Daniel Selvaraj facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daniel Selvaraj
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| Born | 14 January 1938 Thenkalam, Thirunelveli district, Tamilnadu
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| Died | 20 December 2019 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | lawyer, writer |
| Spouse(s) | Bharathaputhri |
| Children | Siddharthan, Sevagan, Veda Gnanalakshmi |
D. Selvaraj (14 January 1938 – 20 December 2019) was a famous Tamil writer from Tamil Nadu, India. He wrote many novels, short stories, and plays in Tamil. Besides writing, he was also a lawyer. He was part of groups that supported writers, like the Progressive Writers Association of Tamil Nadu. His novel "Thol" won the Tamil Nadu Government's literary award in 2011. This book was about the lives of tannery workers. He spent ten years researching for "Thol" before writing it. In 2012, "Thol" also won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil.
Contents
Life and Works of D. Selvaraj
Early Life and Education
D. Selvaraj was born in 1938 in Thenkalam, a village in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. His parents, Daniel and Gnanam Ammal, worked as laborers on tea plantations in Munnar. This area is near the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
He studied at Hindu College in Tirunelveli, earning his B.A. degree in 1959. Later, he studied law at Madras Law College in Madras, finishing in 1962.
Becoming a Writer
Selvaraj found inspiration from famous writers like Maupassant, Dickens, and Thomas Hardy. His college principal, Professor Alexandar Gnanamuthu, introduced him to the works of Shakespeare. This sparked his lifelong love for good literature.
He published his very first short story in Janasakthi, a weekly magazine. He also wrote regularly for Shanthi, a progressive literary magazine. He was influenced by the ideas of P. Jeevanandham, a well-known Communist leader. Selvaraj then joined the Progressive Writers Association of Tamil Nadu.
Notable Books and Plays
Selvaraj's short stories and novels often appeared in popular literary magazines. His first important novel was Malarum Sarugum (1967). This book was about farmers' protests in the Tirunelveli district. It is seen as one of the first "Dalit" novels written in Tamil, focusing on the lives of people facing social challenges.
In 1973, he wrote Thaeneer, which told the story of tea plantation workers. He also wrote several plays. Two of his most famous plays are Yugasangamam (1968) and "Paatu Mudiyum Munnae."
- Yugasangamam won the best play award from the Tamil Nadu Government. It is even studied by students at Delhi University.
- "Paatu Mudiyum Munnae" was performed across Tamil Nadu. The lyrics for this play were written by the famous poet Paatukkottai Kalayanasundaram.
Dedication to Research
Selvaraj was known for doing a lot of research for his novels. He would spend many years gathering information before writing. A great example of this is his novel "Thol."
For "Thol," he spent ten years researching the lives of tannery workers in Dindigul. This deep research helped him write a very realistic and powerful story. "Thol" won the Tamil Nadu Government Award for best novel in 2009. It also received the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2012.
Later Life
D. Selvaraj spent his later years living in Dindigul. He was married to Bharathaputri. They had three children: Siddharthan Prabhu, Sarvagan Prabhu, and Veda Gnanalakshmi. He balanced his time between writing, working as a lawyer, and enjoying time with his five grandchildren.
