S. Ambujammal

S. Ambujammal

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: எஸ். அம்புஜம்மாள் ‎

S. Ambujammal (January 8, 1899 – 1981) was one of the earliest women writers of Tamil. She has written notable books and articles. Gandhian. A Tamil woman who participated in freedom struggle in Gandhian way. She wrote her memories with Gandhi in the book 'Mahatma Gandhi Ninaivu Malai'. S. Ambujammal's letters to Gandhi are famous. She was involved in social services till her last days.

Life Note

Mahatma Gandhi Ninaivu Malai

Ambujammal was born on January 8, 1899 to Srinivasa Iyengar and Ranganayaki Ammal couple. Her father was one of the famous lawyers of Chennai. Maternal grandfather Bhashyam Iyengar was a High Court judge and the first non-British Advocate General.

Ambujammal was home schooled. She was proficient in Tamil, Hindi, English and Sanskrit. She studied music because she had a good voice and also excelled in playing Veena. She was married to Desikachari at the age of eleven. They have a child. Ambujammal's husband, Desikachari, was working as an assistant public prosecutor to Srinivasa Iyengar, Ambujammal's father. The British Government honored Srinivasa Iyengar with the post of Advocate General. Ambujammal was greatly affected by her husband's ill health and mental health problems. The health of her mother also deteriorated, Grandfather passed away. The younger brother's leg was injured. She faced the problems in domestic life with courage and the support of her father.

Politics

S. Ambujammal at the protest site (right)

When Gandhi returned to India from South Africa, Srinivasa Iyengar welcomed him at his residence. Ambujammal met Gandhi and Kasturiba in person. Through this, she got a sense of nationalism and along with the women of the neighborhood, she was engaged in the work of collecting and sending medicines and clothes to the Indian soldiers involved in the World War.

The second time Gandhi came to Chennai, he stayed at Srinivasa Iyengar's house. That's when he said, "Indian women are very few who are educated. They too get bogged down in family responsibilities. It is the duty of educated women like you to solve that problem." Ambujammal started actively engaged in public service from then on. She used to carry Khadar cloths (pure cotton) on the streets and sell them. Along with Rukmini Lakshmipathi, Durgabhai Deshmukh, Y.M. Kothainayaki she participated in many protests against the whites on the path of non-violence as per Gandhiji's announcement. Ambujammal participated in many protests such as marching and loudly singing the banned Bharati songs in public, protesting against foreign clothes, opposing toddy shops.

S. Ambujammal while inviting Gandhi

Ambujammal was arrested and imprisoned in Vellore Jail for taking part in boycott of foreign cloth. There, she taught languages ​​like Tamil to uneducated girls and Hindi and English to those who knew only Tamil. She trained women in handicrafts such as sewing and flower work so that they could become self-reliant. After her release from prison, she continued her social and national service work. During this period, Ambujammal's father Srinivasa Shastri left the Congress due to disagreements with Gandhi's political activities and also abstained from political work. But Ambujammal wanted to go and work at Gandhiji's Wartha Ashram. Accordingly, she went there and trained for about a year.

Positions

After India's independence, Ambujammal held positions in the Congress and the Congress government.

• State Vice President - Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (1957 - 1962)
• State Social Welfare Board (Chairman) (1957 - 1964)

Literary Life

Ambujammal Memorial Road

Ambujammal's first work 'Avar Enge Iruppaar?' The short story was published in Kalaimagal magazine in 1940. She has written notable books and articles. But have not written many short stories.

Ambujammal's first attempt at translation was to translate the first two kandams of the Tulsi Ramayana into Tamil dailogue style at Gandhi's request while she was staying at the Wartha Ashram. She has translated a book written by KM Munshi titled 'Vedavithakar Vyasar'. Ambujammal translated the novel 'Sevasathan' into Tamil and published it as a serial in Ananda Vikatan. It was later released as a movie and became famous.

Ambujammal wrote many articles for magazines like Kalaimagal, Kalki, Bharatamani. The book “Mahatma Gandhi Ninaivu Malai” written by Ambujammal is worth mentioning. Gandhi's letters to Ambujammal are very famous. She also wrote a biography of her Guru Karaichithar.

Ambujammal has written a book about her father titled 'En Thanthaiyaar'. She has published her life experiences in a book titled “Nan Kanda Bharatham” at the age of seventy. Ambujammal worked as a consultant for literary works published by Dinamani Kariyalayam.

Awards

• The Government of India awarded him the 'Padma Shri' in 1964.
• The Tamil Nadu government has named a road in Chennai after Ambujammal.

Demise

Ambujammal, continued to do social work till her last days, died in 1981 at the age of 82.

Literary Place

Ambujammal's stories are direct propogandas of her side. There are only a few books written in Tamil that have direct access to Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi Memorial 'Mahatma Gandhi Ninaivu Malai' by Ambujammal is prominent among them.

List of Books

• En Thanthaiyaar
• Mahatma Gandhi Ninaivu Malai
• Naan Kanda Bharatham

Translations

• Vedavithagar Viyasagar
• Sevasathan

Short Stories

• Avar Enge Iruppaar?

Book about Ambujammal

• Ambujammal's life story was written by Writer Vasumathi Ramasamy

References

• Viduthalaikku Munthaiya Tamil Sirukathaigal - 2 (Penezhuthu - 1 : 1907 - 1947) - Thervum Thoguppum: Arvind Swaminathan - 2021 - Yavarum Publishers
• Ambujammal: The Ardent Swadeshi Buried In The Pages Of History
• Ambujam Ammal Road
• Article about Ambujammal

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