Parithimar Kalaignar

Parithimar Kalaignar (born V. G. Suryanarayana Sastri at Vilacheri near Thirupparankundram on 6 July 1870[1] – 2 November 1903), a Professor of Tamil at the Madras Christian College, was the first person to campaign for the recognition of Tamil as a classical language.[2][3]

"Kalaignar" redirects here. The term may also refer to M. Karunanidhi.

V. G. Suryanarayana Sastri
Born(1870-07-06)6 July 1870
Vilacheri near Thirupparankundram, Madura District, British India
Died2 November 1903(1903-11-02) (aged 33)
Madras, British India
Pen nameParithimar Kalaignar, Dravida Sastri
OccupationTamil pundit
LanguageTamil

Life

Suryanarayana Sastri was born at Vilacheri near Thirupparankundram in a Brahmin family.[4] He graduated in philosophy and was soon employed as a Professor of Tamil in the Madras Christian College. In 1895, Suryanarayana Sastri rose to become the Head of Department for Tamil at the Madras Christian College.[2]

Campaign for recognition of Tamil as classical language

Suryanarayana Sastri had immense love for Tamil and wrote plenty of books.[3] He even changed his Sanskrit name to its Tamil translation (although "Parithi" பரிதி and "Kalai" கலை are from Sanskrit परिधि and कला, respectively).[5]

When the Madras University proposed to exclude Tamil from its syllabus, Parithimar Kalaignar vehemently protested against the proposal forcing the authorities to drop the move.[2] In 1902, he proposed that Tamil be designated as a "classical language" thereby becoming the first person to make such a petition.[3] Parithimar Kalignar is also known as Dravida Sastri.[6]

Parithimar Kalaignar was also the first to use the Tamil name Kumarinadu for the mythical lost-land of Lemuria.[7]

Death

Paritihimar Kalaignar died in 1903 due to tuberculosis[3] at the age of 33.[6]

Legacy
Kalaignar on a 2007 stamp of India

Parithimar Kalaignar is regarded as an inspiration for Tamil enthusiasts as Maraimalai Adigal and the Tanittamil Iyakkam.

In 2006, the Government of Tamil Nadu declared Parithimar Kalaignar's house in his native village of Vilacheri as a memorial and sanctioned a sum of ₹1.5 million (equivalent to ₹4.8 million or US$60,000 in 2023) towards nationalizing his books.[3][8]

On 17 August 2007, postage stamps were issued in memory of Saint Vallalar, Parithimar Kalaignar and Maraimalai Adigal.[2][9]

On 13 December 2006, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi extended an amount of ₹1.5 million (equivalent to ₹4.8 million or US$60,000 in 2023) to the Tamil scholar's descendants.[10]

See also

References
  1. "PARITHIMAR KALAIGNAR NINAIVU ILLAM". Information and Public Relations Department, Tamil Nadu, India. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  2. "Contributions of personalities to Tamil enrichment recalled". The Hindu. 18 August 2007. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  3. Saravanan, T. (11 September 2006). "Suryanarayana Sastri's house to be converted into a memorial". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  4. M. Karunanidhi (2006–2007). "TAMIL DEVELOPMENT – CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, POLICY NOTE 2006 – 2007, Demand No. 46" (PDF). Tamil Nadu Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  5. Sastri, K. S. Ramaswami (1967). The Tamils and Their Culture. Chennai: Annamalai University. p. 47. ISBN 81-7755-405-0.
  6. "Parithimar Kalaignar' memorial opened". The Hindu. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  7. Ramaswamy, Sumathi (2005). Fabulous Geographies Catastrophic Histories: The Lost Land of Lemuria. Orient Longman. p. 104. ISBN 978-81-7824-110-4.
  8. "Budget Speech 2007–2008". Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  9. Madhukar Jhingan, Savita Jhingan (2007). "The News, Views, & Features on Philately & Postal Services of India" (PDF). Stamps of India Collectors Companion (303): 2.
  10. "பரிதிமாற் கலைஞர் வாரிசுகளுக்கு ரூ15 லட்சம் (CM extends help to Parithimar Kalaignar's family)". Greynium Informnation Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (in Tamil). 14 December 2006. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
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