Ponnudurai S (Es.Po)
| S.Ponnuthurai | |
|---|---|
| |
| Full name | Ponnuthurai, |
| Shanmugam | |
| Birth_Date | 04-06-1932 |
| Birth_Place | Nallur |
| Jaffna | |
| Nationality | |
| Known_For | Tamil Novel,Drama |
| Criticism,Politics | |
| Genre | Short stories, Novel, |
| Short novel, Poems | |
| Occupation | teacher, |
| Writer | |
| Parent | Shanmugam |
| |
Also known as Espo, Ponnuthurai or S.Ponnuthurai (4 June 1932 – 26 November 2014) was one of the greatest writers of Eelam. He wrote in many dimensions like short story, novel, drama, poetry, criticism, translation, politics. He has written more than 40 books. Since 1989, he migrated and lived in Sydney, Australia. He established a publishing house named Mitra in Chennai and was involved in publishing books through it.
Life summary
Born to Shanmugam in Nallur, Jaffna, he did his higher education at Chennai Christian College and Tamil Nadu Annamalai University. He moved to Batticaloa in 1956 to join the teaching profession. He also worked as a teacher in Nigeria.
In Tamil literature World
He started writing in his 13th year. He started writing in 1940 when his elder brother Thambaiya started a manuscript magazine called Gnanodayam. The first poem written by Ponnuthurai was published in Veerakesari. Ponnuthurai's first short story was published in Suthanthiran in 1948. He also wrote in Tamil Nadu magazines Kadhal, Prasanda Vikatan and Anandabodini.[1]
His first novel Thi created a turning point in Eelam literature and created many controversies. That's time V.Vijayabaskaran who ran a magazine called Saraswati in Tamil Nadu. This book was published with the efforts of him. Thus, Ponnuthurai also remained a controversial figure in the world of Tamil literature.[1] He wrote under many pseudonyms such as Pratachippithan and Palamaidasan.
At a time when the Sri Lankan Progressive Writers Association was active, he was ideologically at odds with the progressive writers and broke away from it in the 1960s and started the "Napropoku - Good trend" team. He was accompanied by Ilam Pirai Rahman, V.A.Rajaratnam also left.[1]
He became famous by writing many novelties like Sadangu, Thi, Annmai, Vee, Nanaividhoithal, Ini Oru Vithisaivoom. Some of Ponnuthurai's plays have been staged in countries like Sri Lanka, India and Australia. He has also hosted some TV serials in Tamilnadu.[1]
He was the honorary editor of the international magazine "Akinikunju" which was published in Australia for a while. He has translated the novel Hala written by Semben Osmana, a Senegalese writer. And he has translated the novel "Weep Not Child" by a Kenyan literary writer named Nukuki wa Thiango into Tamil as "Thembi Alathe Papa".
A series of interviews with S.P.O.'s lengthy responses to questions from its editor have been published in the Colombo-based Gnanam magazine for several months. Later, the series was published as a book in 2007 under the title Didum Nanrum Phirardara Vara.
A book containing his interviews and articles called Ini Oru Vithisaivoom has also been published. He also wrote his autobiography Living in History in 1924 pages. He was also involved in publishing books through 'Mitra' publishing house in Chennai.
Awards
He was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award 2010 by the Tamil Literary Garden.
creations
- Wee (short stories)
- Annmai (short story volume)
- Thi (novel)
- Sadangu (novel)
- Appaiya
- Es.Po Kathaigal
- Githaiyin Nizalil
- Appavum Maganum
- Valai + Mul
- Poo
- Thedal
- Muruval
- Islamum Tamilum
- Perungappiyam Patthu (Editor)
- Mathappu + Sathurangam
- ?
- Nanavidai Thoithal
- Neelavanan Ninaivugal
- henceforth let us make a new law
- Ini Oru Vithisaivoom
- Varalathil Valthal
- Edu (play) (co-written with A. Chandrahasan)
- Maini
- Manimakudam
- Thithum Nanrum
- Gandhiak Kathaigal
- Gandhi Darsham
- Mahavamsa (Translation)
Passed away
S. Ponnuthurai passed away on 26 November 2014 at Sydney Concord Hospital[2]. One of his sons was a veteran LTTE fighter who died in a naval battle in 1986 during the Eelam War.