Periyasaamy Thooran

Infobox Person
name = Periasamy Thooran

---

birth_date = September 26, 1908
death_date = January 20, 1987
birth_place = Modakurichi
nationality = Indian
other_names = Thooran
known_for = Tamil Literature, Carnatic Music, Tamil Encyclopedia
education = Presidency College, Chennai
spouse = Kaliammal

Periyasaami Thooran (September 26, 1908 - January 20, 1987) was a patriot, Tamil poet, teacher, and a composer of Carnatic music.

Early life

Periyasami Thooran was born to K.A. Palanivelappa Gounder and Paavaathal in September 26, 1908 at Manjakattuvalasu near Modakurichi in Erode district in India.He got Padma Bhushan from President of India 1968. He was greatly influenced and inspired by Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar and Mahatma Gandhi. When a student in college he published a monthly magazine called 'Pithan' and also wrote poems and short stories. He declined to sit his examination for Bachelor of Arts shocked by the execution by the British of the Bhagat Singh. Thooran gained his B.A. (Major : Mathematics, Minor: Astronomy ) and L.T. (Licentiate in Teaching) later.

Literary career

A prolific writer, he composed over six hundred songs on national, spiritual and moral issues. He wrote 'a poem a day' for several years after his daily poojas. He became popular and the melody queens N.C.Vasanthakokilam and D. K. Pattammal always included his works in their concerts. A man with noble ideals, Thooran is an acknowledged poet and composer. Analogous to Tyagaraja's 'Santhamulekha, Soukyamuledhu' (set to Sama rāgam), Thooran's 'Santhamillamal sukham undo?' (Nattaikurinji) stresses that there is no joy without patience and no contentment amidst worries. Deep philosophical truths lay hidden in his simple devotional songs. Musical aesthetics and bhava find abundant evidence in his compositions.

While he was not a musician, he had profound poetic talents. Like Arunachala Kavirayar, he had to seek outside help to set his lyrics to music. Sivaramakrishna Iyer (who was born in 1913 in Mavelikara, Kerala and had joined Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya as music teacher in 1937) was his guru and choreographer. Thooran also availed of the services of senior musicians like K. V. Narayanaswamy, T.K. Govinda Rao and T. V. Sankaranarayanan.

Tiger Varadachariar, Musiri Subramania Iyer and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer are three of the eminent musicians who have spoken highly of his compositions. His popular compositions include Gananaathane (Saranga), Kaliyuga Varadhan (Brindavana Saranga), Muralidhara Gopala (Maand), Muruga Muruga (Saveri) [http://www.raaga.com/getclip.asp?id=999999007202] , Pazhani Nindra (Kapi), Punniyam Oru (Keeravani) and Thaye Thripurasundhari (Shuddha Saveri).

Note: A biographical sketch on Thooran [http://www.geocities.com/pthooran/thooranByRayappan.pdf] by Rayappan is available for reference.

Contributions to Tamil literature

His songs were published in five volumes entitled 'Isai Mani Manjari'. Other publications include 'Thooran Stories' (1962), 'Nalla Nalla Paattu' (1965), 'Call of the Wild' and 'Bharati' for children, some of which were purchased by Tamil Isai Sangam.

He was Chief Editor from 1948 to 1978 of the Tamil Encyclopaedia which ran to ten volumes. The credit for bringing out the first-ever Children's Encyclopaedia in the Tamil in ten volumes goes to him.

Tamil books written and published by Thooran

I. Four Volumes of Poetry
1. Ilanthamizha 2. Minnal Poo 3. Nilap Pinju 4. Patti Paravaigal

II. Six Volumes of Short Story Collections
1. Thanga Changili2. Pillai Varam3. Maavilakku4. Kaalingarayan Kodai5. Urimaip Penn6. Thooran Ezhuthoviyangal

III. Three Volumes of Literary Essays
1. Thein Chittu2. Poovin Sirippu3. Kaattu Vazhithanile

IV. Plays
1. Azhagu Mayakkam2. Ponniyin Thyagam3. Choozhchi4. Ilan Thuravi5. Aadhi Aththi6. Manak Kugai7. Kaadhalum Kadamaiyum

V. Books on Psychology
1. Kuzanthai Ullam2. Kuzanthai Manamum Athan Malarchiyum3. Thazhvu Manappanmai4. Adi Manam5. Manamum Adhan Villakamum6. Kumara Paruvam

VII. Book on Embryology
1. Karuvil Valarum Kuzhandhai

VIII. Book on Genetics
1.Paarambariyam2.Petror Kodutha Perung Kodai

IX. Books for Children
a. Songs
1. Aanaiyum Poonaiyum2. Nalla Nalla Pattu3. Mazhalai Amudham
b. Animal Stories and Other Stories
1.Natya Rani2.Jimmy3.Nila Paatti4.Olai Kili5.Thambiyin Thiramai6. Kadakkitti Mudakkitti 7. Manjal Muttai
c. Long Stories for Children
1. Maaya Kallan2. Soorap Puli3. Kollimalai Kullan4. Sangagiri Kottaiyin Marmam5. Tharangambody Thangappudhaiyal
d. Science Book for Children
1. Parakkum Manidhan

X. Musical Compositions with Swara Notations
1. Two Volumes published through Annamalai University Containing 150 songs2. Isai Mani Malai3. Isai Mani Manjari4. Murugan Arul Mani Maalai5. Keerthanai Amudham

XI. Folk Songs
Katril Vandha Kavithai

XII. Translations from English to Tamil
1. Kanagathin Kural (Original – Jack London’s call of the wild)2. Kadal Kadandha Natppu – (Original Naomi Mitchison’s Judy and Lakshmi)3. Paravaigalaip Par – (Original Jamal Aara’s Watching Binds)

XIII. Editions
1. Bharathi Tamizh2. Thakurin Aimperum Katturaigal

XIV. Published from Palm Leave Manuscripts
1. Poet Kalamega’s Chithira Madal – Published with Anotations and Explanatory notes – (Poetry)2. Vadivel Pillai’s Mohini Vilasam (Dance Drama)3. Avinashi Navalan’s Thingalur Nonndi Nadakam – (Folk Song)

XV Books on Bharathi
1. Bharathi Noolagal Oru thiranaivu2. Bharathiyarin Nagaichuvaiyum,Naiyaandiyum.3. Bharathiyum Ulagamum4. Bharathiyum Kadavulum5. Bharathiyum Samoogamum6. Bharathiyum Thamizhagamum7. Bharathiyum Paattum8. Bharathiyum Paapaavum9. Bharathiyum Pennmaiyum10. Bharathiyum Bharatha Desamum

XVI. Compilation of Encyclopedias
1. General Encyclopedia, 10 Volumes2. Children’s Encyclopedia, 10 Volumes

Values

His life was one of fulfilment and enduring contribution of intellectual excellence. The moral code of conduct he set for himself was high. When T.S. Avinashilingam Chettiar granted him a salary of Rs.30, he took only Rs.15 per mensem.

Honours and Titles

Padma Bhushan by President of India 1968

Isai Perarignar by Tamil Isai Sangam 1972

Kalaimamani by Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram 1970

Annamalai Chettiar Award by MAC Charities 1978

References

* [http://entertainment.vsnl.com/thooran/index.html]
* [http://www.karnatik.com/co1061.shtml]
* [http://entertainment.vsnl.com/thooran/Thooran_Biography.html]

External links

* [http://entertainment.vsnl.com/thooran/index.html]