T. M. Chidambara Ragunathan

T. M. Chidambara Ragunathan Biography

T. M. Chidambara Ragunathan was a prominent writer and literary critic belonging to Tamil literature. He was a journalist too. His works include – biography, Literary criticism, Literary research, poetry, novels, short story collections, and a few translation works. Panchum Pasiyum, Bharathi: Kaalamum Karuthum and Ilango adigal yaar? are his most famous literary works. He has participated in Indian independence movement, and has been jailed for his participation in Quit India Movement. In 1983, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil for his literary criticism – Bharathi: Kalamum Karuthum. Noted writer and orator A. Srinivasa Raghavan was his mentor and guru.

T. M. Chidambara Ragunathan was also known as T. M. C. Ragunathan, Tho. Mu. Si. Ragunathan or Tho. Mu. Si. He was born on 20 October 1923 in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. His elder brother T. M. Bhaskara Thondaman was a noted writer and civil servant. During his younger days he participated in freedom struggle movement. His first short story was published in the year 1941. His career as a journalist began in 1944 when he worked as sub-editor in Dina Mani, followed by Mullai in 1946. He published his first novel, Puyal in 1945. Other published novels include Silai pesitrru, Panchum pasiyum and Marudha Pandiyan.

He published his first short story collection in 1951. His short story collections include - Serril Malarndha Senthamarai, Kshanapitham, Sudarmam and Ragunathan Kadhaigal. He has given some amazing contributions towards the field of literary criticism and research. Bharati kaalamum karuthum, Gangayum Kaviriyum, Bharatiyum Shelliyum, Ilakkia vimarsanam and Samudhaya Ilakkiam are among his acclaimed works belonging to this genre. He was a close friend of revolutionary writer Pudhumaipithan and also Ku. Alagirisami.

Published: September 02, 2018

Updated: September 02, 2018