Ashokamitran

Ashokamitran (22 September 1931 – 23 March 2017)

was the pen name of Jagadisa Thyagarajan, an Ashokamithran
Indian writer regarded as one of the most influential
figures in post-independent Tamil literature. He began
his prolific literary career with the prize-winning play
"Anbin Parisu" and went on to author more than two
hundred short stories, and a dozen novellas and
novels.[1] A distinguished essayist and critic, he was
the editor of the literary journal "Kanaiyaazhi". He has
written over 200 short stories, nine novels, and some
15 novellas besides other prose writings. Most of his
works have also been translated into English and other
Indian languages, including Hindi, Malayalam, and
Telugu.[2]
Born Thyagarajan
22 September 1931
Life Secunderabad, Madras
Presidency, British India
Born in Secunderabad in 1931, Ashokamitran spent the
first 20 years of his life there.[3] His real name was Died 23 March 2017 (aged 85)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Jagadisa Thyagarajan.[4] He moved to Chennai in 1952
after the death of his father, following an invitation Nationality Indian
from his father's friend, the film director S.S.Vasan to Occupation Novelist
come work at Vasan's Gemini Studios.[3] He worked Children 3
for more than a decade at the Gemini Studios.[5] While
Awards Sahitya Akademi Award
working there he often acted as an "unofficial scribe"
(in his own words) for people working in the film
industry, and said that his efforts consisted of "writing most heart rending appeals for loans and salary
advances."[2] He also began writing about his experiences working in the film industry in a set of
columns for the Illustrated Weekly of India; these columns later became his book, My Years with Boss
(sometimes translated as Fourteen Years with Boss).[3] The 'boss' referred to was S.S. Vasan, the owner of
Gemini Studios.[3]

His experiences here and his interaction with people from the Tamil filmdom later took the form of his
book "My Years with Boss". In 1966, he left his work in the film industry, and has since said that he felt
he "should not continue with a system which had built-in inequities."[2]

It was from 1966 that he became a full-time writer and he took up the pseudonym of "Ashokamitran". In
1973 he was invited and took part in the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, United
States. In the 1980s most of his works were translated into English and he and his works became well-
known all over India. Some of his works were translated into other European languages and most Indian
languages as well.

Ashokamitran died on 23 March 2017 at the age of 85. At the time of his death, he was survived by his
wife and three sons.[6]

Writing style
His works are characterized by simplicity and clarity of thought and drew from his professional and
personal experiences. His novel Karainta nizhalkal (Star-Crossed), for instance, drew from his
experiences working in public relations in the film industry at Gemini Studios.[2] He has cited a number
of writers as influencing his style, including Tamil writers B.R. Rajam Iyer, Subramania Bharti,
Kothamangalam Subbu and K N Subramaniam.[2] Most of his stories revolve around the life of middle
class people. Other than Karaintha nizhalkal; Thanneer, Otran, and Pathinetaavathu atchakodu are his
masterpieces. He was first to set his story in a non-Tamil milieu and “pull it off”, said Venkatachalapathy.
His essays were no pushovers either, he said, adding that Ashokamitran had a flat style of writing. “He
was also a voracious reader, especially of American writings,” he said. “Another standout quality was the
wry humor. Today, with over 200 short stories, nine novels, and several non-fiction essays and
translations, Ashokamitran is seen as a major contributor to the modern history of Tamil literature. His
nonlinear and non-preachy creative works are critically seen for their subdued aesthetics and absence of
extravaganza.

Legacy
Ashokamitran's life and work have been the subject of three documentary films, made by Amshan Kumar,
Kandasamy, and Gnani.[2] His novel Thanneer is being adapted for film by the director, Vasanth.[2]

Honours and awards

Ashokamitran was given many awards and honors. Some of them are:

The K.K. Birla Fellowship to do a study in comparative Indian literature.

1973-74: The University of Iowa Creative Writing Fellowship.[4]
1992: Lily Memorial Award.[4]
1993: Ramkrishna Jaidayal Harmony Award by the Dalmia Trust for promoting religious
harmony.[7]
1996: Akshara Award.[4]
1996: Sahitya Akademi Award for Appavin Snegidhar, a collection of short stories.[8]
January 2007: The MGR Award.
May 2012: NTR National Literary Award by NTR Vignan Trust.[9]
10 February 2013: The inaugural Kaa Na Su award at a function in Chennai.
30 March 2013: National award instituted by the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad at Kolkata.
Works

Novels
Anbin Parisu (1953)[5]
Thanneer[9]
Manasarovar[10]
18-vadhu Atchakkodu (1977) - (This has been translated into English in the name "The
Eighteenth Parallel"). This novel is a kind of biographical look back at his early years at
Secunderabad. It describes the life of a young man set against the backdrop of the political
unrest that was developing in Hyderabad in the late Forties.[11]
My Years with Boss[12]
Karainta nilalkal (translated to English as Star Crossed, by V. Ramnarayan.[13]
Otran[2]
Paavam Dalpathado (translated to English as The Ghost of Meenambakkan by N. Kalyan
Raman)[14]
Indru
India 1944-48
Aagayathamarai

Short stories
Appavin Snegidhar.[8] In 1995, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award for this collection of short
stories.
Still Bleeding from the Wound[3] (a collection of stories translated to English by N. Kalyan
Raman).
Ammavukku oru naal

See also
List of Indian writers
Jayakanthan
Sundara Ramaswamy
Ka. Naa. Subramanyam
Jeyamohan

References
1. "Three popular Ashokamitran books now in English" (http://www.business-standard.com/arti
cle/pti-stories/three-popular-ashokamitran-books-now-in-english-116081500171_1.html).
Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
2. Charukesi. " 'I'll write as long as I'm physically able to' " (http://www.thehindu.com/society/his
tory-and-culture/an-interview-with-ashokamitran/article17433708.ece). The Hindu. Retrieved
23 March 2017.
 3. Ahmad, Omair. "Reading Ashokamitran, a Subtle Genius of the Normal and the Absurd -
The Wire" (https://thewire.in/46932/reading-ashokamitran-a-subtle-genius-of-the-normal-and
-the-absurd/). thewire.in. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
4. "Ashokamitran - Tamil Writer: The South Asian Literary Recordings Project (Library of
Congress New Delhi Office)" (https://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/ashokamitran.html).
www.loc.gov. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
5. "Down a literary lane" (https://web.archive.org/web/20041124161413/http://www.hindu.com/f
r/2004/02/13/stories/2004021301710600.htm). The Hindu. India. 13 February 2004.
Archived from the original (http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/02/13/stories/2004021301710600.
htm) on 24 November 2004.
6. Desk, Internet. "Tamil writer Ashokamitran passes away" (http://www.thehindu.com/books/ta
mil-writer-ashokamitran-passes-away/article17616921.ece). The Hindu. Retrieved 23 March
2017. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
7. "Recipients of Harmony Awards" (http://www.dalmiabrothers.com/oufawards.htm).
Organisation of Understanding and Fraternity — Dalmia Bros. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
8. "Writers celebrate Sahitya Akademi Foundation Day" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304
213953/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1500171.ece). Indian
Express. Chennai, India. 14 March 2013. Archived from the original (http://newindianexpres
s.com/cities/chennai/article1500171.ece) on 4 March 2016.
9. "NTR National Literary Award for Ashokamitran" (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ntr-
national-literary-award-for-ashokamitran/article3384822.ece). The Hindu. Hyderabad, India.
4 May 2012.
10. "A very human picture" (http://www.thehindu.com/books/a-very-human-picture/article80929
4.ece). The Hindu. India. 3 October 2010.
11. "A writer of two cities" (https://web.archive.org/web/20030624165101/http://www.hindu.com/t
hehindu/mp/2002/09/12/stories/2002091201160100.htm). The Hindu. Hyderabad, India. 12
September 2002. Archived from the original (http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/12/storie
s/2002091201160100.htm) on 24 June 2003.
12. "The Boss Will See You Now" (http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?285083). Outlook.
India. 6 May 2013.
13. Acōkamittiran̲ (2007). Franklin Record - Star-crossed = Karainda nizhalgal / Ashokamitran ;
translated from Tamil by V. Ramnarayan (http://franklin.library.upenn.edu/record.html?id=FR
ANKLIN_4523231). Indian Writing. ISBN 9788183682831. Retrieved 23 March 2017 – via
franklin.library.upenn.edu.
14. "Translating Ashokamitran's words – and his silences" (http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.c
om/tracking-indian-communities/translating-ashokamitrans-words-and-his-silences/). Times
of India Blog. Retrieved 23 March 2017.

External links
Ashokamitran page in Tamil Friends (https://web.archive.org/web/20110713201016/http://ta
milnanbargal.com/node/34668)
Ashokamitran Special edition by Solvanam (http://solvanam.com/?issue=100)
B. Meenakshi, Sundaram Portraying Realities of Contemporary Life (https://epaper.newindia
nexpress.com/129028/The-New-Indian-Express-Coimbatore/26062013#page/17/1)

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