->ரஞ்சித் பரமசிவம் at 07:05, 19 December 2021

2021-12-19T07:05:45Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = K. A. P. Viswanatham
|native_name =
|image = KAP Viswnatham 2010 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size =245px
| caption = Viswnatham on a 2010 stamp of India
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1899|11|10}}
| birth_place = [[Trichinopoly]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1994|12|19|1899|11|10}}
| occupation = Writer, activist, orator
}}

'''K. A. P. Viswanatham Pillai''' (10 November 1899 – 19 December 1994)<ref name=sipa>{{cite web|title=Stamp News|url=http://www.sipa.org.in/bulletin/Jan-Mar%202011.pdf|access-date=18 October 2013|publisher=South India Philatelists' Association|page=2}}</ref> was a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] scholar, orator and social activist. Despite having no formal education he developed an interest towards the [[Tamil literature]] and [[Siddha medicine]] and learned them by himself.<ref name=sipa /> His father Periyanna and his elder brother Krishnan and Arumugam living as a joint family. They also doing a joint venture business (tobacco) with the name of K.A.P. That precedes Viswanathan as K.A.P Viswanathan. He also took part in politics and was an active member of [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]]. He became the first General Secretary of the party,<ref>{{cite news|title=Anbazhagan calls for urgent action to help Sri Lankan Tamils|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112454340400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221043317/http://hindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112454340400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2009|access-date=23 October 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 November 2008}}</ref> a position which he continued to hold till 1940 after which [[C. N. Annadurai]] took over.{{Sfn|Kannan|2010|p=8}}{{Sfn|Vēṅkaṭācalapati|2006|p=120}} He also took part in the [[Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937–40]] and was imprisoned.<ref>{{cite web|title=Against Hindi Imposition|url=http://www.dmk.in/hindi.html|publisher=DMK|access-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203020/http://www.dmk.in/hindi.html|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Viswanatham was also instrumental in launching the [[Tamil University]] at [[Thanjavur]].<ref name=sipa />

==Biography==
K. A. P. Viswanatham was born in 1899 in Tiruchirappalli, [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] to Periyanna Pillai and Subbammal.<ref name=Mumbai_GPO>{{cite web|title=K.A.P. Viswanatham|url=http://www.mumbaigpophilately.gov.in/commonpages/StampImage.asp?Sid=2488|publisher=[[General Post Office (Mumbai)|General Post Office]]|access-date=18 October 2013}}</ref> As a child, he did not attend any school but developed an interest towards Tamil literature.<ref name=Mumbai_GPO /> At the age of five, he began learning the language and would go on to become an established scholar.<ref name=Mumbai_GPO /> He was also passionate about [[Siddha medicine]]. He entered politics and joined the Justice Party and was made the General secretary, a position he would serve till 1940. He resigned as the secretary due to the differences of opinion that he had with the party leader [[Periyar E. V. Ramasamy]], after which [[C. N. Annadurai]] succeeded him.{{Sfn|Kaṇēcan|2003|p=19}} Viswanatham died on 19 December 1994 at the age of 95.<ref name=Mumbai_GPO />

==Legacy==
* During his lifetime, Viswanatham was awarded with two [[Honorary doctorate|doctorates]].<ref name=sipa />
* Higher secondary school established on his memory in Tiruchirappalli,<ref>{{cite news|title=K.A.P. Viswanatham Higher Secondary School|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/kap-viswanatham-higher-secondary-school/article2270017.ece|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 September 2007|author=Syed Muthahar Saqaf}}</ref> his hometown
* [[K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College]] is named after him.<ref>{{cite news|title=New set of students at KAP College vow to serve in rural areas|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/New-set-of-students-at-KAP-College-vow-to-serve-in-rural-areas/articleshow/21540354.cms|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=2 August 2013}}</ref>
* A postage stamp was issued under Viswanatham's name on 10 October 2010 by the [[Government of India]].<ref name=Mumbai_GPO />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Cited sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Kaṇēcan|first=Pi. Ci|title=C.N. Annadurai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5oduAAAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|isbn=978-81-230-1101-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Kannan|first=R.|title=Anna: The Life and Times of C.N. Annadurai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQc_Xi0J8M0C&pg=PA88|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-670-08328-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Vēṅkaṭācalapati|first=Ā. Irā|title=In Those Days There was No Coffee: Writings in Cultural History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tk-KZmcUEvAC&pg=PA120|year=2006|publisher=Yoda Press|isbn=978-81-902272-7-8}}
{{refend}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viswanatham, K. A. P.}}
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:Politicians from Tiruchirappalli]]
[[Category:Tamil scholars]]
[[Category:Justice Party (India) politicians]]
[[Category:Tamil activists]]
[[Category:Indian reformers]]
[[Category:Tamil-language writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Thiruvalluvar Award]]

{{India-activist-stub}}

K. A. P. Viswanatham - Revision history

->ரஞ்சித் பரமசிவம் at 07:05, 19 December 2021