Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai

Manonmaniyam P. Sundaram Pillai
Born Manmoniyam Perumal Sundaram Pillai
4 April 1855
Died 26 April 1897(1897-04-26) (aged 42)
Occupation writer, scholar
Spouse(s) Sivagami Ammal

Manonmaniyam P. Sundaram Pillai (4 April 1855 – 26 April 1897) was an Indian scholar, noted for the famous Tamil drama Manonmaniyam.[1]

Early life

He was born in the area of Alleppey in Travancore, to Perumal Pillai and Madathi Ammal (Māṭatti'am'māḷ மாடத்தி அம்மாள்). Pillai studied religious literature such as Tevaram, Thiruvasagam during his childhood. Nagapattinam Narayana Samy Pillai was his Tamil language teacher. He completed his B.A. in 1876 and in the following year, he married Sivagami Ammal (Civakāmi am'māḷ சிவகாமி அம்மாள்).

Career

His career as an educator began in 1877. He became the Principal at a bilingual English-Tamil school in Tirunelveli, playing a key role in the school's development. Pillai later taught philosophy at H. H. The Maharaja's College, Thiruvananthapuram and he completed his M.A. in 1880. During that period he became acquainted with Robert Harvey.

Sundaram showed his respect for Harvey, a Scottish Professor of Philosophy and English at The Maharaja's College, by dedicating his drama Manonmaniyam to him, and naming his farmhouse after him.[2] Together they wrote the book, Some Early Sovereigns of Travancore.

The MDT Hindu College, Tirunelveli, of which he was the first Principal, describes his works as follows:[3]

He established Saiva Prakasha Sabha at Trivandram in 1885. He taught Swami Vivekananda about the Saiva Sidhantham. In 1885, he published Chathira Saugiragam, commonly known as Nootrogai Villakkam. He wrote and published his masterpiece Manonmaniam in 1891. In the same year, he became a member Fellow of Madras University (FMU). In 1897, Some Early Sovereigns of Travancore was published and he became a Member of Royal Asiatic Society (MRAS).

He published Some Milestones in the History of Tamil Literature in 1895.

Recognition

Pillai became a Member of Fellow of Royal Historical Society (FRHS). To honor his accomplishments South Indian historical research, the Madras Government gave him the title of 'Rao Bhagadur' in 1896.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate by a German university.

Death

He died of diabetes on 26 April 1897, at age 42.

Legacy

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University was named after him.

The 1942 cinema adaptation Manonmani, is considered a classic film.[1]

The song "Niraarum Kadal Udutha" from Manonmaniam was adapted as "Invocation to Goddess Tamil" and approved by the Government of Tamil Nadu as the official Tamil anthem in June 1970.

Works

  • Nūṟṟokai viḷakkam (நூற்றொகை விளக்கம்) (Tamil,1888)
  • Maṉōṉmaṇīyam (மனோன்மணீயம்) (Drama, 1891)
  • Some early sovereigns of Travancore (திருவிதாங்கூர் பண்டை மன்னர் கால ஆராய்ச்சி. P.S. Natarajan. 1894.
  • Some Milestones in the History of Tamil Literature: Found in an Enquiry Into the Age of Tiru Gnana Sambandha. Addison & Company. 1895.
  • Tamiḻttāy vāḻttu (தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Randor Guy (19 December 2010). "Manonmani 1942". The Hindu.
  2. ↑ "University of Glasgow :: International Story :: Robert Harvey". Internationalstory.gla.ac.uk. 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  3. ↑ "Madurai Diraviyam Thayumanavar Hindu College, Tirunelveli". Mdthinducollegetirunelveli.org. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
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