Subarayar Vembu (19 March 1928 – 1 December 2015), better known by the pseudonym of Vikiraman, was an Indian novelist, short story writer and a journalist who wrote in
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
. He was also a writer of
children's literature
Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader.
Children's ...
.
Biography
He was born to Subarayar and Lashmiammal. His father was an employee of
Southern Railways during British rule and was one of the surveyors who was responsible for the construction of the
Pamban Bridge
Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge that connects the town of Mandapam in mainland India with Rameswaram on Pamban Island. Opened on 24 February 1914, it was India's first sea bridge, and was the longest sea bridge in India until the opening of t ...
. His father also worked for Sudeshamitran, a Tamil daily under the editorship of Bharathiyaar.
Early years
He was always interested in journalism, especially handwritten magazines in his school days. In his high school, he started publishing a magazine called Tamil Chudar which was acclaimed by
Kalki Krishnamurthy
, birth_name = Ramasamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu
, death_date =
, death_place = Chennai, India
, occupation = journalist, critic and writer
, nationality = Indian
, education = ...
,
Rajaji
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., also known as Mootharignar Rajaji (Rajaji'', the Scholar Emeritus''), was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and Indian Independence M ...
and A.K. Gopal Chettiyar.
He has travelled extensively to places like Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Paris, Dubai, Rome and places of historical significance in India.
Journalism
He worked for a weekly magazine called Velli Mani from 1946–1947, for Tamizh Pannai in 1948. He edited arguably the longest surviving Tamil literary monthly magazine,
Amudasurabhi, for over five decades (1951–2003). He started a fortnightly Tamil literary magazine
Illakiyapeedam in 1997 and is its editor and publisher.
He was also the editor of the following magazines: Kuruvi (children's weekly), Sundari (fortnightly),
Mangalam
Mangalam is a census town in Tiruppur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Geography
Mangalam is located at . It has an average elevation of 32 metres (104 feet).
It is located 1 kilometer toward the South from District headqu ...
(weekly) and Tamil Arasi (weekly).
Works
Vikiraman is known more for his novels, particularly
historical novels
Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...
, than for his short stories. He edited arguably the longest surviving Tamil literary magazine, Amudasurabhi, for well over five decades (1949–2002). He is perhaps the only Tamil writer who has tried his hand in almost every genre, in addition to novel and short story, drama, poetry, travelogue and essay. He has also written stories for children and books on history for the youth in simple Tamil.
His first historical novel, ''Udayachandran'', appeared in 1957 and he has added 33 more in the four succeeding decades. The most famous of these has been ''
Nandipurathu Nayagi'', first serialised in Amudasurabi during 1957–59, and published in book form in 1964. Nandipurathu Nayagi is in fact a sequel to ''
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
'' of his better-known contemporary and mentor,
Kalki Krishnamurthy
, birth_name = Ramasamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu
, death_date =
, death_place = Chennai, India
, occupation = journalist, critic and writer
, nationality = Indian
, education = ...
, whose influence on Vikiraman is quite significant in respect of both historical novels and short stories.
With more than 150 short stories in 62 years to his credit, Vikiraman continues to write fiction for
Ilakkiya Peetam, which he presently edits. Although he has received many accolades including the
Kalaimamani
The Kalaimamani is the highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. These awards are given by the ''Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram'' (literature, music and theatre), a unit of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of ...
title from the Tamil Nadu Government and an award from Tamil University, Thanjavur, for his literary achievements, he has admittedly a grievance that he is known only as a novelist and journalist, and not as a short story writer among the Tamil readers. And hence this collection of his 70 short stories, as he reveals his mind in ''Kathaiyin Kathai'', a sort of preface to the volume. Not an unjust grievance anyway, in this fast-track cultural ambience in which literature is loved more for its entertainment value, forcing the long, time-consuming novel to yield ground to short story as a form of literary expression. Judged from J.B. Priestley's observation that "at its best, the short story offers us a wonderfully clear little window through which we can see something of the lights and shadows, the heights and depths of life in this world," a substantial number of the stories in this collection pass the test.
Bibliography
Children's book
*Tanneer Pappa (1946)
Historical novels
Pallava Period
*Udhayachandiran
*Kanchisundari
*Kadalmallai Kaadhali
*Kovoor Koonan
*Parivadini
*Manikkaveenai
Pandya Period
*Pandyan Mahudam
*Pagaivanin Kaadhali
*Kanni Kottai Elavarasi
Chola Period
*Nandhipuraththu Nayagi
*Kulottungan Sabadam
*Chittiravalli
*Maravarman Kaadhali
*Rajadittan Sabadam
*Thyagavallabhan
*Yaazhnangai
*Chola Elavarasan Kanavu
*Therkku Vaasal Mohini
*Kondrai Malar Kumari
*Chola Mahudam
*Mangala Devan Magal
*Oruvaal Orumahudam Iruvizhikkal
*Vanjeenagar Vanjee
*Vandiya Devan Vaal
*Rajarajan Sabadam
*Gangapuri Kaavalan
*Paraandagan Magal
Social novels
Historical
*Naachiyaar Magal
*Ratnahaaram
General
*Idhayapeedam
*Thituvilakku
*Gandhimadiyin Kanavan
*Azhagu Raani
*Nalla Manidargal
*Chandiramadi
Short story collections
*Vikiraman Sirukadhaigal
*Ponnvizha Aandu Sirukadhai KALANJIYAM (51 stories)
*Azhagin Niram Amaithi
*Kuzhal Osai
*Somadevarin Uzhil
*Thanga Vigraham
*Kadamaiyum Kadaivizhiyum
*Oh! Mudhaliya Sirukadaigal
*Sanghu Devan Punarjanmam
*Pavazha Vizha Aandu Sirukadhai KALANJIYAM (70 stories)
*Swarna Kili (novella)
*Abhimaana Valli (historical short stories)
Books for youth
*Porkaalathin Kadhai
*Kaanchi Kaavalar Kadhai
Travelogues
*Vatapi Vijayam
*Mammalapuram (1947)
*Sirrpam Chittiram Gopuram Kovil
English books
*Telugu Kings in Tamil Nadu
Plays
*Sollkaatu Sedhupadi
*Parivadhini (dramatised)
*Idhayapeedam (dramatised)
*Nimmadhi (televised)
Biographies
*Mahaatmavin Paadhai
*Yeppo Varuvaro?
Edited collections
*Pannmugha Paarvaiyil Bharathiyin Padaippukal
Autobiography
*Marakka Mudiyaadhvarkal
*Ninaithu Paarkkiren Part 1&2
Honours
*1981 Tamil Nadu State Tamil Development Department Award for 'Chola Elavarasan Kanavu'
*Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyaar award by MAC Trust for the novel 'Madhurai Mahudam'
*Honorary Doctorate in Tamil Literature by World University
*1988 Tamizh Annai Virudu by Thanjavur Tamil University
*1991 Kalaimaamani by Tamil Nadu Government
*Kapila Vaannar Virudu by Thirukoviloor Cultural Association
*Narkkadai Nambi award by Kundrakkudiadikal
*Centurion Trust Award by Chennai Cosmopolitan Club
*Vaagai Chemmal Award by Salem Tamil Sangam
*Bharathiyaar Virudu by Chennai Bharathiyaar Sangam
*He has been bestowed with the titles of 'Charitra Kadhai Chemmal', 'Muttamizh Vittagar', 'Pannpattu Kaavalar', 'Sirukadhai Sekkiyaar', ' Kadhai Kalai Chemmal', 'Aruntamizh Maamani', 'Maamnidar' etc. by various cultural associations
Social services/posts Held
*President, All India Tamil Writer's Association
*Trustee, Tamil Writer's Well Being Trust
*Chief Patron, Bharathiyaar Annual Festival at Ettayapuram
*Government representative to Eyal Isai Nataka Manram
*Twice member of
Censor Board of Film Certification (Chennai Region)
References
The Hindu 13 September 2009.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vikiraman, Vembu
Tamil-language writers
20th-century Indian short story writers
1928 births
2015 deaths
Indian historical novelists
20th-century Indian novelists
Indian children's writers
Children's writers in Tamil
20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
Novelists from Tamil Nadu
Journalists from Tamil Nadu