K. Subramania Pillai
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: கா.சுப்ரமணிய பிள்ளை
K. Subramania Pillai (Kaa. Su. Pillai) (Kandhimathinathapillai Subramania Pillai) (November 5, 1888 - April 30, 1945) was a Tamil scholar and a Tamil literature history teacher. He was a Shaivite, a lawyer, a Tamil professor, a translator, an orator, and a speechwriter. He was multilingual with fluency in Tamil, English, Sanskrit, and Malayalam.
Birth, Education
K. Subramania Pillai was born on November 5, 1888, to Shaiva Vellalar Gandhimathinatha Pillai and Meenakshiammai. He received his primary education in a thinnai (porch) school in Tirunelveli. In 1906, he obtained the first rank in the Chennai Matriculation exam. In 1908, he topped the F. A (Fellow of Arts) examination in the University of Madras. He won first place as a student in a 'Pulavar' (Pundit) examination conducted by the Madurai Tamil Sangam. He won a prize organized for Tamil research, by Powermurket, an Englishman. In 1910, he graduated with a B.A. History. In 1913, he received his M.A. in English Literature and in 1914, he received his M.A. in Tamil Literature.
Biography
In Chennai
In 1919, he joined the Madras Law College as a lecturer, with the help of Judge Sheshadri Iyer. In 1920, Kaa. Su. Pillai delivered 12 lectures on the subject, Principles of Criminology, at the University of Calcutta; he received the "Tagore Legal Lecture Award" created by the Rabindranath Tagore family. In 1922, he became a member of the glossary terms committee created by the Madras presidency. In 1926, he was elected as a member of the governing body of South India Saiva Siddhantha Works Publishing Society Tinnevelly Limited, which was formed to publish books in pure Tamil, without mixing words from other language. He held that position until 1932. Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty, who was one of the founding members of the South Indian Welfare Association, helped Kaa. Su. Pillai to become a law professor. In 1927, he resigned as a law professor due to a new regulation at the Madras Law College.
In Nellai
Kaa. Su. Pillai returned to his hometown, Nellai (Thirunelveli), after resigning as a law professor. From 1927 to 1929, he engaged in historical research on 'Saivakuravargal' Sundarar, Seikizhar, and Manivasagar. He also engaged in writing the history of Tamil literature. In 1930, he resigned from Annamalai University and again returned to Nellai. He contested in the local elections and served as a member of the Tirunelveli Municipality. He served as the trustee of the Gandhimati Amman Udanurai Nellaiyappar Temple located in Nellai. Later, he established Thevara and Saiva Agama schools to lay the foundation for worship in Tamil.
In 1934, the Madras Presidency Tamil Conference convened for the first time in Nellai. Kaa. Su. Pillai took charge as the chairman of the reception committee of the conference, where he spoke about the greatness of Tamil language and the Tamil people. In 1934, Madras Presidency Tamil Association was started at Palayankottai as decided in the conference. Kaa. Su. Pillai held the post as president until 1938.
In Kanchipuram
Kaa. Su. Pillai lived in Kanchipuram from 1938 to 1940. He stayed with his friend, Isaimani Sundaramoorthy Oduvar, and researched about 'Thamizisai' (Tamil music).
In Chidambaram
He was a professor in the Tamil department, in Annamalai University, Chidambaram, during the academic year 1929-1930. Ten years later, he served as a professor again there for four years, from 1940-1941 academic year to 1943-1944 academic year. He retired on July 1, 1944.
He suffered from rheumatism while working as a Tamil professor for the second time at the Annamalai University. Therefore, he wrote his research papers and texts through his assistant. In 1944, he returned to Nellai, from Chidambaram.
Literary Life
Kaa. Su. Pillai wrote a book titled Tamil Ilakiya Varalaru, published in two parts, when he lived in Nellai, from 1927-1930. This was the first book that tried to define Tamil people and Tamil literature. He has written forewords for Thiruvasagam, Tirukural, Tirumurugatrupadai, and Siva Gnanapotham and the biographies of Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manickavasagar.
Awards
- In 1940, he was awarded the Palkalai Pulavar at Tirunelveli, by the Madras Presidency Tamil Association.
- In 1940, a member of the Needhi Katchi (Justice Party), in the South Indian Welfare Association, and the prince of Chettinad, A. Muttaiah Chettiyar presented Kaa. Su. Pillai, a bronze badge in appreciation of his work.
Biography, Memorials
- Kaa. Su. Pillai Varalaru- E.Mu Subramaniyapillai 1958 (Tirunelveli Saiva Siddhanantha Printing Society)
- A pillar was erected in memory of Kaa. Su. Pillai on October 13, 1947 at the main junction in Tirunelveli, in the Kailasapuram Town Park, on the west bank of the Thamiraparani River.
- The Kaa. Su. Memorial Literary Group was established in Kulithalai. One of the leaders of the Dravidian movement, Mee. Su. Ilamurugu founded this group. Kaa. Su. Pillai’s Centenary year was celebrated on behalf of this group, at Kulithalai.
Death
Kaa. Su. Pillai died on April 30, 1945, at the age of 56.
Literary Significance
Kaa. Su. Pillai is notable for being one of the earliest researches in Tamil literature. He did not follow the research methods used by Manonmaniam P. Sundaranar or K. N. Sivaraja Pillai. It was noted that his studies were mostly written in accordance with the linguistic data of the texts. His Shaivite leaning had limited his researches. His foreword for Thirukural, which was written on the basis of Shaivism, is an example.
Works
| S. No | First Edition | Second Edition | Third Edtion | Books | Pages | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 1920 | Principles of Criminology | ||||
| 02 | 1923 | 1927, July | Indhiya Samayangalin Surukka Varalaru | 42 | ||
| 03 | 1932, August | Saiva Sithandha Vilakka Surukam | 16 | |||
| 04 | 1924 | 1927, May | Saiva Sithandha Unmai Varalaru | 40 | ||
| 05 | 1924, April | Sambandar Thevaram Eyarkai Porulazhagu | 2+42 | |||
| 06 | 1925 | 1939, July | Arivu Vilaku Vaasagam | 5+66 | ||
| 07 | 1925, August | Pandara Saathiram Pathinaanku | ||||
| 08 | 1925, December | 1958, August | Saiva Siddhantha Sathaanasariyarkalum
Avarkalin Arul Noolgalum Saiva Sithandha Vilakkamum |
4+90 | ||
| 09 | 1926 | 1947, June | Appar Swamigal Sarithiram | 164 | ||
| 10 | 1927 | 1953, June | Gnanasambadha Swamigal Sarithiram | 10+205 | ||
| 11 | 1927 | Nandhanasaariyar Sarithiram (An excerpt from the novel, Saivasithandha Uraikothu) | ||||
| 12 | 1928 | 1947 | Natharamoorthy Swamigal Sarithiram | 8+208 | ||
| 13 | 1928 | 1954, September | Seikizhar Swamigal Sarithiramum Periya Puranam Aaraichiyum | 154 | ||
| 14 | 1928 | 1947, March | Manivasaga Perumal Varalaru | 8+124 | ||
| 15 | 1928 | 1958, June | Ilakiya Varalaru (Part 1) | 20+269 | ||
| 16 | 1928 | 1958, June | Ilakiya Varalaru (Part 2) | 20+516 | ||
| 17 | 1929 | 1955, June | Thirukural Pozhipurai | 10+370 | ||
| 18 | 1929, March | Murugan Perumai | 36 | |||
| 19 | 1929, May | Metaphysics of the Saiva Siddhanta System | 4+38 | |||
| 20 | 1930, June | 1955, March | Thaayumana Swamigal | 4+207 | ||
| 21 | 1930 | 1958, February | Pattinathadigal Varalarum Noolaraichiyum | 8+112 | ||
| 22 | 1932, June | 1947 | Kumaragurupura Adikal Varalarum Noolaraichiyum | 4+6+134 | ||
| 23 | 1932, August | 1949, November | Meikantaarum Sivagnana Podhamum | 18+177 | ||
| 24 | 1933 | Suthaathuvitham | ||||
| 25 | 1934 | Andaal Varalarum Noolaraichiyum | ||||
| 26 | 1938 | 1952, December | India Varalaru Kadhaigal- Book 1 | 4+74 | ||
| 27 | 1938 | 1949, November | India Varalaru Kadhaigal- Book 2 | 4+92 | ||
| 28 | 1939 | Pazhanthamizh Naagarigam Allathu Poruladhikara Karuthu | ||||
| 29 | 1938 | Vanool | ||||
| 30 | 1939, May | 1941, May | Ulaga Perumakkal, Part 1 | 136 | ||
| 31 | 1940, August | Ulaga Perumakkal, Part 2 | 6+141 | |||
| 32 | 1940, August | 1948, May | 1963, April | Sir P. C. Roy | 6+122 | |
| 33 | 1949, December | Sivagnanapotham Pozhipurai | 6+81 | |||
| 34 | 1953 | Tamizhar Samayam | 14+134 | |||
| 35 | 1955, November | Sivagnana Swamigal Varalaru | ||||
| 36 | Thiruvaasagam Pozhipurai | |||||
| 37 | Thirumurukatrupadai Kuripurai | |||||
| 38 | Kumaragurupararin Kandhar Kalivenba Kuripurai | |||||
| 39 | Pala Pulavargal Iyattriya Thanipaadatriratu- Volume 1 | |||||
| 40 | Pala Pulavargal Iyattriya Thanipaadatriratu- Volume 2 | |||||
| 41 | Naalvar Varalaru (Meikandaar, Arunadhi Sivachariyar, Maraignana Sithiyar, Umapathi Sivachariyar) | |||||
| 42 | Irayanaar Agaporul | |||||
| 43 | Tamizh Noorkolgaiyum Tamizh Mozhiamaippum | |||||
| 44 | Thirucholiyar Thurai Vilakkam | |||||
| 45 | Thirunaan Marai Vilakkam | |||||
| 46 | Saiva Sadangu Vilakkam | |||||
| 47 | Meikanda Noolgalin Urainadai | |||||
| 48 | Dhyanamum Vazhkai Uyarvum | |||||
| 49 | Kadavulum Vaazhkai Nalamum | |||||
| 50 | Ulaga Nanmaye Oruvan Vaazhvu | |||||
| 51 | Makkal Vaazhkai Thathuvam | |||||
| 52 | Vaazhkai Inbam | |||||
| 53 | Udal Nool | |||||
| 54 | Sivaprakasham- English Translation | |||||
| 55 | Needhineri Vilakkam- English Translation | |||||
| 56 | A Short Sketch of the Hindu Religion | |||||
| 57 | A Note on Hindu Religion Endowment Bill | |||||
| 58 | Tamil Blooms | |||||
| 59 | Nature of Thevaram and Ancient Tamil Scripture | |||||
| 60 | Porut Sattam | |||||
| 61 | India Dhandanai Thogudhi- Volume 1 | |||||
| 62 | Lectures on the Indian Penal Code | |||||
| 63 | Pathivu Vidhi | |||||
| 64 | Kuttra Sattam | |||||
| 65 | Thiruvandhiyar Thirukalittrupadiya |
✅Finalised Page
First published on:
27-Aug-2022, 08:39:33 IST
