Era Natarasan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Era Natarasan
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Born | Lalgudi, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
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8 December 1964
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Occupation | Children's writer |
Title | Headmaster of the Krishnasamy Memorial Matric Higher Secondary School |
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Era Natarasan (born December 8, 1964), also known as Ayesha Natarasan, is a famous Indian writer. He writes books for children in both Tamil and English. He is well-known for his book Ayesha, which has sold millions of copies and been translated into 12 languages. Natarasan has written over 150 books, many of them about science and science fiction. His book Vigyana Vikramadhithyan Kadhaigal won the "Bal Sahitya Puraskar Award" for Children's Literature from the Sahitya Academy.
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Life and Career of Era Natarasan
Era Natarasan is the Principal, or Headmaster, of the Krishnasamy Memorial Matric Higher Secondary School. This school is located in Cuddalore, a town on the coast near Puducherry, India.
How Era Natarasan Started Writing
Natarasan began his writing journey as a poet in 1982 for a Tamil weekly magazine called Ananda Vikatan. Later, he became very interested in writing short stories, especially science and science fiction for young readers. So far, he has written 83 books, with 72 in Tamil and 11 in English.
Award-Winning Science Stories
His book, Vigyana Vikramadhithyan Kadhaikal (published in 2009), tells the history of important medical discoveries. It covers things like the polio vaccine, insulin, and the malaria vaccine. This book received the Bala Sahitya Puraskar award in 2014. This is a special annual award from the Sahitya Academy for children literature.
Books for Teachers and Scientists
Natarasan's recent book for teachers, Idhu yarudaya vagupparai (which means Whose Classroom Is It?), won the Tamil Valarchithurai Virudhu in 2015. He had already received this award in 2001 for his book about mathematics, Kanidhathin kadhai. Natarasan also created a series of 10 English books called Scientific Revolution. These books are about famous scientists like Galileo Galilei, Gregor Mendel, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein. He is also the writer and editor of The Puthagam Pesudhu, a Tamil monthly magazine all about books.
Short Films Based on His Stories
Four of Era Natarasan's stories have been turned into short films.
- Ayesha was made into a 28-minute short film by B. Sivakumar in 2000. This short film won the National Film Award for Best Short Film of the year at the National Film Festival in New Delhi.
- Madhi is another short story that was published in India Today magazine. It tells a story about the daily lives of people from different backgrounds. This story was filmed by cinematographer and editor B. Lenin.
- Rathathin Vannathil (meaning The Color of Blood) is a story that won the Ilakkiya Chindhanai Award. It was later made into a full-length movie called Chellamma by Director Pa. Sivakumar.
- Vattathin Pakkangal (meaning The Sides of a Circle) was also filmed as a full-length movie by Director Pa. Sivakumar.
- Ayesha Natarasan also had a small role in Director Thangar Bachan's well-known film, Ammavin Kaipesi.
Era Natarasan's Work in Education
Era Natarasan is an expert in education and psychology. He actively supports different ways of learning and teaching.
Supporting New Ways to Learn
He translated Paulo Freire's book Pedagogy of the Oppressed into Tamil. This book is about education and how people learn. Natarasan also worked as a main expert for UNICEF workshops in Tamil Nadu. These workshops focused on the Right to Education Act. He was a key member of the Vasanthi Devi Committee, which worked on ideas for a different education policy. Ayesha Natarasan was also part of the Text Book committee formed by the Government of Tamil Nadu. This committee helped create a common school syllabus.
Sharing Ideas on TV and in Magazines
As an education activist, Natarasan has often taken part in TV discussions about education. He has appeared on shows like Star Vijay's Neeya Naana and Sun TV (India)'s Virundhinar Pakkam. His articles and interviews about education have been published in many popular magazines and newspapers. These include The Hindu, Ananda Vikatan, The Times of India, Kungumam Vazhikatti, and Kalki Magazine. Era Natarasan is also very active in book festivals and children's content seminars. He helps train people and shares his knowledge at literary events.
Organizing Book Festivals
Ayesha Era Natarasan was the main organizer of the "National Children's Book Festival". This big event took place in Cuddalore, South India, from November 10 to 15, 2017. It was organized together with the National Book Trust, Books For Children, and Sahitya Akademi. More than 50,000 children took part in this festival. On June 30, 2018, Era Natarasan gave a talk at the Anna Centenary Library. His talk was about "Books That Changed The World."
Awards and Recognitions
Era Natarasan has received many awards and honors for his work.
Year of Award | Name of Award | Awarding Organization |
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1995 | Ilakiya Chindhanai Award (Best Short Story) | Ilakya Chindhanai, Chennai. |
2001 | Tamil Valarchithurai Award | Government of Tamil Nadu. |
2002 | Thirpur Tamil Sangam Award (Best Translation award) | Thirupur Tamil Sangam. |
2008 | Dr. Radhakrishnan Award | Government of Tamil Nadu. |
2013 | Tamil Valarchithurai Award | Government of Tamil Nadu. |
2014 | Vikatan Award (Best children fiction) | Ananda Vikatan. |
2014 | Nigari Award (Samathuva Arisiyar of the year) | Manarkeni Pathippagam (publications). |
2014 | Bal Sahitya Puraskar Award | Sahitya Akademi, Government of India. |
2015 | Sujatha Award (Best Siru Pathirigai) | Uyirmmai magazine, Sujatha Trust. |
2016 | Distinguished Alumni Award | Jamal mohamed college. |
Notable Books by Era Natarasan
Here are some of the important books written by Era Natarasan:
- Vaasik kalam (2017, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Oru Thozhanum Moonru Nanbargalum (2006, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Rose (2002, Books for children)
- Ayesha (2000, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- kodhaidoscope (2014, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Srinrvasa Ramanujam-125 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Kanitha Methaigalin Facebook, ISBN: 9789381908945. (2012, Books for children)
- Neengalum Vingani Aaga Vendum Endru Vrumbugireerkala, ISBN: 9789383661718 Bharathi Puthakalayam
- Nano Thozhilnutpam, ISBN: 9789380325996 (2010, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Eyarpiyal Parisothanaigal, ISBN: 9789384421205 (2000, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Booma. ISBN: 9789381908761 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Darwin School, ISBN: 9789384421335 (2014, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Ureka Count, ISBN: 978818476617-2 (2000, vikatan)
- Michael Faraday (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Oru Thooya Mozhiyin Thuyara Kuzhandhaikal, ISBN: 978818737152-6 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Madhi Ennum manidhanin maranam kurithu ,ISBN: 9789381908013 (Sneha publication)
- Palitheen Paigal (novel), ISBN: 978-818737152-6 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Ithu Yarudaiya Vagupparai, ISBN: 9789383661060 (2013, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Ulaga Kalviyalargal, ISBN: 9789381908662 (2009, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Semmnozhigal, (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Ulagileye Magizhchiyana Siruvan, ISBN: 9789381908976 (2012, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Nee Erumbukalai Nesikkiraayaa, ISBN: 9789380325682 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Vaanga Ariviyal Pesalaam, ISBN: 9789385377372 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Uruvaakum Ullam, ISBN: 9789385377976 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Pavlov, ISBN: 978-93-85377-49-5 (Books for children)
- Antoine Lavisier, ISBN: 978-93-85377-45-7 (Books for children)
- Issac Newton, ISBN: 978-93-85377-44-0 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
- Wings of Learning (will RTE service) (Indian University Press)
See also
- List of Indian writers