L. Swamikannu Pillai
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: எல். சாமிக்கண்ணு பிள்ளை
L. Samikannu Pillai (L.D. Samikannu Pillai) (Louis Dominick Samikannu) (February 11, 1865 – September 10, 1925) was a nineteenth-century Tamil researcher and scholar cited by historians. He predicted the era of Tamil literature according to astronomical planets. Multilingual Scholar, Astronomer, Historian, Writer, Essayist, Orator, Translator, State Secretary and Politician. He was the head of Madras Provincial Legislative Assembly and the Madras Provincial Chief Secretary.
Birth, Education
His full name was Louis Dominic Samikannu Pillai. Samikannu was born on February 11, 1865 to Gnanaprakasam Louis Pillai and Siluvai Muthamma of Somanur Taluk in Kongunadu. Lewis Pillai, a French-speaking Catholic, was a clerk in the revenue department. Lewis Pillai's wife did not like his son being baptized in the Revivalist Christian Church, so she brought Samikannu Pillai to the family to Kongunadu with the help of her brother Rayappan.
Samikannu studied in Ooty with the help of his uncle. Lewis was a spendthrift and was in debt, so the Nagapattinam Sesu Sabha took over the responsibility of Samikannu's studies. Samikannu studied metriculation in Nagapattinam Soosaiyappar School and completed College with F.A., B.A. degrees eventually completing his studies in 1881. At that time he mastered English, French and Italian languages. He tudied M.A. in English and Latin. After completing law course from Madras University, he also passed the LLB exam conducted by London Institute.
Personal Life
Samikannu moved to Trichy from Nagapattinam in 1883 and joined St. Joseph's College as the first English lecturer and worked there for 4 years. He married Ratna Chironmani in 1888. She died in child labor in 1892 and he married Rose Ammaiyar in 1893. A total of 16 children were born to Samikannu from two wives. ([Lewis Dominic Swamikannu Pillai, M.A, L.L.B (LON), I.O.S, C.I.E (c.1865 - c.1925) - Genealogy]). His daughter Isabel Swamikannu became Mary Stanislaus. (Jeni).
