Chennai: After eight long years, the State government has released the list of 201 artists eligible for prestigious ‘Kalaimamani’ award. One among the recipient is Tirupur Krishnan, a journalist, writer and orator who has been recognised for his immense contribution to Tamil literature spanning over four decades. In a tete-a-tete with News Today an elated Krishnan shares how it all began.
At the outset, the multi-faceted Krishnan expresses his gratitude to the committee that shortlisted him for the award. ‘This announcement comes after 2011 and I feel glad that the accolade is being conferred on deserving artists,’ shares Krishnan.
Thus far, he has written more than 5,000 traditional (marabu) poems, published around 10 books in his son’s publication ‘Tirupur Kumaran Publication’ and writes short stories regularly in leading newspapers and magazines. In yet another accomplishment, he has written around 1,500 rare stories of events that are culled from Ramayana.
THE INCEPTION
The desire to become a writer goes back to his college days. However, it was not an easy ride for his father did not approve when Krishnan expressed his desire to major in Tamil.
“My father wanted me to become an auditor and settle down soon in life. However, it was only my mother’s constant support that pushed me to pursue the language in undergraduation and postgraduation level. Soon after enrolling in college, many of my poems were being published in the college magazine which later convinced my father that I would excel in a literary career,” recalls the sexagenarian.
Completing his education in Thiruppur Chikanna Government Arts College and Coimbatore PSG Arts and Science College, with an ambitious desire to venture into journalism, in 1970s he landed in Madras and secured a job at Deepam literary monthly where he was further trained under novelist, editor and writer, Deepam Na Parthasarathy, whom he calls his ‘Gnana Guru’.
TRAINING
“Although I worked with the publication only for five years, it so happened that I travelled with the editor for more than 12 years after joining one of the leading Tamil dailies,” says the author, who lives in Saligramam.
“In addition to honing my professional skills, he presided over my wedding and also christened my son ‘Anandan’ after the protagonist in his Kurinji Malar,” Krishnan recalls.
The writer also says that he got an opportunity to work under six famous editors – A N Sivaraman, Deepam N Parthasarathy, K R Vasudevan, K Kasthuri Rangan and Airavatham Mahadevan. Following which, he went on to work with several online and print magazines and has moved with a galaxy of stalwarts.
AWARDS
Speaking about the recognition he has received for his works, he adds, “For my poem ‘Vande Mataram, Ondre Bharatham’ I was conferred the National Integration Award by All India Radio a decade ago and short story ‘Pattoli Veesi’ won three awards which was written marking 50 years of independent India.”
When asked about the themes he likes to write about, he says, “Most of my tales surround women empowerment and Dalit uplift. I do not know if it is because I have four sisters that I am able to pen down women’s problems, many readers have given positive feedback on the cause that I write for,” shares Krishnan.
Having published three volumes of short stories from Ramayana, the writer plans to bring out 15 more volumes for which he is currently working on.
| FROM HIS STABLE |
| * Nala Charitham * Apoorva Ramayanam – Kaatrin Kural, Hanuman Kadhaigal, Sri Rama Jayam * Aravindamudham * Sri Annai |