ASOKAMITRAN – the great writer and Sahithya Academy winner

Academy winner, Asokamitran.He is one of the best known contemporary Tamil
writers.

Asokamitran began his literary career with the prize wining play Anbin
Parisu, which was followed by many short stories, a collection of novellas,
Viduthalai and eight novels including Karainda Nizhalgal,Padinettaavadu
Atchakodu and Vizhaa Maalai Podil.

Asokamitran has been the recipient of many literary awards, including the
Sahitya Akademi Award in 1996 for his collection of short stories ‘Appavin
Snehithargal’

He was awarded Creative Writing American fellowship by the University of
Iowa.

J. Thyagarajan, as he was known in his school days, was born in
Secunderabad, AndhraPradesh in 1931. He says the liberal atmosphere of the
Mehboob College campus, where he finished his early education influenced his
writings. He used to participate in debates, oratorical, essay and
recitation competitions, especially those related to Shakespeare’s works,
while a student.

Later, he joined the Nizam College, Hyderabad to pursue a graduation in
Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Being a voracious reader, he spent a lot of
time in the library.

His father who was then employed with the railways passed away, and the
family shifted to Chennai.

Those were hard times for the family and Asokamitran joined the Gemini
Studios.

Asokamitran’s first short story ‘Hour of the return’ was published in Deccan
Herald in 1955. His first Tamil story ‘Nadagathin Mudivu’ was published in
the monthly magazine Kalaimagal in 1957.

By 1966, he became a full time writer and his articles were published in the
Illustrated weekly and Times of India. He writes both, in English as well as
Tamil.

His writings are based on his own experiences of contemporary events, he
said. ‘18th Atchakodu’ a Tamil work based the aftermath of freedom from the
Nizam’s rule in Hyderabad and was translated into many regional languages
like Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi. The work also fetched him the Ramakrishna
Dalmia Harmony Award.

Asokamitran toured Srilanka, Singapore and European countries to address
various literary meetings.

Some of his stories are included in the NCERT syllabus and also in Tamil
text books. Although he still writes, he no longer attends meetings and
functions.

Asokamitran says, ‘I feel sad when I see that nowadays students are over
burdened and they get very little chance to widen their knowledge. I would
like to advice the students to read more as reading leads to reflection
which in turn leads to clarity’, says the great writer.

Ashokamitran resides at No.1A, 9th Cross Avenue, Dhandeeswaram nagar,
Velachery. Phone No. 2243 2703.