The Coimbatore Press Club has urged the Tamil Nadu government to accord full state honours to late poet Puviyarasu and name the translated books section at the upcoming Periyar Arivulagam in Gandhipuram after the celebrated Tamil literary icon.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Press Club has paid rich tributes to veteran Tamil poet, writer and translator Puviyarasu, who passed away at the age of 96, and has urged the Tamil Nadu government to conduct his funeral with full state honours. The organisation has also appealed to the government to honour his literary legacy by naming the translated books section at the upcoming Periyar Arivulagam in Gandhipuram after the celebrated poet.
In a statement, the Press Club recalled Puviyarasu's immense contribution to Tamil literature and his pioneering role in the Vaanampadi literary movement, which was launched in Coimbatore in 1971. The movement played a significant role in taking progressive and socially conscious modern Tamil poetry beyond literary circles and closer to the people.
Born as S. Jegannathan, Puviyarasu adopted his Tamil pen name inspired by the ideals of Bharathidasan and dedicated his life to the promotion of Tamil language and literature. A retired Tamil teacher with more than three decades of service, he authored over 80 books spanning poetry, essays, novels, short stories, plays and literary translations.
The Press Club noted that Puviyarasu translated into Tamil the works of several internationally acclaimed writers, including William Shakespeare, Khalil Gibran, Omar Khayyam, Osho, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Rabindranath Tagore, making world literature more accessible to Tamil readers.
His literary contributions earned him two Sahitya Akademi Awards—one in 2007 for his Tamil translation of *The Revolutionary* by Kazi Nazrul Islam and another in 2009 for his poetry collection *Kaiyoppam*.
The statement also highlighted that Puviyarasu was among the founding members of the Vaanampadi movement, alongside prominent literary figures including Mu. Metha, Na. Kamarasan, Sirpi Balasubramaniam, Abdul Rahman, Meera, Gnyani and Erode Tamizhanban. The Vaanampadi magazine, printed in Coimbatore and distributed free of cost, played a defining role in popularising modern Tamil poetry across the State.
Beyond literature, Puviyarasu actively participated in movements for the protection of the Tamil language, Tamil-medium education and Tamil Nadu's border rights. He was imprisoned several times for his activism and also served as editor and associate editor of several Tamil literary magazines. In addition, he contributed lyrics to Tamil films and worked on screenplay-related projects alongside actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan.
Describing Puviyarasu as one of Tamil literature's most enduring voices, the Coimbatore Press Club said according him full state honours would be a fitting tribute to his lifelong contribution to Tamil language and literature. It also urged the Tamil Nadu government to perpetuate his legacy by naming the translated books section at the Periyar Arivulagam, currently under construction in Gandhipuram, after the late literary icon.
In a statement, the Press Club recalled Puviyarasu's immense contribution to Tamil literature and his pioneering role in the Vaanampadi literary movement, which was launched in Coimbatore in 1971. The movement played a significant role in taking progressive and socially conscious modern Tamil poetry beyond literary circles and closer to the people.
Born as S. Jegannathan, Puviyarasu adopted his Tamil pen name inspired by the ideals of Bharathidasan and dedicated his life to the promotion of Tamil language and literature. A retired Tamil teacher with more than three decades of service, he authored over 80 books spanning poetry, essays, novels, short stories, plays and literary translations.
The Press Club noted that Puviyarasu translated into Tamil the works of several internationally acclaimed writers, including William Shakespeare, Khalil Gibran, Omar Khayyam, Osho, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Rabindranath Tagore, making world literature more accessible to Tamil readers.
His literary contributions earned him two Sahitya Akademi Awards—one in 2007 for his Tamil translation of *The Revolutionary* by Kazi Nazrul Islam and another in 2009 for his poetry collection *Kaiyoppam*.
The statement also highlighted that Puviyarasu was among the founding members of the Vaanampadi movement, alongside prominent literary figures including Mu. Metha, Na. Kamarasan, Sirpi Balasubramaniam, Abdul Rahman, Meera, Gnyani and Erode Tamizhanban. The Vaanampadi magazine, printed in Coimbatore and distributed free of cost, played a defining role in popularising modern Tamil poetry across the State.
Beyond literature, Puviyarasu actively participated in movements for the protection of the Tamil language, Tamil-medium education and Tamil Nadu's border rights. He was imprisoned several times for his activism and also served as editor and associate editor of several Tamil literary magazines. In addition, he contributed lyrics to Tamil films and worked on screenplay-related projects alongside actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan.
Describing Puviyarasu as one of Tamil literature's most enduring voices, the Coimbatore Press Club said according him full state honours would be a fitting tribute to his lifelong contribution to Tamil language and literature. It also urged the Tamil Nadu government to perpetuate his legacy by naming the translated books section at the Periyar Arivulagam, currently under construction in Gandhipuram, after the late literary icon.