Ka. Appadurai
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Ka. Appadurai (June 24, 1907 - May 26, 1989) was a Tamil scholar. Tamil historian and translator. He was called as a polyglot. He was trained in five languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Hindi and English.
Birth, Education
Ka. Appadurai was born on June 24, 1907, in the village of Aralvaimozhi in the Kumari district to Kasinatha Pillai and Muthulakshmi Ammal. After completing his primary education in Aralvaimozhi, he completed his schooling at Nagercoil and obtained his MA in English from Maharaja College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1927. He later obtained his MA in Tamil from University of Travancore. He graduated with B.T. degree from teacher training college, Saidapet. He holds a master’s degree in english literature. He cleared the ‘Visarath’ exam on Hindi language. Around the same period he also learned to read and write in Sanskrit.
Personal Life
Appadurai married Nachiyar in 1937. She dies in two years post marriage. After few years, he married Alamelu. Appadurai has no children. He adopted his sister-in-law’s daughter and raised. The girl died at a young age.
Appadurai has worked in various educational institutions and publishing houses.
- Ka. Appadurai worked as a Hindi teacher from 1937 to 1939 in M.D.T. Hindu college, Tirunelveli.
- He worked as teaching faculty in Pachaiyappan college for a brief period.
- He took up the Headmaster post in Subramaniam Chettiar Gurukulam, Karaikudi. While he was working as the headmaster in the Gurukulam school, Kannadasan studied under him as a student.
- From 1947 to 1949, he worked under Central government’s communication department. During that period, he lost his job with the accusation that he acted against the national unity for writing an english book, ‘The linguistic complexities of India’.
- From 1959 to 1965, he lead the production of Madras university’s English to Tamil dictionary as its chief editor.
- He was a member of Tamil Nadu history committee from 1975 to 1979.
Journalism
Ka. Appadurai has worked for various magazines for a very long period.
- Dravidan
- Justin
- India
- Bharatha Devi
- Cinema Ulagam
- Liberator
- Viduthalai
- Logo Pakaari
- Darus Islam
- Kumaran
- Thendral
Politics
Ka. Appadurai was a nationalist in the early days. While studying in Trivandrum, he has attended anti-British rallies at Puliamoodu junction (now Ayurveda college). Appadurai was one of those who were influenced by Gandhi’s speech when he visited his college. During those days when he was devoted to Mahatma, he wrote poems under the headings, ‘Gandhir Rathina Thirupugazh’, ‘Gandhi Puranam’ and ‘Thaazhthappattor kovil nuzhaivu vizha’.
He took part in the nationwide anti-Hindi protests in 1938-1939 when Hindi was made a compulsory subject in Tamil Nadu. Appadurai and his wife Alamelu ammaiyaar played a major part in the anti-Hindi protests led by E.V. Ramasamy periyar in 1948. Later, he became very close to E.V. Ramasamy Periyar’s moved. He also worked on their magazines.
Literary Life
The names of 170 books have been found to be written by Ka. Appadurai. Five of these books are in English. He has written in various fields including History, Biography, Critical analysis, Short story, Play, Poetry, Dictionary, Subject books, General knowledge, Translations (from Malayalam, English and Hindi to Tamil). Many of his books were published by 'Tamizh Mann' publishers. The Government of Tamil Nadu has nationalized his books.
Ka. Appadurai’s intellectual contribution can be divided into four categories. Journalistic writing, literary research, literature based historical studies and translations.
Journalistic writings
Ka. Appadurai was a supporter of self-respect movement lead by E.V.Ramasamy periyar. He was writing in several magazines such as Dravidan, Justice, India, Bharatha Devi, Cinema Ulagam, Liberator, Viduthalai, Logobakaari, Darul Islam, Kumaran and Thendral. These writings include numerous biographical references, political essays, and literary research. The history of UN, Biography of Subash Chandra Bose are few of more than fifty books that have been published.
Literary research
The play ‘Kaatrum Mazhaiyum’ written by Ka. Appadurai was staged by Silambu theatre group at Chennai Otraivaadai Theatre on 22/04/1956 presided by Annadurai. He has written ‘Thaenmozhi’, ‘Thirukkuram Mani Vilakka Urai’ (6 parts).
History research
Ka. Appadurai created the sketches of history with the intrinsic literary evidences often based on the conjecture. Historians do not consider the books on history written by him as a pioneering work. With the Tamil literature as an evidence and based on the speculations of the Theosophical Society, he wrote figuratively about the vast expanse of the land that was submerged into the sea know as ‘Kumari’ continent or the ‘Lemuria’ under the title, ‘Kumari Kandam allathu Kadal konda Thennadu’. Based on the literary evidences, his book ‘Southern Battlefields’ is considered to be a significant work for its detailed recording of historical events of Tamil Nadu.
Translations
He translated the books on Alexander, Chandragupta and Chankya. The Japanese book, ‘The Tale of Genji’ [1] has been translated by him and published under the tile ‘Chenjee Kathai’. He translated the early novels of Malayalam ‘Indulekha’ and ‘Marthandaverma’. His translation of ‘The Tamil Eighteen Hundreds Years ago’ [2] written by V. Kanagasabai Pillai that was published under the title ‘Aaayirathennooru Aandukatku Murpatta Thamizhagam’ is his primary work.
Books
Research in History
- Kumari Kandam allathu Kanal Konda Thennaadu
- Thennattu porkalangal
- Sariththiram Pesugirathu
- Maruthur Maanikkam
- Thennaadu
- Krishnadevarayar
- Vetri Thirunagar
- Chennai Varalaaru
- Kongu Tamizh Varalaaru
- Dravida Panbu
- Dravida Nagarigam
- Sanga Kaala Pulavar Varalaaru
- Ariyanatha Mudaliyar
General Essays
- History of U.N.
- Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose
- David Livingston
- Kalaiyulaga Mannan Raviverma
- Winston Churchill
- Ariviyal Munaivar Einstein
- Arivulaka Methai Bernard Shaw
- Kannada Naattin Porval Haider Ali
- Aangila Pulavar Varalaaru
- Ariviyalaalar Benjamin Franklin
Literary Research
- Linguistic Complexities of India
- Thenmozhi
- Thirukkural Mani Vilakka Urai (6 Parts)
Translations
- Aayirathennooru Aandukatku Murpatta Thamizhagam (The Tamil Eighteen Hundred Years Ago)
- Chenjeekathai (The Tale of Genji)
- Indhulekha (O. Sandhumenon, Malayalam)
- Marthanda Verma (C. V. Raaman Pillai, Malayalam)
- Alexander (A. S. P. Iyer)
- Chandragupta (A. S. P. Iyer)
- Chanakyar (A. S. P. Iyer)
Plays
- Kaatrum Mazhaiyum
References
- Multifaceted polyglot Ka. Appadurai (nellaikavinesan.com)
- Ka. Appadurai 10 | Ka. Appadurai 10 - hindutamil.in
Notes
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