PILLAR TIMES

April 12 - April 18, 2015
PILLAR TIMES www.localnewspaper.in 7
Legendry writer Jayakanthan passes away
Legendary Tamil writer
D Jayakanthan, who
charted a new course
in Tamil literature
with his bold and
progressive works, died
on Wednesday night
following a prolonged
illness. He is a resident
of 94th Street, 15th
Sector, K. K. Nagar, He
was 81 years .
Jayakanthan had not
been keeping well for
quite some time, his
son Jayasimhan told
in a press release.
A prolific writer of
novels and short
stories, Jayakanthan
is survived by his wife,
two daughters and son.
He has written around
40 novels and 200 short
stories and used his
pen effectively against
social injustices and
economic inequality.
His popular novel,
'Sila Nerangalil Sila
Manithargal', which
was later made into
a film, won him the
Sahitya Akademi
Award in 1972. He
was also a recipient of
the Jnanpith Award in
2002.
Born in Manjakuppam
in Cuddalore on
24 April, 1934,
Jayakanthan was a
school drop out who
moved to Chennai,
where he joined the
undivided Communist
Party of India. He
was associated with
communist leaders
such as Jeevanandham
and Baladandayutham,
who encouraged him
to take to writing. He
started writing for
communist magazines.
Jayakanthan, known
as JK among his
friends, focussed
on the marginalised
sections in his writing
and several of his
characters reflect their
suffering.
Besides 'Sila Nerangalil
Sila Manithargal',
his other novels
'Oru
Nadigai
Nadagam Paarkiral'
and 'Yaarukkaga
Azhudhaan' were also
adapted into films.
He co-produced 'Unnai
Pol Oruvan', a film on
the travails of a poor
woman, which was
screened in Russia
with sub-titles. The
Russian government
conferred the Order of
Friendship award on
him in 2011.A Padma
Bushan awardee,
Jayakanthan was also
the founder of the Indo-
Russian Cultural and
Friendship Society.
Jayakanthan had also
received various other
awards, including
Soviet Land Nehru
Award (1978), Raja
Rajan Award, (1986)
and the Tamil Nadu
Government Award
(1986). He was also
a Fellow of Sahitya
Akademi.
His short stories in
weekly magazines
such as 'Ananda
Vikatan' were a big
hit among the readers
in the 1960s. Though
he was widely known
for having taken
up the cause of
marginalised sections,
he had also written for
intellectuals.
Tamil Nadu Progressive
Writers and Artists
Association Deputy
General Secretary
ERA Muthu said it
was Jayakanthan who
brought recognition
and respect to short
stories among Tamils
after Pudumai Pithan.
Indo-Russian Cultural
and Friendship Society
Secretary Thangappan
said that Jayakanthan
always showed his
courage and conviction
through his characters.
He recalled that late
Chief Minister MG
Ramachandran had
called Jayakanthan
after watching the film
'Oru Nadigai
Nadagam Parkiral',
which was based
on his novel, and
congratulated him for
his brilliant work.
DMK chief M
Karunanidhi,
accompanied by his
daughter Kanimozhi,
paid homage to
Jayakanthan at the
writer's residence
in K K Nagar here.
Karunanidhi recalled
his affinity with the
author. "Jayakanthan
may have died, but
his works will remain
etched in the hearts
of many," he said in
a statement. It was
Mr. Karunanidhi who
made arrangements
for his treatment in a
major hospital in the
city four years ago,
and after his discharge
he decided to visit the
DMK leader before
going home.
President Pranab
Mukherjee condoled
the passing away of
renowned Tamil writer
D. Jayakanthan.
“In sad demise of
Shri D. Jayakanthan,
we have lost a
creative genius who
contributed immensely
to Tamil literature,"
Mr.Mukherjee said in a
post on micro-blogging
site Twitter.
CPI (M) State secretary
G. Ramakrishnan
said Jayakanthan was
committed to socialist
ideology and enriched
Tamil prose through
his writings.
Leaders of Left parties
have condoled the
death of Jayakanthan.
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