T. Dharmaraj
T. Dharmaraj (Born: April 19, 1967) Tamil researcher and writer. His work focuses on folklore, Tamil Buddhism, semiotics, anthropology, and Ayothidhasarism. He has contributed regularly to various magazines and journals, writing on culture, history, art, literature, and cinema.
Birth, Education
T. Dharmaraj was born on April 19, 1967, in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, to the couple Nallammal and Thamburaj. He received his primary education at St. Antony's Primary School in Palayamkottai and completed his schooling at St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from St. Xavier's College, Tirunelveli, and a master's degree in Folklore from the same college in 1990. From 1990 to 1991, he worked as a researcher at the Centre for Folklore Studies at St. Xavier's College. From 1992 to 1998, with the support of a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), he pursued doctoral research at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), in the Centre for Linguistics and Culture. His research focused on Tamil folklore, and he was awarded a PhD for his dissertation titled Conceptual Structures in Tamil Folk Tales.
Personal life
T. Dharmaraj married Amala on December 13, 1998. His wife is a government school teacher. Their son, Saleth Siddharthan, works in Canada.
Academic Career
T. Dharmaraj joined St. Joseph's College as an Assistant Professor in February 1998 and served there until 2011. From 2011, he served as an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Folklore at Madurai Kamaraj University. He was promoted to Professor in 2014 and also served as the Dean of the School of Performing Arts.
In 2015-16, he was a Visiting Researcher and Visiting Professor at the University of Tübingen, Germany. In 2017, he served as a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Indian Studies (CEMI) at the University of Göttingen.
In 2019, he took on administrative responsibilities at the university. From 2020 to 2024, he served as Controller of Examinations. Since 2024, he has been serving as Professor, Head of the Department of Folklore, and Dean at Madurai Kamaraj University.
Editorial Works
T. Dharmaraj co-edited and published the literary magazine Aswamedha from Tirunelveli, along with his friends, from 1988 to 1989.
Literary Life
T. Dharmaraj is a Tamil researcher and writer whose work focuses on folklore, Tamil Buddhism, semiotics, anthropology, and Ayothidhasarism. His first short story, Oru Karungkallum Naangalum, was published in the magazine Annam in 1980. He began writing essays in 1992. His first essay in English, titled Prologue of Tholkappiyam, was published in the International Journal of Communication. He subsequently wrote a Tamil version of the same essay under the title Tholkappiyam Enum Prathi, Prathi Enum Tholkappiyam (Tholkappiyam as Text, Text as Tholkappiyam). He went on to contribute to magazines such as Ini, Vallinam, Kalachuvadu, and Pudhuvisai.
T. Dharmaraj's first book was the anthology Kalagakkarargalum Ethir Kathaiyadalgalum (Rebels and Counter-Narratives), which included one of his essays along with contributions by several other writers. It was published by Kallatti Publications, Tirunelveli, in 1999. His book Naan Poorva Bauddhan (I Am an Original Buddhist) was published in 2003.
Debate
T. Dharmaraj's book 'Ayothidhasar: Parppanar mudhal Paraiyar varai' sparked considerable debate.
Award
- Ezhuchithamizhar Ilakkiya Virudhu (For the book of essay on Jallikattu) (2026)
List of Books
- Kalagakkarargalum Ethir Kathaiyadalgalum (1999, Compiled edition)
- Naan Poorva Bauddhan (2003)
- Ayothidhasar: Paarppanar Mudhal Paraiyar Varai (Salt Publications)
- T. Dharmarajin Ayothidhasariyam (Editor: Pa. Sa. Aribabu)
- Tamil Nattuppuraviyal (2011) (Salt Publications)
- Naan Yaen Daliththum Alla? (Salt Publications)
- Ilaiyaraaja Yaen Mudhalvar Vaetpaalar Illai? (Salt Publications)
- Ulloor Varalaarugal
- Kalagakkarargalum Ethir Kathaiyadalgalum (Editor)
- Kabali: Thiraikkathaiyum Thiraikku Veliye Kathaiyum
- Jallikattu: Kilarchi Enum Soozhchi
Links
- T. Dharmaraj website
- Ayothidhasar - Paarppanar Mudhal Paraiyar Varai | T. Dharmaraj talk
- Vegujana azhagiyal - T. Dharmaraj talk
- Porunai Literary Festival - Folk Literature | T. Dharmaraj
- "Pazhumaram Luliya Paravai" | Porunai Nellai 9th Book Fair
- T. Dharmaraj's "Jallikattu - Kilarchi Enum Soozhchi" - Book Introduction Event
- [https://www.hindutamil.in/news/opinion/columns/535797-dharmaraj-interview.html How Should We Understand Ayothidhasar? - Interview with T. Dharmaraj - The Hindu Tamil
- [https://www.jeyamohan.in/162895/ Ayothidhasarism: A Letter
✅Finalised Page
First published on: 26-Sep-2026, 16:46:22 IST
