Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai

Manonmaniyam P. Sundaram Pillai (April 4, 1855 – April 26, 1897) was an Indian scholar, noted for the famous Tamil drama Manonmaniyam.[1]

History

Born in Alapuzha in Kerala, India, to Perumal Pillai and Madathi Ammal, Pillai studied religious literature such as Tevaram thiruvasagam during his childhood. Nagapattinam Narayana Samy Pillai was his Tamil language teacher. He completed his B.A. in the year 1876 and married Sivagami Ammal in the following year.

His career as an educator began in 1877. He became the Principal at a bilingual English-Tamil school in Thirunelveli, and played a key role in the school's development. Pillai later taught philosophy at H.H. The Maharaja's College, Thiruvananthapuram and completed his M.A. in 1880. During that period he became acquainted with Professor Robert Harvey.

Sundaram showed his respect for his academic advisor Prof. Robert Harvey,[2] a scot, who was a Professor of Philosophy and English at The Maharaja's College, by dedicating his drama Manonmaniyam to him. He also named his farmhouse after him. They together wrote the book, "Some early sovereigns of Travancore".

The MDT Hindu College, Tirunelveli, of which he was the first Principal, describes his works as follows:[3]

"He established 'Saiva Prakasa Sabha' in Trivandram in 1885. It is remarkable that this Professor of individuality and great scholar of Saiva Sidhandham made Swami Vivekananda to realize the Truths of Saiva Sidhantham. In 1885, he published 'Chathira Saugiragam', commonly known as 'Nootrogai Villakkam. He then wrote and published his masterpiece, the famous play 'Manonmaniam' in 1891. A prayer song comes in this play is recognized and approved as the 'Praising song of Maiden Tamil', by the Tamil Nadu Government. In the same year, he became a member of Fellow of Madras University (FMU). In 1897, 'Some Early Sovereigns of Travancore' was published and it made him a Member of Royal Asiatic Society (MRAS).

"He published 'Some Mile-stones in the History of Tamil Literature' or 'The Age of Tirujnana-Sambandha' in 1895. This book attracted Sir Grand Dutt, the Governor of Madras. And as per his suggestion, Sundaram Pillai became a Member of Fellow of Royal Historical Society (FRHS). To honour his service of the South Indian Historical Research field, the Madras Government gave him the title of 'Rao Bhagadur' in 1896. For his accomplishments, he was also honoured by a German University, which came forward to give him an honorary doctorate award. Such a great scholar who paved way to new research fields and achieved so many great things even in early days in a short span of time passed away affected by diabetics on 02.04.1897 when he was just 42 years old, and it is an irrecoverable loss to the whole Tamil World."

Professor Sundaram Pillai died on 26 April 1897, at age of 42.

Legacy

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University was named after him.

Religious work

He started the Saivapraka sabai in Thiruvanathapuram.

Literature

His famous drama Manonmaniam was published in 1891.

The 1942 cinema adaptation Manonmani is considered a classic film.[1]

The song "Niraarum Kadal Udutha" from Manonmaniam was adapted as "Invocation to Goddess Tamil" and approved by the Government of Tamil Nadu as the official Tamil anthem in June 1970.

Books published

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Randor Guy (December 19, 2010). "Manonmani 1942". The Hindu.
  2. ↑ http://www.internationalstory.gla.ac.uk/person/?id=WH11787
  3. ↑ http://www.mdthinducollegetirunelveli.org/princi.htm

External links