznthaal Tamilagam Vaazum</>'. Ilakkuvanar became the president of this association and R. Ilangumaran was made General Secretary. This association worked with four action plans 'Tamizhilil Pesuga! Tamizhilil Ezhuthuga! Tamizhilil Peyariduga! Tamizhilil Payilga!</>'.

The Fighting Story of My Life

Literary Works

Ilakkuvanar is primarily a cultural activist. He was associated with the independent Tamil movement and continued to fight in the anti-Hindi war. In between he continued to write. He wrote a number of explanatory texts with the aim of introducing Sangam literature and Thirukkural to the general public. Ilakkuvanar's Tholkappiyam translation and Tholkappiyam research are considered important in the field of literature. One of the foremost personalities of the cultural movement called Tamiliyam. Ilakkuvanar is said to be on par with Devaneya Paavaanar.

Demise

Ilakkuvanar died on September 3, 1973 due to diabetes.

Memoirs, Biographies

In the line of Indiya Ilakkiya Sirpigal, Maramalai Ilakkuvanar has written a biography of his father Ilakkuvanar (Web Library).

Literary Significance

Life of Ilakkuvanar, The Book

Ilakkuvanar's primary contributions to Literature are of Tholkappiyam translation to English and creation of Tamil vocabulary for art. Ilakkuvanar had the same vision and function of Devaneya Paavaanar.

Books

  • Ezhilarasi Allathu Kathalin Vettri (Seiyyul) (1933)
  • Manavar Aatrupadai (Seiyyul)
  • Thurathappatten (1952) (Seiyyul)
  • Tamizhisai Paadalgal (Seiyyul)
  • En Vazhkkai Por (Autobiography) (1972)
  • Amaichar Yaar? (Research) (1949)
  • Ammoovanar (Research)
  • Ellorum Innaattu Mannar - Part 1 (Research) (>1956)
  • Ellorum Innaattu Mannar - Part 2 (Research) (>1956)
  • Thirukkural Ezhiya Pozhippurai (Vilakkavurai)
  • Thokappiya Vizhakkam (Vilakkavurai)
  • Maamoolanar Kaathar Kaatchigal (Vilakkavurai) (>1956)
  • Valluvar Vagutha Arasiyal (Research)
  • Valluvar Kanda Illaram (Research)
  • Ilakkiya Koorum Tamizhar Vaazviyal (Research)
  • Karumaveerar Kamarasar (History)
  • Annavukku Paaviyal Vazhuthu (Seiyyul)
  • Pazhantamil
  • Tamil Karpikkum Murai (Research)
  • Tholkappiya Aaraichi (1961) (Research)
  • Sanga Ilakkiya Solloviyangal (1990)
English
  • Tholkappiyam in English with Critical Studies
  • Tamil Language (1959)
  • The Making of Tamil Grammar
  • Brief Study of Tamil words

References

Notes

  1. Indiya Ilakkiya Sirpigal C. Ilakkuvanar: Maramalai Ilakkuvanar: Internet Archive


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