Parithimar Kalaignar

Parithimar Kalaignar(Tamil:பரிதிமாற் கலைஞர)(real name:V. G. Suryanarayana Sastri) (b.August 11 1870cite news | last= | first= | title= பரிதிமாற் கலைஞர் பிறந்த தின விழா (139th birth anniversary of Parithimar Kalaignar) | date=August 11, 2008 | url = http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/art-culture/essays/2008/1108-139th-birth-anniversary-of-parithimar.html | work =Greynium Informnation Technologies Pvt. Ltd. | language=Tamil |accessdate = 2008-09-09] -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 and is best remembered for these efforts.cite news | last= | first= | title= Contributions of personalities to Tamil enrichment recalled | date=August 18, 2007 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/18/stories/2007081861401000.htm | work = The Hindu: Tamil Nadu | accessdate = 2008-09-09] cite news | last= Saravanan | first= T. | title= Suryanarayana Sastri's house to be converted into a memorial | date=September 11, 2006 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/11/stories/2006091117480200.htm | work = The Hindu: Tamil Nadu | accessdate = 2008-09-09]

Life

Suryanarayana Sastri was born at Tirupparankunram in a Brahmin family.Cite web|url=http://www.tntdpc.com/government/tdc.pdf|title=TAMIL DEVELOPMENT - CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, POLICY NOTE 2006 - 2007, Demand No. 46|accessdate=2008-09-09|publisher=Tamil Nadu Government|year=2006-2007|author=M. Karunanidhi|language=English] He graduated in Tamil 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.

Campaign for recognition of Tamil as classical language

Suryanarayana Sastri had immense love for Tamil and wrote plenty of books. He even changed his Sanskrit name to its Tamil translation. cite book | title=The Tamils and Their Culture| last=Sastri| first=K. S. Ramaswami| date=1967| pages=47| publisher=Annamalai University| location=Chennai]

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. In 1902, he proposed that Tamil be designated as a "classical language" thereby becoming the first person to make such a petition. Parithimar Kalignar is also known as Dravida Sastri.cite news | last= | first= | title= Parithimar Kalaignar’ memorial opened | date=November 1, 2007 | url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/01/stories/2007110161471000.htm | work = The Hindu: Tamil Nadu | accessdate = 2008-09-09]

Parithimar Kalaignar was also the first to use the Tamil name "Kumarinadu" for the mythical lost-land of Lemuria.cite book | title=Fabulous Geographies Catastropic Histories: The Lost Land of Lemuria| last=Ramaswamy| first=Sumathi| date=2005| pages=104| publisher=Orient Longman| id=ISBN 8178241102, ISBN 9788178241104]

Death

Paritihimar Kalaignar died in 1903 due to tuberculosis at the young age of 33.

Legacy

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 rupees 15 lakh towards nationalizing his books.Cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/budget/archives/budsp07_08_3.htm|title=Budget Speech 2007-2008|accessdate=2008-09-09|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu]

On August 17, 2007, postage stamps were issued in memory of Saint Vallalar, Parithimar Kalaignar and Maraimalai Adigal.cite journal | author=Madhukar Jhingan, Savita Jhingan| title=The News, Views, & Features on Philately & Postal Services of India| journal=Stamps of India Collectors Companion| year=2007| issue=303| page=2| url=http://www.stampsofindia.com/newssite/Download/303.pdf]

On December 13, 2006, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi extended an amount of Rs. 15 lakh to the Tamil scholar's descendants.cite news | last= | first= | title= பரிதிமாற் கலைஞர் வாரிசுகளுக்கு ரூ15 லட்சம் (CM extends help to Parithimar Kalaignar's family) | date=December 14, 2006 | url = http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2006/12/02/cm.html | work =Greynium Informnation Technologies Pvt. Ltd. | language=Tamil |accessdate = 2008-09-09]

See also

* Tanittamil Iyakkam

Notes