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Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5 December 1954), better known by his pen name Kalki, was an Indian writer, journalist, poet, critic and Indian independence activist. He chose the pen-name "Kalki", the tenth and last avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu.[1] He founded a magazine, which was also named Kalki, with T Sadasivam being the co-founder, in 1941. Kalki's writings include over 120 short stories, 10 novellas, 5 novels, 3 historical romances, editorial and political writings and hundreds of film and music reviews.
Early life
Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy was born in a Tamil Brahmin family on 9th September 1899 in Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu. Krishnamurthy's father was Ramaswamy Aiyar, an accountant in Puttamangalam village in the old Tanjore district of erstwhile Madras Presidency. He began his primary education in his village school and later attended Municipal High School in Mayavaram but quit in 1921, just short of completion of his Senior School Leaving Certificate, in response to Mahatma Gandhi's 1921 call for non-co-operation joining the Indian National Congress instead.[2][3]
WORKS
Historical novels
| Serial | Name | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Parthiban Kanavu (16 October 1941 – 10 February 1943)[4] | Pallava Dynasty |
| 1 | Sivagamiyin Sapatham (1 January 1944 – 30 June 1946)[5] | Pallava Dynasty |
| 3 | Ponniyin Selvan (29 October 1950 – 16 May 1954) | Chola Dynasty |
| 4 | Solaimalai Ilavarasi (1947) | The Independence of India |
Social novels (Tamil)
- Kalvanin Kadhali (1937)
- Thyaga Bhoomi (1938–1939)
- Magudapathi (1942)
- Abalayin kaneer (1947)
- Alai Osai (1948)
- Devagiyin Kanavan (1950)
- Mohini Theevu (1950)
- Poiman Karadu (1951)
- Punnaivanathu Puli (1952)
- Amara Thara (1954)
Short stories
| Serial | Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subhathraiyin Sagodharan | |
| 2 | Otrai Roja | This story is about two strangers – a young man and a young woman – who meet on a train from Tirunelveli to Chennai. The woman is originally from Sri Lanka and the man is from Madras (now Chennai). They have failed in their respective exams and plan to end their life. Things take a different turn from here and all ends well. |
| 3 | Theepiditha Kudisaigal | |
| 4 | Pudhu Ovarsiyar | |
| 5 | Vasdhadhu Venu | |
| 6 | Amara Vazhvu | |
| 7 | Sunduvin Sanyasam | |
| 8 | Thirudan Magan Thirudan | |
| 9 | Imayamalai Engal Malai | |
| 10 | Pongumaangkadal | |
| 11 | Master Medhuvadai | Collection of 5 short stories |
| 12 | Pushpa Pallaaku | |
| 13 | Prabala Nakchatiram | |
| 14 | Pithalai Ottiyanam | |
| 15 | Arunachalathin Aluval | |
| 16 | Parisil Thurai | |
| 17 | Susila MA | |
| 18 | Kamalavin Kalyanam | |
| 19 | Tharkolai | |
| 20 | S.S.Menaka | |
| 21 | Saradhaiyin Thandhiram | |
| 22 | Governor Vijayam | |
| 23 | Kanaiyazhiyin Kanavu | |
| 24 | Banker Vinayakarao | |
| 25 | Tiger King | The story revolves around a King whose death at the hands of a tiger had been foretold by astrologers when he was born. He tries to reverse the fate spelled out for him and the author uses thinly-veiled satire to walk the reader through the King's attempts which later prove futile, in a manner that makes them laugh. |
| 26 | Punnaivanthupuli | |
| 27 | Devakiyin kanavan | |
| 28 | onbathu kulinilam | |
| 29 | number 888 | |
| 30 | Thiruvazhundhur sivakozhundhu | |
| 31 | Zamindar Mahan | |
| 32 | Mayilak kalai | |
| 33 | Rnagathurkam Raja | |
| 34 | Idintha kottai | |
| 35 | Mayilvizhi maan | |
| 36 | Thappili cup | |
| 37 | Kethariyin Thaayar | |
| 38 | Gandhimadhiyin kadalan | |
| 39 | Srikandhan punarjenmam | |
| 40 | Paladaindha Bangala | |
| 41 | Chandramathi | |
| 42 | Chiranjeevi kadhai | |
| 43 | Kadithamum kaneerum | |
| 44 | Vaira mothiram(Kaanama pogaathathu) | |
| 45 | Veenai Bavani | |
| 46 | Dhanakodiyin Manoratham |
Critical work
Kalki was also a film and music critic who wrote under the pseudonym Karnatakam.Template:Citation needed He also penned many lyrics for many songs, most of which were adapted into Carnatic Music.Template:Citation needed
Honours
- The release of a postage stamp in honour of Kalki was among the highlights of the centenary celebrations. Government of Tamil Nadu announced the nationalisation of Kalki's works, this will enable publishers to come out with reprints of his works.
- Kalki Krishnamuthy received the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award conferred on him by The Indian Fine Arts Society in 1953.
Death
Kalki died in Chennai on 5 December 1954 aged 55 years from tuberculosis. Kalki magazine's special issue dated 5 December 1954 (the day he died) for Annai Sarada Devi was his last editorial work. The magazine shared the information that his health was improving prior to his demise.[6]
Biographies of Kalki
See also
References
- ↑ Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 assumed names and their origins{{#if:Room|, Room}. Macfarland(2010). ISBN 978-0-7864-4373-4
- ↑ Renaissance man. The Hindu group(9 October 1999). Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ↑ Kalki – the man behind the legend: An intimate portrait by his daughter K. Anandhi. Indias-Best.Com Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ↑ 'சிவகாமியின் சபதம்' வைகோவின் இலக்கியச் சொற்பொழிவு. Marumalarchi DMK(March 2009).
- ↑ பொன்னியின் செல்வன் புகழ்விழா தில்லி 21.12.2007. Marumalarchi DMK(March 2009).
- ↑ Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam December 2014 page 36,37
- ↑ Poṉṉiyiṉ putalvar{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Vāṉati Patippakam(1999)
- ↑ Third edition biography on Kalki released. The New Indian Express(22 April 2013). Retrieved 12 April 2015.
External links
- Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil) Wikisource (Unicode)
- Kalki's novels online, Chennailibrary.com (in Tamil)
- Ponniyin Selvan Facts and Fiction, ponniyinselvan.in
- English translation by Nandini Vijayaraghavan of Sivakamiyin Sabadham
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