Jayakanthan
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Jayakanthan (born April 24, 1934) is a Tamil writer, essayist, journalist, pamphleteer, film-maker and critic. He was a iconoclast who ridiculed social anomalies and was known for his bold and revolutionary ideas.
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His Life
Jayakanthan was born in 1934 in a family of agriculturists in Cuddalore, in the South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu. He quit school after completing grade 5 education. He was then considered a problematic child. Unable to bear the harsh treatment meted out to him, he ran away from home at the age of 12 to Villupuram. There, he grew up under the aegis of his uncle from whom he imbibed communist ideologies and was also introduced to the works of Subramanya Bharathy. Circumstances forced him to move to Madras, where he spent most of his time in the CPI's "JanaSakthi" office. He worked in the party's printing press and spent his evenings selling the magazine JanaSakthi on street corners. During this period, he became acquainted with some great CPI leaders of Tamil Nadu, like Jeevanantham. But in 1949, unexpected political developments resulted in extreme restrictions on the activities of the CPI. Jayakanthan was forced to work in a shoe shop in Thanjavur for a short period of time, after which he came back to Chennai. This period was an important phase for Jayakanthan as he found more time to think and read. During this period, the CPI also was eclipsed by the emergence of the DMK and the DK, whom Jayakanthan termed "fascists". Internal rifts within the CPI and his difference of opinion on a few issues forced him to gradually withdraw from CPI and active politics. Later he became strong follower of Kamaraj and joined Congress.
He started writing from around 1953 in Tamil magazines such as Saraswathi, Thamarai, Grama Uzhiyan and Anantha Vikatan. He called himself "the first Tamil writer to earn a living by writing". He went on to become one the most prolific and powerful Tamil writers of the twentieth century. He also had a stint in Tamil Cinema and tried his hand at making films. He made a film based on his novel, "Unnaippol Oruvan", which became the first Tamil film to get an award at the national level in India. It was awarded the President's award (third prize) in "The Best Regional film" category .
It was then that he developed a relationship with a stage actress. Jayakanthan was already married to his uncle's daughter. This chapter in his life was fictionalised in the novel Oru Nadigai Naadagam Paarkkiral(An actress witnesses a play).
His stories are vivid portrayals of life as he sees them and they embrace humanity as a whole.His later works also witnessed a strong dose of his philosphical musings. He is considered as one of the most influential writers Tamil Literature has ever produced.
Critics
Jayakanthan is infamously known for his arrogance and his multi-dimensional personality. Significantly, his personality became ideal characters of a writer--many movies and writers later adopted such characters as protoganists for their creations.
Though he is not a brahmin, he orated "Why I am a Brahmin", explaining why Brahminism was a concept.
Works of Jayakanthan
Autobiographical
- Or Ilakkiyavaadhiyin Arasiyal AnubavangaL Oct 1974
- Or Ilakkiyavaadhiyin Kalaiyulaka AnubavangaL Sep 1980 L
Biographical
- Vazhavaikka Vandha Gandhi 1973 (Translation of Romain Rolland's French biography of Gandhi)
- Oru Kadhasiriyarin Kadhai May 1989 ( Life of Munshi Premchand )
Novels and novelettes
- Vazhkkai Azhaikkiradhu Aug 1957
- Kaivilangu Jan 1961
- Yarukkaga Azhuthan? Feb 1962
- Brahma Upadhesam May 1963
- Piralayam Aug 1965
- Karunaiyinal Alla Nov 1965
- Parisukkup Po! Dec 1966
- Kokila Enna Seythu Vittaal? Nov 1967
- Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal Jun 1970
- Oru Nadigai Naadagam Paarkkiral Jan 1971
- Oru Manidhan Oru Vidu Oru Ulagam Apr 1973
- Jaya Jaya Sankara... Sep 1977
- Gangai Engey PogiraaL Dec 1978
- Oru Kudumbaththil Nadakkirathu... Jan 1979
- Pavam, Ival Oru Pappaathi! Mar 1979
- Engengu Kaaninum... May 1979
- Urukku Nooru Per Jun 1979
- Karikkodugal Jul 1979 N
- Moongil Kaattunile Sep 1979
- Oru Manidhanum Sila Erumaimaadugalum Dec 1979
- Ovvoru Kooraikkum Kizhe...Jan 1980
- Paattimaargallum Peththimaargalum Apr 1980
- Appuvukku Appa Sonna Kadhaigal Aug 1980
- Indha Neraththil ival... 1980
- Kaaththirukka Oruththi Sep 1980
- Kaaru Apr 1981
- Ayudha Poosai Mar 1982
- Sundhara Kaandam Sep 1982
- Isvara Alla There Naam Jan 1983
- O, America! Feb 1983
- Illaadhavargal Feb 1983
- Idhaya Ranikkalum Ispedu Raajakkalum Jul 1983
- Katru VeLiyinile...Apr 1984
- Kazhuththil Vizhundha Malai Sep 1984
- Andha Akkaavaiththedi... Oct 1985
- Innum Oru Pennin Kadhai Jul 1986
- Rishimoolam Sep 1965
- Sinimavukkup Pona siththaal Sep 1972
- Unnaippol Oruvan
Short stories
- Oru Pidi Soru Sep 1958
- Inippum Karippum Aug 1960
- Dhevan VaruvaarA 1961
- Maalai Mayakkam Jan 1962
- Yugasandhi Oct 1963
- Unmai Sudum Sep 1964
- Pudhiya Vaarppukal Apr 1965
- Suyadharisanam Apr 1967
- Irandha Kaalangal Feb 1969
- Gurupeedam Oct 1971
- Chakkaram Nirpathillai Feb 1975
- Pugai Naduvinile... Dec 1990
- Sumaithaangi
Essays
- Bharathi Paadam
- Imayaththukku Appaal
Awards
- 2002 - Jnanpith Award: The 2002 Jnanpith Award was announced for D. Jayakanthan. His works were described as one that delicately unvieled every depth of human emotion and equations. Announcing the award, L.M. Singhvi said "He has not only enriched the high traditions of literary traditions of Tamil language but has also made outstanding contribution towards the shaping of Indian literature. His literature presents a deep and sensitive understanding of complex human nature and is an authentic and vivid index of Indian reality." (The Hindu) (http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/20/stories/2005032010670900.htm)
- 1996 - Fellow of Sahitya Akademi (Sahitya Akademi) (http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/fello.htm#top)
- 1972 - Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize: He awarded Sahitya Akademi translation prize in 1972 for his work on tamil novel Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal. (Sahitya Akademi) (http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10320.htm#tamil)
Notable quotes
- There was a time when I numbered among my close friends rickshaw- drivers, prostitutes, rowdies, pickpockets and cigarette-butt scavengers. Perhaps because of that fact I can never work up disgust towards their kind. There is a sense of involvement among them. Sometimes I even wonder whether I wouldn't have been happier if I had decided to live among them as one of the family. Truly, an attraction for their life came to be planted in my youthful mind . . . There is in the life of such people a flaming passion, a liveliness, and truth!
- They hold a notion that I have all along been writing about people of the lower strata. But haven't I really been writing about high level people among the so-called lower strata.Who belongs to the higher strata and who to the lower strata? That cannot be determined by their position or by their place of living. It is by how they are - how they live - that a determination should be made.
- However lowly and decadent are the matters that I have to take up broadly for depiction in my story, I tend to place special emphasis on whatever is elevating and meaningful for life embedded in them. And thus I sing of the glory of life
External Link(s)
- T.Jeyakantan - Life and Works (http://www.tamilnation.org/literature/jeyakantan.htm)
- Jayakanthan Page (http://www.tamil.net/people/pksivakumar/) - With photos and other info
- Collection of Short Stories of Jayakanthan - Part-1 (http://www.tamil.net/projectmadurai/pub/pm0198/jeyakant1.pdf) and Part-2 (http://www.tamil.net/projectmadurai/pub/pm0199/jeyakant2.pdf) at Project Madurai, a free Tamil e-text collection projecteo:Dandapani_JAYAKANTHAN