Dhanushkodi Ramasamy
Encyclopedia
Danushkodi Ramasamy (b.1945? - d. 24 November 2005) is a Tamil
writer from Tamil Nadu
, India
. His works were characterized by his sympathies with communist ideals and depictions of the plight of labourers. He was the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkia Perumanram, a literary organisation.
, Tamilnadu. His father was a school teacher. Ramasamy obtained Masters degrees in Arts and Education (M.A and M.Ed) and began his teaching career as as a primary teacher in Ayira Vysiya Higher Secondary School in Sattur. He eventually became the Head master of the school, a post he resigned from, as he felt it was interfering with his literary activities. He continued as a higher secondary teacher in the same school. During his younger days he was a proponent of the Thani Tamil Iyakkam
(Pure Tamil movement) and Gandhism
. In his later life he became a supporter of Marxism
. His first short story Simma Soppanam was published in 1978. During his writing career, he wrote a number of short stories and novels. His best known work is the 1985 novel Thozhar. Some of his short stories were published in the magazine Ananda Vikatan
. In 1990, the Communist Party of India
's (CPI) publishing arm - New century Book house - awarded him the best Tamil short story writer award. In 1992, his work Theemtharigida won the Lilli Desigamani memorial prize. In 1991, he won the Ananda Vikatan Diamond Jubilee short story competition and in 94 the Agni Subhamangla short story competition. He served as a state secretary of the Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkia Perumanram and at the time of his death was its general secretary. Ramasamy died on 24 November 2005 after a prolonged illness.
. After his death the Danushkodi Ramasamy Trust was established at Sattur in his memory. The Trust awards an annual prize for Tamil short story writers, conducts literary meetings and writing workshops for school children.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
writer from Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. His works were characterized by his sympathies with communist ideals and depictions of the plight of labourers. He was the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkia Perumanram, a literary organisation.
Biography
Danushkodi Ramasamy was born in Kalingal Mettuppatti a village near SatturSattur
Sattur is a town in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The district has 8 taluks, namely Aruppukkottai, Kariapatti, Rajapalayam, Sattur, Sivakasi, Srivilliputur, Tiruchuli and Virudhunagar.In 1937 elections Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu K.Kamaraj had first won unopposed...
, Tamilnadu. His father was a school teacher. Ramasamy obtained Masters degrees in Arts and Education (M.A and M.Ed) and began his teaching career as as a primary teacher in Ayira Vysiya Higher Secondary School in Sattur. He eventually became the Head master of the school, a post he resigned from, as he felt it was interfering with his literary activities. He continued as a higher secondary teacher in the same school. During his younger days he was a proponent of the Thani Tamil Iyakkam
Tanittamil Iyakkam
The Thanittamil Iyakkam is a movement of linguistic purism in Tamil literature attempting to emulate the "unadulterated Tamil language" of the Sangam period, avoiding Sanskrit, Persian and English loanwords. It was notably initiated by the writings of Maraimalai Adigal and Paventhar ...
(Pure Tamil movement) and Gandhism
Gandhism
Gandhism is the collection of inspirations, principles, beliefs and philosophy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , who was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian Independence Movement....
. In his later life he became a supporter of Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. His first short story Simma Soppanam was published in 1978. During his writing career, he wrote a number of short stories and novels. His best known work is the 1985 novel Thozhar. Some of his short stories were published in the magazine Ananda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த விகடன் is the leading Tamil language weekly magazine published from Chennai, India. It is part of the Vikatan group which also publishes Junior Vikatan , Chutti Vikatan , Aval Vikatan , Naanayam Vikatan , Sakthi Vikatan , Motor Vikatan and Pasumai Vikatan Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த...
. In 1990, the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
's (CPI) publishing arm - New century Book house - awarded him the best Tamil short story writer award. In 1992, his work Theemtharigida won the Lilli Desigamani memorial prize. In 1991, he won the Ananda Vikatan Diamond Jubilee short story competition and in 94 the Agni Subhamangla short story competition. He served as a state secretary of the Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkia Perumanram and at the time of his death was its general secretary. Ramasamy died on 24 November 2005 after a prolonged illness.
Legacy
Ramasamy’s stories and novels have been translated into Kannada, Malayalam and BengaliBengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
. After his death the Danushkodi Ramasamy Trust was established at Sattur in his memory. The Trust awards an annual prize for Tamil short story writers, conducts literary meetings and writing workshops for school children.