Eminent Tamil Writer Jayakanthan was passed away in Chennai on 8th April 2015 after a prolonged illness. Jayakanthan was the recipient of the prestigious Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi awards. Jayakanthan was born in Manjakuppam in Cuddalore on 24 April, 1934. The 83-year-old Padma Bushan awardee had written around 40 novels and over 200 short stories and two autobiographies —”Oru Ilakkiyavathiyin Arasiyal Anubavangal” and “Oru Arasiyalvathiyin Ilakkiya Anubavangal“. He became very famous for his novel “Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal” that won him a Sahithya Academy Award in 1972. He was conferred with the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1978 and the Russian government’s Order of Friendship in 2011.
Firebrand writer Jayakanthan, was a legend in Tamil writing and literature. Jayakanthan is known for his revolutionary views and progressive attitude, which reflects in his novels, short stories and essays. His writing revolved around the themes of social injustice, inequality and differences that exist in the Tamil society. A majority of Jayakanthan’s works revolve around the lives of underclass people like rickshaw-pullers, prostitutes and rag-pickers.
Besides being a writer, Jayakanthan was a known as a prolific orator. Jayakanthan’s body is kept at his K K Nagar residence for people to pay their last respects. The cremation of the legendary writer will take place around 3 pm at the Besant Nagar crematorium.
