Mu. Elangovan

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: மு. இளங்கோவன் ‎

Mu. Elangovan

Elangovan Award

Mu. Elangovan (Born: June 20, 1967) is a Literary Historian and Documenter. He has also engaged in publishing Literary works. He has played a major role in popularizing online education among students. He is also involved in the study of Grammar.

Birth, Education:

Mu. Elangovan was born on June 20, 1967 in Idukattu near GangaiKonda Cholapuram to C. Murugesan and M. Asodhai Ammal. He completed his primary and secondary education in Ulkottai Government Primary and Secondary School, and his high school in Meensurutti Government High School. He was unable to continue his studies due to poverty, he did farming for three years and then worked part-time in a cloth shop. Then under the guidance of Tamil Professor Poet N. Sundaresan, he completed his Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies in Senthamizh College, owned by Thirupanandhaal Kasi Thirumadam. He passed his college as a topper with first class.

Mu. Elangovan conducted a research study on the topic ‘Tamil Nadu and Tamil under the Maratha Rule’ and obtained his M.Phil  In Puducherry University’s Department of Tamil, headed by K.P. Aravanan. With the help of the University Sponsorship, he completed his doctoral research (1993 - 1996) on “Bharathidasan Lineage” under the guidance of Professor Ezhilmudhalvan, at Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli.

Personal Life:

In 1997, he worked as a research assistant in the "Linguistic(Tamil) Documentation" project at the International Tamil Research Institute, Chennai. In 1998, he worked as an assistant to Musician V. P. K. Sundaram at Bharathidasan University for a year and assisted him in writing his book “Tamil Music Encyclopedia” and helped to publish the fourth volume of the Encyclopedia. Later, he worked as a Tamil Lecturer in Adiparasakthi College of Arts and Sciences, which belonged to Melmaruvathur Arulthiru Bangaru Adigalar's Trust, from June 16, 1999 to August 17, 2005. After being selected by the Indian Government Selection Commission (U.P.S.C), he joined Bharathidasan Government College for Women, Pondicherry as Professor of Tamil on August 18, 2005. He is currently working in Kanji Mamunivar Government Institute of Postgraduate and Research. (Kalachelvi, a research student, researched Jeyamohan's 'Kotravai' under the supervision of Mu. Elangovan,and received her PhD in 2020.)

Mu. Elangovan is married to E. Ponmozhi. They have three children, Kaanalvari, Tamilkudimagan, Kannagi.

Literary Life:

Traditional Literature:

Mu. Elangovan, was involved in Traditional Literature and Grammar during his student days. He wrote and published traditional literature such as ‘Maanavaraatrupadai’, ‘Achaga Atrupadai’. He learned Tamil lessons from Prof. K. Sundaramurthy, Prof. M. V. Pasupathi. He received the monetary gift given by the President of Kasi Thirumadam from Dhavathiru Masilamani Desika Gnanasambandha Paramachariyar Swami, who was the Kaarupaaru Swami of Kasi Thirumadam at the time and later became the Gurumagaa Sannithanam of Dharmapura Atheenam.

Mu. Elangovan, while still a student,  published the historical book of freedom fighter V. Duraiyanar Adigalar. During his college days, he participated in many College and University State Level Competitions such as poetry, essay and speech competitions and received gold medals and certificates.

Research Studies:

Mu. Elangovan received gold medal or winning the first prize in the Research Paper Writing Competition organized by Jeyamkondan Thamizhosai Charity Forum, for his research article, “Thaimozhi Vazhi Kalvi”(Education through Mother Tongue). In the essay competition organized by Nellai Thani Tamil Literary Association, he won two gold medals by writing research papers on “Moodharignar V. Subha. Manikanarin Tamil Panigal” (Tamil works of Scholar V. Subha Manikanar) and 'Paavalar Munirarasanarin Tamil Thondu' (Pavalar Munirarasanarin’s contribution to Tamil).

Mu. Elangovan got acquainted with poets of the Bharathidasan lineage including Poet Suratha, Nara. Nachiappan, Sami.Palaniyappan, and researched on ‘Ponni’ Literary Magazine and went on to publish books such as ‘Ponni Asiriyavuraigal’, ‘Ponni Bharathidasan Parambarai’, ‘Ponni Sirukadhaigal'.

Research Works:

Mu. Elangovan's most important research work is the extensive documentation of the living Tamil scholars of Tamil Nadu. He sought them out, often at his own expense, and recorded their lives and works. Mu. Elangovan's records are the primary source of information about Tamil scholars on the Internet, in Magazines and in Books. He wrote more than fifteen hundred records about the life and work of Tamil scholars and updated hundreds of photos online. He travelled from one town to another and searched for senior scholars, conversed with them and recorded on YouTube, more than 50 videos of their conversations. A book titled ‘Ayalaga Tamizh Arignyargal’ (Tamil Scholars in Neighborhood) has been published.

Folkloristics:

Mu. Elangovan has the skills to sing and analyze the folk songs of Tamil Nadu. He has also studied the folk songs of Kerala and Eelam. His folk songs have been broadcast as special literary discourse through the Tiruchirappalli radio station. His interviews have also been aired on television. He has written books such as ‘Vaaimozhi Paadal’, ‘Natupuraviyal’.

Isaitamizh:

Mu. Elangovan has been conducting a series of studies in the Tamizhisai movement. He has extensively documented the research works of Kudandai Sundaresan and Vibulaananda Adigal. ‘Isaitamizh Kazhaignargal - Nokeetunool’ , which is a collection of all the Tamil music artist names, is a noteworthy book written by Mu. Elangovan.

Educational Work:

He conducted hundreds of workshops on Tamil Internet, in Tamil Nadu and overseas countries,  to increase awareness amongst  school, college and university students. His book titled 'Inyayam Karpom' is a textbook for students studying Tamil in colleges affiliated to Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore and in affiliated colleges of Bharathidasan University. His textbook titled 'Tamil Naatupura Kalaigal’ (TamilFolk Arts) is a subject at SIM University, Singapore.

Documentaries:

• Documentary film on the  Biography of Kudandhai. P. Sundaresanar( Pannisai Researcher).
• Documentary film on the  Biography of Srilankan born, Vibulaananda Adigalalar

Organizational Activities:

Mu. Elangovan started the World Archaeological Forum, held its opening ceremony in France and the first seminar in Canada and established its branches in Japan, Malaysia, Australia and other countries. The World Archaeological Forum has a separate website (Tholkappiyam - tholkappiyam.org). This site consists of a compilation of rare information related to Tholkappiyam. He undertook the Centenary Celebration for Poet P.V Somasundaranar also known as Perumazhaipuzhavar. On July 4, 2011 at the North American Tamil People's Council, the Centenary Magazine of Perumazhaipuzhavar was released by Mu. Elangovan. He helped Perumazhaipulavar’s family, who were struggling financially,  get financial assistance from the Tamil Nadu government.

Awards:

• Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies, Government of India awarded him the Classical Young Scholar Award (2006-2007).
• Directorate of Etymological Dictionary of the Tamil Language, awarded him Media Award 2021.
• Tamil-Wiki Thooran Award 2023 was awarded to him.

Contributions:

Mu. Elangovan’ line of research surrounds the study of Bharathidasan and Devaneyapaavanar. He primarily works on documenting Tamil Literature and Cultural records, realizing that they are soon disappearing due to the continuous changes created by the English medium of education. Unlike other researchers of the Paavanar tradition, he also studied mathematics and computer science.

Books:

• Manalmettu Mazhazhaigal
• Ilakiyam Andrum Indrum
• Vaaimozhipadalgal
• Pazhaiyana Pugudhalum
• Arangetrum Silambugal
• Bharadidasan Parambarai
• Ponni Bharadhidasan Parambarai
• Ponni Asiriyavuraigal
• Naatupuraviyal (Vayalveli Publications, 2006)
• Ayalaga Tamizharignargal (Vayalveli Publications, 2009)
• Inaiyam Karpom (Vayaveli Publications, 2009)
• Paavalar Mudiyarasanaarin Tamizhthondu
• Chevilakiya Sindhanai Pudhaiyal
• Katturai Kalanjiyam
• Achaga Aatrupadai
• Manavaratrupadai
• Panasai Kuyil Koovugiradhu
• Vidudhalai Porata Veerar V. Duraiyanar Adigal
• Maraatiyar Atchiyil Tamizhagamum Tamizhum
• Isaitamizh Kazhaignargal - Nokeetu Nool

References:

• Dr. Mu. Elangovan's website -muelangovan.blogspot.com
• Government Award for Mu. Elangovan
• Mu. Elangovan - Jeyamohan
• Isaitamizh Documentation
• Ilangovan Vallinam Interview