Biography of M.P. Periasamy Thooran

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1.	Date and Place of Birth	26 September 1908 Manjakkattuvalasu Village Modakurichi Erode District, Tamil Nadu State India.
2.	Educational qualifications and Career	B.A. degree from Madras University with Pure Mathematics and Astronomy as Special Subjects. Also obtained L.T. degree from the same university.
		From early years influenced by the poet Subramanya Bharathi and Mahatma Gandhi. Even as a student in the college, was publishing a monthly magazine called 'Pithan' and also writing poems and short stories.
		Joined Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Coimbatore, in 1933 and served in that Gurukulam for 15 years as its warden and later as the Head-Master. During that period wrote many poems and short stories, literary essays and plays.
		Took special interest in Psychology and wrote in Tamil many popular books on Psychology. Also collected many folk songs and palm-leaf manuscripts in Tamil.
		In 1948, became the chief editor of the Tamil Encyclopedia, a project undertaken by the Tamil Academy under the Presidentship of Sri. T.S. Avinashilingam Chettiar and published the same in 10 volumes of 750 pages each. Then worked as the Chief Editor of Children's Encylopaedia in Tamil which was also published in 10 volumes of 100 pages each. After completing the two major projects worked in the Tamil Academy as the Chief Editor for one more year to guide the new staff. Retired in July 1978.
3.	Awards of Merit received	Awarded a Gold medal by the Tamil Writer's Association for unearthing the hidden articles, poems and short stories of Past Subramanya Bharathi and publishing them in a book of 700 pages. To complete this work he went through the daily and thrice weekly editions of Swadesamitran from the year 1904 to 1920 and carefully copied all the works of Bharati noting down the dates on which they appeared. Then he published them in a book entitled Bharathi Thamiz in Chronological order thus paving the way for the study of Bharathi and the rediscovery of his Genius. But for the effort, one third of Bharathi's works would have been completely lost.
		Awarded a prize of Rs. 500 by the central government for writing a book for Neo-literates on Embryology.
		Awarded a prize of Rs.500 for his book of songs for children by the Madras Educational Department.
		Awarded a prize of Rs.500 for his book of stories for children by the Children's Writers Association, Madras.
		Awarded a shield by the Bharathi Sangam, Madras, for his contribution to Children's Literature.
		Awarded a shield by the Children's Writers Association, Madras, for his contribution to Children's Literature.
		Awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1968 for his distinguished service to Tamil language and Literature.
		Awarded a prize for his book of Musical Compositions by the Annamalai University, Chidambaram.
		Conferred the title 'Perunthamizh Chelvar' by Nakkeerar Kazhagam, Madras, in 1970.
		Conferred the title of 'Kalaimamani' by Iyal, Isai, Nataka Mandram,Madras in 1970, for his contribution to the Carnatic Music.
		Conferred the title of 'Sentamizh Kalaichelvar' in 1971 by His Holiness Sri la Sri Subramanya Desika Paramachariya Swamigal, Head of the Dharmapura Adheenam, for his contribution to the Tamil Literature and also Devotional Music.
		Conferred the title 'Tamizh Aringar' by Nannerri Kazhagam, Coinbatore, in 1971 for his contribution to Tamil.
		Conferred the title 'Isai Perarignar' by the Tamil Isai Sangam, Madras, in 1972 for his contribution to Carnatic Music.
		Raja Annamalai Chettiar Award of Rupees 10,000 was presented by M.A.C.Charities on September 30th, 1978, for the distinguished service to the Tamil Literature and Tamil Music.
		Conferred the title of 'Sentamizh Selvar' by Tamil Nadu Government on January 1st, 1979.
		Conferred the title of 'Tamil Peravai Chemmal' by Madurai Kamaraj University.
4.	Posts held	President of Tamil Writer's Association in 1947.
		Member of the Central Advisory Board, A.I.R., New Delhi.
		Member of the Advisory Board, A.I.R., Madras.
		Member of the Iyal, Isai, Nataka Mandram, Madras.
		Member, Film Censor Board, Madras.
		Member, Text Book Committee, Educational Department, Madras.
		Member, Sahitya Academy, Regional Branch, Madras.
		Secretary, Tamil Academy (started in 1947) from the very beginning.
		Member, Advisory Committee, Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras.
		Hon. Adviser, Tamil Encyclopaedia Second Edition.
		Member, Academic Council, University of Madras.
		Member, Tamil Isai Advisory Committee, Tamil Isai Sangam, Madras.
		Member of the Executive Committee, All India Writer's Sangam.
		Member, Advisory Tamil, National Book Trust.
		Member, Academic Council, Madurai Kamaraj University.
5.	Particulars of Tamil Books written and published by him
	Four Volumes of Poetry	Ilanthamizha
		Minnal Poo
		Nilap Pinju
		Patti Paravaikal
	Five Volumes of Short Story collections	Thanga Changili
		Pillai Varam
		Mavilakku
		Kalingarayan Kodai
		Urimaippen
	Three volumes of Literary Essays	Then Chittu
		Poovin Sirippu
		Kattu Vazhithanile
	One Act and Longer Plays	Azhagu Mayakkam
		Ponniyin Thyagam
		Choozchi
		Ilanthuravi
		Aadhi Athi
		Manak Kugai
		Kadhalum Kadamaiyum
	Books on Psychology	Kuzhanthai Ullam
		Kuzhanthai Manamum Athan Valarchiyum
		Adi Manam
		Parampariyam
		Thazhvu Manappanmai
		Manamum Athan Vilakkamum
		Manam Yendrum Mayakkurangu
		Kumarapparuvam.
	Embryology	Karuvil Valarum Kuzhanthai
	Books for Children
	Songs	Anaiyum Poonaiyum
		Nalla Nalla Pattu
		Mazhalai Amudam
	Animal Stories and other Stories	Natya Rani
		Jimmi
		Nila Patti
		Ollai Kili
		Thambiyin Thiramai
		Kadakkitti Mudakkitti
		Manjal Muttai
	Long Stories of Children	Maya Kallan
		Soorap Puli
		Kolli Malai Kullan
		Sangagiri Kottai Marmam
		Tharangambadi
		Thangappudhaiyal.
	Science for Children	Parakkum Manithan
	Musical Composition with Swara Notations	Isai Mani Manjari
		Murugan Arul Mani Maalai
		Keerthanai Amudham
		Nava Mani Isai Malai
	Folk Songs	Katril Vandha Kavithai
	Translations from English to Tamil	Kanakathin Kural - (Original : Jack London's Call of the Wild)
		Kadal Kadantha Natpu - (Original : Nichison's Novel Judy and Lakshmi)
		Paravaikalai Paar - (Original : Observing Birds)
	Edition	Bharathi Tamizh
		Thakurin Aimperum Katturaigal
		Bharathium Thamizhagamum
		Bharathium Bharatha Desamum
		Bharathium Ulagamum
		Bharathium Penmaiyum
		Bharathium Pattum
		Bharathium Pappavum
		Bharathium Kadavulum
	Bharathium Samoogamum
	Bharathi Noolkal - Oru Thiranaivu
	Bharathiyarin Nagaichuvaiyum Naiyandiyum
Published from palm leaf Manuscripts	Poet Kalamega's Chitra Madal - Published with Anotations and Explanatory Notes - (poetry)
	Vadivel Pillai's Mohini Vilasam - (Dance Drama)
	Avinashi Navalan's Thingaloor Mondi Nadakam - (Folk Song)
6.	Father's Name	K.A. Palanivelappa Gounder
7.	Mother's Name	Paavai (Paavathal)
8.	Date and Place of Death	January 20, 1987, Madras. Thai Month, Panchami Thithi.

Repository of excerpts on Periasamy Thooran from other selected webpages

From the 'KarNAtik' webpage @ http://www.geocities.com/promiserani2/co1061.html

Periyasaami Thooran - Born at Modakurichi in Coimbatore district of Palanivelappa Gounder and Paavaathal, he was a born teacher, patriot and a composer of merit. He was greatly influenced and inspired by Mahakavi Subramania Bharati. He declined to sit for his examination for Bachelor of Arts shocked by the execution of the immortal Bhagat Singh, a prince among patriots by the British. Thooran qualified later passing B.A., L.T. A voracious writer, he composed over six hundred songs on national, spiritual and moral issues. He wote 'a poem a day' for several years after his daily poojahs.

His song 'Adu Ratte' was a clarion patriotic call which was widely in current use during the Freedom Struggle. He became popular and the melody queen N.C.Vasanthakokilam included this piece in her cocnerts invariably. A precocious child and later a man with noble ideals, Thooran is an acknowldeged poet and composer. Analogous to Tyagarajah's 'Santhamulekha, Soukyamu ledhu', Thooran's 'Santhamillamal sukham undo?' (Nattakurinji) stresses that there is no joy without patience and no contentment amidst worries. Deep philosophical truths lay hidden in his simple devotional songs. Musical aesthtics and bhava find abundant evidence in his compositions.

With profound poetic talents, he had to seek like Arunachala Kavirayar outside help to set his songs to tune as he was not a musician. He availed of the services of Sivaramakrishna Ayyar as guru and choreographer. (Sivaramakrishnan was born in 1913 at Mavelikara in Kerala and had joined Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya as music teacher in 1937). Thooran had also availed of the services of senior musicians like K.V. Narayanaswamy, T.M. Theagarajan, T.K. Govinda Rao and T.V. Sankaranarayanan to set his songs to music.

Eminent musicians like Tiger Varadachariar, Musiri Subramania Ayyar and Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar had spoken highly of his compositions. His songs have been brought out in five volumes titled 'Isai Mani Manjari'. Annamalai University, Alliance Company, Tamil Isai Sangham and Tamil Writers' Association have brought out his works. His publications include 'Thooran Stories' (1962), 'Nalla Nalla Paattu' (1965), 'Call of the Wild' and 'Bharati' for children.

His claim to fame rests on his memorable contributions to Tamil. He was Chief Editor, Tamil Encyclopaedia during 1948-1978 and the encyclopaedia went into ten huge volumes. The credit for bringing out the first-ever Children's Encyclopaedia in Tamil in ten volumes also goes to him. His life was one of fulfilment and enduring contribution of intellectual excellence. The moral code of conduct he set for himself was high. When T.S. Avinashilingam Chettiar granted him a salary of Rs.30, he took only Rs.15 per mensem. This reminds one of the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastri, Gottuvadyam Sakharama Rao and Violin Sundaresa Ayyar of Tiruvalangadu and men of such unstained galactic stream.

Posts Held:
Teacher in Gobichettipalayam - 4 years
Warden & Teacher, Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya, Perianaickenpalayam - 15 years
Chief Editor, Tamil Encyclopaedia (Tamil Kalai Kalanjiam) - 1948 - 1978

Honours & Titles:
Padma Bhushan by President of India 1968
Isai Perarignar by Tamil isai Sangham 1972
Kalaimamani by TamilNadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram 1970
Annamali Chettiar Award by MAC Charities 1978

Thoorans's multi-sided interests covered the deliberations and activities of:
The All India Radio
Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram
Tamil Isai Sangham
Centre of College of Carnatic Music
Tamil Kalluri, etc.