Chennai :
Two Tamil writers were on the list of Sahitya Akademi award recipients across the country — Era Natarajan of Cuddalore, who is known for his contribution to children’s literature, and R Abilash, a novelist and poet based in Chennai.
While Natarajan was among 23 chosen for the Bal Puraskar, Abilash was on the Yuva Puraskar list of 21 awardees. The awards carry `50,000 and an engraved copper plaque.
Natarajan (50) hails from Lalgudi in Tiruchy district, has 27 years experience in teaching and now serves as principal of the Krishnasamy Memorial Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Cuddalore. Besides being a double MA — in English and Psychology — he has an MS (Education Management) as well.
Natarajan came into the limelight after his book Ayeesha, which dwells on the problems faced by a schoolgirl, was released in 1996. Over one lakh copies of the book have been sold so far. It is also a textbook in seven autonomous colleges and three universities. Ayeesha was made compulsory learning for government school teachers when they underwent training under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan project. Natarajan has also authored several scientific novels for children and many of them have been translated into Telugu, Konkani, English and French.
Vignana Vikaramathithyan Kathaigal for which Natarajan has won the Bal Puraskar, too is a significant contribution to children’s literature. “During my 27 years of teaching experience, I learned a lot from children and they have now taken the form of books. I dedicate the award to all veteran writers who had dedicated their entire life to children’s literature, particularly Azha Valliappa and Paavanan,” Natarajan told Express.
Yuva Puraskar winner R Abilash hails from Padmanabhapuram in Nagercoil and now resides in Chennai. He has been awarded for his novel Kaalgal published by Uyirmmai Publications.
Abilash, a novelist, poet, essayist and translator in Tamil, is a PhD scholar and the books authored by him include Intiravu Nilavin Keezh, an anthology of translated modern Haiku poems, Cricketin Marum Nirankal, a collection of sports articles, and Bruce Lee — A Biography.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by T. Muruganananadham / August 24th, 2014