Devan
Encyclopedia
Devan (8 September 1913 - 5 May 1957) was one of the greatest of twentieth century Tamil
writers, known for his witty and humorous stories. Many people think of him as the 'Wodehouse' of Tamil writings.
Devan was a competent and accomplished writer, who used several interesting and varied techniques in fiction writing. From travelogues to recipes, from detective stories to social dramas, he has written them all.
, India
, where he did his schooling. He came to Kumbakonam Government College to complete his B.A. degree. He worked as a school teacher for a year, before joining the popular Tamil
weekly magazine
, Ananda Vikatan
in 1933. Devan's first foray into the world of writing was through the humorous short story "Mister Rajamani", written when he was in his twenties.
in 1933. After Kalki Krishnamurthy
left Vikatan, worked as Managing Editor from 1942 to 1957.
During this time, he wrote about 20 serials, more than 500 stories, articles and travelogues. A common feature in all his works was his gentle sense of humour. He was a very popular writer and stories abound of how, when a new issue of Ananda Vikatan
came out, everyone in the family would fight to get hold of the copy first.
Devan worked under famous writers like Kalki Krishnamurthy
and S. S. Vasan
. It was his wish that his stories get published as books, but sadly this did not happen in his lifetime, due to the nature of his contract with Vikatan.
During this time, he also served as Chairman of the Tamil Writers' Guild twice, and helped to promote Tamil literature
.
Devan was the editor of Ananda Vikatan until his death in 1957. In his short life, he experimented with different types of writing - travelogues, detective novels, articles, short stories, travelogues, current affairs. Devan's books are a joy to read even today, when social values and techniques in fiction writing are so different.
About ten of Devan's writings were also dramatised by several Tamil drama troupes, even during his lifetime. He himself wrote most of the dialogues for the plays. More recently, some of his works like Thuppariyum Sambu, Sriman Sudharsanam and Mister Vedhantham were made into television serials also. Only one of his novels, gOmathiyin kAdhalan, was made into a movie, starring T. R. Ramachandran and Savithri.
(with, perhaps, one exception, 'Mythili' which was serialized in 'Naradar'). His writiings are copyright of the Devan Endowments. Recently, many of Devan's works have been published by Alliance Publishers, Chennai
, India. 'Kizakkup padhippagam' has also recently started publishing Devan's writings.
One of his novels, Justice Jagannathan, has been translated into English.
His writings include :
Novels:
Other collections of stories, articles and travelogues include:
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
writers, known for his witty and humorous stories. Many people think of him as the 'Wodehouse' of Tamil writings.
Devan was a competent and accomplished writer, who used several interesting and varied techniques in fiction writing. From travelogues to recipes, from detective stories to social dramas, he has written them all.
Early life
Devan was born in 1913 at Thiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur district, Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he did his schooling. He came to Kumbakonam Government College to complete his B.A. degree. He worked as a school teacher for a year, before joining the popular Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
weekly magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, Ananda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த விகடன் is the leading Tamil language weekly magazine published from Chennai, India. It is part of the Vikatan group which also publishes Junior Vikatan , Chutti Vikatan , Aval Vikatan , Naanayam Vikatan , Sakthi Vikatan , Motor Vikatan and Pasumai Vikatan Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த...
in 1933. Devan's first foray into the world of writing was through the humorous short story "Mister Rajamani", written when he was in his twenties.
Life as an Editor
Devan started as a Sub-Editor at Ananda VikatanAnanda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த விகடன் is the leading Tamil language weekly magazine published from Chennai, India. It is part of the Vikatan group which also publishes Junior Vikatan , Chutti Vikatan , Aval Vikatan , Naanayam Vikatan , Sakthi Vikatan , Motor Vikatan and Pasumai Vikatan Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த...
in 1933. After Kalki Krishnamurthy
Kalki Krishnamurthy
Kalki was the pen name of R. Krishnamurthy , a noted Tamil writer, film & music critic, Indian independence activist and journalist from Tamil Nadu, India.- Biography:...
left Vikatan, worked as Managing Editor from 1942 to 1957.
During this time, he wrote about 20 serials, more than 500 stories, articles and travelogues. A common feature in all his works was his gentle sense of humour. He was a very popular writer and stories abound of how, when a new issue of Ananda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த விகடன் is the leading Tamil language weekly magazine published from Chennai, India. It is part of the Vikatan group which also publishes Junior Vikatan , Chutti Vikatan , Aval Vikatan , Naanayam Vikatan , Sakthi Vikatan , Motor Vikatan and Pasumai Vikatan Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த...
came out, everyone in the family would fight to get hold of the copy first.
Devan worked under famous writers like Kalki Krishnamurthy
Kalki Krishnamurthy
Kalki was the pen name of R. Krishnamurthy , a noted Tamil writer, film & music critic, Indian independence activist and journalist from Tamil Nadu, India.- Biography:...
and S. S. Vasan
S. S. Vasan
Subramaniam Srinivasan , popularly known by his screen name S. S. Vasan, was anIndian journalist, writer, advertiser, film producer, director and business tycoon...
. It was his wish that his stories get published as books, but sadly this did not happen in his lifetime, due to the nature of his contract with Vikatan.
During this time, he also served as Chairman of the Tamil Writers' Guild twice, and helped to promote Tamil literature
Tamil literature
Tamil literature refers to the literature in the Tamil language. Tamil literature has a rich and long literary tradition spanning more than two thousand years. The oldest extant works show signs of maturity indicating an even longer period of evolution...
.
Devan was the editor of Ananda Vikatan until his death in 1957. In his short life, he experimented with different types of writing - travelogues, detective novels, articles, short stories, travelogues, current affairs. Devan's books are a joy to read even today, when social values and techniques in fiction writing are so different.
About ten of Devan's writings were also dramatised by several Tamil drama troupes, even during his lifetime. He himself wrote most of the dialogues for the plays. More recently, some of his works like Thuppariyum Sambu, Sriman Sudharsanam and Mister Vedhantham were made into television serials also. Only one of his novels, gOmathiyin kAdhalan, was made into a movie, starring T. R. Ramachandran and Savithri.
Famous Works
All of Devan's stories and travelogues were serialised in Ananda VikatanAnanda Vikatan
Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த விகடன் is the leading Tamil language weekly magazine published from Chennai, India. It is part of the Vikatan group which also publishes Junior Vikatan , Chutti Vikatan , Aval Vikatan , Naanayam Vikatan , Sakthi Vikatan , Motor Vikatan and Pasumai Vikatan Ananda Vikatan ஆனந்த...
(with, perhaps, one exception, 'Mythili' which was serialized in 'Naradar'). His writiings are copyright of the Devan Endowments. Recently, many of Devan's works have been published by Alliance Publishers, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India. 'Kizakkup padhippagam' has also recently started publishing Devan's writings.
One of his novels, Justice Jagannathan, has been translated into English.
His writings include :
Novels:
- Mythili (1939 )
- Malathi ( 1942)
- Thuppariyum SambuThuppariyum SambuThuppariyum Sambu is one of the greatest detective short story series in the Tamil language, written by Devan in the early 20th century. The novel features its main protagonist as Sambu who is a rather stupid bank clerk in his middle age and solves great crime puzzles out of serendipity.The stories...
(1942) - GOmathiyin KAdhalan
- KalyANi (1944)
- Miss JAnaki
- SrimAn Sudharsanam
- Mr VedhAntham (1949–50)
- Justice JagannAthan (1953–54)
- Lakshmi KatAksham (1951–52)
- CID Chandru (his last novel) (1955–56 )
Other collections of stories, articles and travelogues include:
- Mister RajAmaNi - a series
- Vichuvukku Kadithangal - a series
- AppaLak KachchEri - a series of articles with a recipe at the end of each article
- Aindhu NaadugaLil ARupathu NaaL (60 Days in 5 countries) - Travelogue
- POkkiri MAmA
- PallisAmiyin Thuppu
- MOtAr AgarAthi
- Chinna KaNNan katturaigaL - a series
- RAjiyin PiLLai - a series
- Adhisaya thaambathigaL - a series
- Kamalam SolgirAL - a series
- Podaatha Thapaal - a series
- Sarasuvukku Kadithangal
- manidha subAvam
- chInup payal
- chinnan chiRu kadhaigaL - a series
- pArvathiyin sangalpam
- mallAri rAo kadhaigaL - a series
- En indha asattuththanam
- jAngiri sundharam
- peyarpOna puLugugaL
- prabuvE! uththaravu! - a series
- nadandhathu nadanthapadiyE - a travelogue
- rangUn periyappA
- chonnapadi kELungaL
- rAjaththin manOratham - a series on building a house
External links
- Hailing the creator
- Wrote to delight
- Wow! It's a woman
- God's plenty, with a touch of humour
- Murder Mystery
- Kalki and Devan
- sAmbu (a poem in Unicode Tamil)
- .. and its modified translation in English
- Devan's house
- A mirror to human nature
- Devan day 2007
- Devan day:2008
- Devan day: 2008
- Devan Books' release
- Devan day:2009
- Devan day:2010
- First Devan memorial lecture
- Wodehousian or just William?
- The Devan days