SIVASANKARI - சிவசங்கரி - INDIAN (TAMIL) WRITER - இந்திய (தமிழ்) எழுத்தாளர்

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:




 


 

SIVASANKARI - சிவசங்கரி


INDIAN (TAMIL) WRITER – இந்திய (தமிழ்) எழுத்தாளர்

 

Date of birth - 14 October 1942

 

 

 

SIVASANKARI (born in erstwhile Madras, now Chennai, on 14 October 1942) is a progressive Indian writer and activist who mostly wrote in Tamil. She is one of the four Tamil writers the United States Library of Congress asked to record their voices for the South Asian article on Sivashankari.

 

Her marriage took place in 1963 with T.S. Chandrasekaran, who passed away in 1984, leaving Sivasankari widowed at a young age. Sivasankari often credited his support and encouragement as a driving force behind her literary success and public life. Thereafter, she has been fully dedicating herself to writing and giving voice for protection of human rights, especially of women.

 

Sivasankari's vision for national integration was not about translating her own works, but rather about showcasing and translating prominent writers from all across India through her monumental 16-year project, "Knit India Through Literature". Rather than focusing on her own fiction, she travelled the country to compile a multi-volume anthology featuring over 100 authors across 18 official Indian languages to "introduce Indians to other Indians" and bridge regional cultural gaps.

 

Her works have greatly inspired generations in general, and women (oppressed and suppressed ones specifically), in particular, and they will continue to do so in the future as well.

 

She has to her credit the following books:

 

  • 47 Naatkal
  • Aatril Oru Kaal Setril Oru Kaal
  • Aayiram Kaalathu Payir
  • Adimaadugal
  • Anilgal
  • Amma Pillai
  • Amma, Please, Enakkaga
  • Appa
  • Aval
  • En?
  • Ini
  • Innoruthi + Innoruthi
  • Karunai Kolai
  • Kinattru Thavalaigal
  • Kulappangal
  • Malaiyin Adutha Pakkam
  • Mella Mella
  • Mudhal Konal
  • Naan Naanaga
  • Nandu
  • Nerunji Mul
  • Nooleni
  • Oru Manithanin Kaathai
  • Paalangal
  • Pogapoga
  • Suriya Vamsam Ninaivalaigal - 1
  • Suriya Vamsam Ninaivalaigal - 2
  • Sutta Man
  • Theppakulam
  • Thirisangu Sorgam
  • Uyarnthavargal
  • Vaanathu Nila

 

Filmography:


Avan Avak Adhu (1980)

47 Naatkal (1981)

Nandu (1981)

Thiyagu (1990)

Kutty (2001)

 

 

She had a galaxy of Awards and Honours coming to her in full flow.

 

Awards:

 

As a Writer:

 

  • The coveted ‘KASTURI SRINIVASAN AWARD’ for PAALANGAL - a novel spanning three generations - as the outstanding Tamil novel published in 1983-84.
  • The prestigious ‘DR. RAJAH SIR ANNAMALAI CHETTIAR AWARD’ in 1988 for the book CHINNA NOOLKANDA NAMMAI SIRAIPPADUTHUVATHU? – a series of 52 non-fiction articles emphasizing on self-improvement, parts of which are often quoted by eminent personalities in their speeches and writings.
  • ‘BHARATIYA BASHA PARISHAD AWARD’ from a Calcutta-based literary forum, for VERILLATHA MARANGAL novel – as the best Tamil novel published in 1989-90.
  • ‘TAMIL ANNAI AWARD’ from Tamil University, Thanjavur in January 1989.
  • ‘RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL INTEGRATION AWARD’, jointly constituted by the Tamil magazine Idhayam Pesugirathu and Indian Bank for taking up the project KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE.
  • The BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR 1998 AWARD from Tiruppur Tamil Sangam for the talking book AMMA SONNA KATHAIGAL (Stories retold by mother) – a book with six stories and an audio cassette wherein Sivasankari herself has narrated the stories, the first of its kind in Tamil.
  • ‘PREMCHAND RASTRIYA SAHITYA SAMMAN AWARD’ by Rastriya Hindi Academy, Calcutta, in October 2001.
  • NALLI – THISAI ETTUM Translation Award for her novel ‘NAAN NAANAAGA’ that was translated into Telugu, in November 2007.
  • The ‘GOPICHAND LITERARY AWARD’ from YUVAKALAVAHINI of Andhra Pradesh in January 2008. She is the first writer to receive this award after the committee decided it as a National Award for writers of all Indian languages.
  • ‘K. SWAMINATHAN MEMORIAL AWARD’ from KAMBAN KAZHAGAM, Chennai, in August, 2009.
  • ‘LIFETIME PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD’ from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, in March 2010.
  • ‘POTRAAMARAI AWARD’ from Potraamarai Art & Literature Forum in July 2013.
  • ‘ILAKKIYA CHINTHANAI AWARD’ for having enriched the Tamil language through writings, in April 2015.
  • ‘WRITER OF 2016 AWARD’ from World Centre for Tamil Culture, Coimbatore in December 2016.
  • ‘BHARATHI SANGAM’, the oldest in Chennai, honoured her with ‘BHARATIYAR AWARD’ on 11.9.2017, which was Mahakavi Bharati’s 96th Death Anniversary day.
  • An Award for ‘CREATIVE LITERATURE’ was bestowed on her by KULOTHUNGAN TAMIL DEVELOPMENT TRUST, Chennai, on the occasion of the First Year Death Anniversary of Padmabhushan Dr. V.C. Kulandaisamy, on 10.12.2017.
  • ‘THANGA TARAGAI AWARD’ was given by News 7 Channel in February 2018.
  • ‘PRIDE OF TAMIL NADU AWARD’ was given by Round Table India in March 2018.
  • ‘LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD’ was given by TAG CORPORATION in August 2019.
  • ‘BHARATI NATIONAL’ Award was given by the Tamil Nadu Government in September 2019
  • ‘VIDHYA SAKTHI AWARD’ from Ladies Special Magazine, in 2022.
  • ‘SPECTRA AWARD’ For Excellence, in 2023.
  • ‘LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD’ from Puthiya Thalaimurai Magazine, in 2023.
  • Recipient of ‘VISION OF INDIA LITERATURE AWARD’ by ILAYAKKIYA THOTTAM CANADA in 2023.
  • Recipient of the prestigious ‘SARASWATI SAMMAN AWARD’ for 2022 from K.K. Birla Foundation, in October 2023.
  • Received ‘LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD’ from SRM University, Tamil Perayam in 2023.
  • ‘LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT SAKTHI AWARD’ from Puthiya Thalimurai TV in 2023
  • Received ‘KAMBAN PUGAZH VIRUTHU’ from KAMBAN KAZHAGAM in Srilanka, in May 2024.
  • Received the prestigious ‘VISWAMBARA NATIONAL AWARD’ in January 2024 from Susheela Narayana Reddy Trust, Hyderabad.
  • Received ‘LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD’ from ‘Kalyanamalai’ in 2024.
  • The Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, was conferred upon her by the Government of India in 2026 in recognition of her outstanding contributions to literature and society.
  • Techno India University, Kolkata, West Bengal, also conferred upon her an Honorary Doctorate in 2026 in recognition of her remarkable achievements and services in the field of literature.

 

 

As an Activist:

 

  • FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD by The Association of Book Printers & Sellers of South India, in December’87 – for the service rendered to society through writings.
  • RAJIV VIRUDU – award given by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in September’88.
  • FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD from Rotary Club of Madras in 1989.
  • MELVIN JONES AWARD – the highest International award given by the Lions International Organization in July 1990.
  • The STREE RATNA AWARD by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai Kendra.
  • MANUSHREE – a national award by Athimabbe Foundation, Bangalore, in April 1998.
  • BHARATI Award by Vanavil Cultural Centre, Chennai in December 2002.
  • NAYAGI–2005 Award by the Inner Wheel Club of Thanjavur in March 2005.
  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk, R.I. Dt. 3230 in March 2006.
  • The ASTITVA Award by Zee TV & Archana Trust Suburban, Mumbai, in August’06 – for Excellence as an Author 2006.
  • WOMAN ACHIEVER AWARD from MEGA TV, in March 2010.
  • BHARATHI Award from the Cultural and Social Association THE DAWN in March 2015.
  • LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from the Tamil magazine NAM URATHA SINTHANAI in July 2016.
  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from ANBU PAALAM in April 2017.

 

 

HONOURS:

 

  • Honoured by The Madras & Coromandel Jaycees as an OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON in the field of Journalism for the year 1976.
  • Visited S.A. under the International Writing Program (IWP) and International Visiting Program (IVP) in 1986.
  • Honoured by BHARAT ELECTRONICS in 1991.
  • Honoured by TELUGU ARTS ACADEMY in 1991.
  • Honoured as one of the fifty women who have influenced the evolution of independent India under the title WOMEN WHO’VE MADE INDIA by the magazine Femina in 1997, the Golden Jubilee year of Indian Independence.
  • Honoured as SINTHANAI SELVI by All Women’s Organizations of Trichy in March 1998.
  • First Tamil writer to be honoured with the prestigious HONORARY CITIZEN award by Dr. Jerry Kuhaida, the Hon. Mayor of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. in July 1999.
  • Honoured as the WOMAN OF 1999-2000 by the International Women’s Association in March 2000.
  • Honoured as one of the four writers whose works were recorded in their own voices for the Archives of the U.S. Library of Congress to mark the Bicentennial Celebration of the Library in August 2000.
  • Honoured with the ROLL OF HONOUR in October 2000 by The Mylapore Academy for Creative Awareness to Social Issues Through Stories in TV serials for the year 1999.
  • Honoured by All India Radio (AIR) by recording her interview in Tamil on her life & times for their Archival programme in January 2003.
  • Honoured by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., Neyveli, at the Neyveli Book Fair – 2005.
  • Honoured as DESASNEHI by India Development Foundation, Bangalore, in December 2012.
  • Honoured as a ‘Senior Writer’ by the Tamil magazine KALKI on the occasion of its Platinum Jubilee in August 2015.
  • Honoured as a Resource Person during the UGC Sponsored National Seminar on Regional Indian Literature in Translation held at P.S.G.R. Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, in February 2016. A day-long session of seminars was held, based on her project ‘KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE’.
  • Honoured with a year-long series of programmes under the title ‘SIGARAM THOTTA SIVASANKARI’ (Sivasankari who has scaled the peaks) – a unique and special programme, the first of its kind in India. From June 2015 to May 2016, 12 programmes were organised jointly by three organisations Uravu Churangam, Sri Krishna Sweets & Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan- in honour of the creative writings of Sivasankari, wherein a senior writer or a scholar presented an analytical speech on any genre of her works.
  • Honoured as a legend and Role model to society by Krishna Sweets in 2019
  • Navasakthi award by Sri Sankara Tv in 2021
  • Honoured by Delhi Tamil Sangam in 2023.
  • Honoured by Mumbai Shanmuganatha Sabha in 2023 for her outstanding services to Tamil Literature.

 

In particular, who can miss her book CHINNA NOOLKANDA NAMMAI SIRAIPPADUTHUVATHU? (சின்ன நூல்கண்டா நம்மை சிறைப்படுத்துவது?) - a series of 52 inspiring non-fiction articles – that got her the ‘DR. RAJAH SIR ANNAMALAI CHETTIAR AWARD’ in 1988.

 

 

LONG LIVE SIVASANKARI MADAM.

 

 

 

R.SAMPATH

15/10/2026

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