Ravikumar (writer)

D. Ravikumar
Photo for Lok Sabha in 2019
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
23 May 2019
Preceded byS. Rajendran
ConstituencyViluppuram
General Secretary Of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Assumed office
2010
Preceded byThol. Thirumavalavan
Succeeded byThol. Thirumavalavan
Personal details
Born10 June 1961
Manganam Pattu
OccupationVCK General Seceratory

D. Ravikumar (born 1961) is an Indian Tamil intellectual, writer, lawyer politician and an anti-caste activist. He was the editor of the magazine, Nirapirikai. Nirapirikai inspired several new writers in the 1990s in Tamil Nadu.[1] He is an Ambedkarite.[2] Ravikumar is the current Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Viluppuram and member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.[3][4]

Career

Ravikumar is the founder of the anti-caste publishing house Navayana, along with S. Anand, and the former president of the People's Education Movement (Makkal Kalvi Eyakkam) and PUCL (Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry).[citation needed]

Ravikumar was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, and served from 2006 to 2011.[5] He was instrumental in bringing a new policy to handle EWaste in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government started a skill development program and Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, created six welfare boards, both at the request of Ravikumar.[citation needed]

In 2010, Ravikumar won the Aringar Anna Award, conferred by the Tamil Nadu Government. Vikatan Awards for Translation ( 2014) Thiranayvu chemmal award for literary criticism (2019) manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Bharathi Award (2019) Vitiyal Trust Chennai.[citation needed]

Writings

Books

  • Ravikumar, D. (2009). Venomous touch : notes on caste, culture, and politics. Translated by R. Azhagarasan. Stree-Samya Publications. ISBN 978-8185604763.

Prose

  • "Kankanippin Arasiyal" (1995) Vidiyal Pathippagam
  • "Kothippu Uyarndu Varum" (2001) Kalachuvadu
  • "Kadakka Mudiyatha Nizhal" (2003) Kalachuvadu
  • "Malcolm X" (2003) Kalachuvadu
  • "Sonnal Mudiyum" (2007) Vikatan Publication
  • "Indrum Namadhe" (2008) Vikatan Publication
  • "Thuyarathin mel patiyum Thuyaram" (2009) Aazhi Publication
  • "Thamizharay Unarum Tharunam" (2010) Aazhi Publication
  • "Kaana Mutiyaa Kanavu" (2010) Aazhi Publication
  • "Bob Marley" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
  • "Andai Ayal Ulakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
  • "Piravazhip payanam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
  • "Katranaiththoorum" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
  • "Soolakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
  • "Meelum Varalaru" (2010) Ulakath Thamizaraychi niruvanam
  • "Kumbatchiyilirunthu kodungonmaikku" (2017) Kizhakku Pathipakam
  • "Kaalathai Thorkaditha Kalaingar" (2017) Manarkeni

Kaanalaay marum kaveri (2018) Manarkeni Ayiram Pookkal Karukattum (2019) Manarkeni

Poetry

  • "Avizhum Sorkal" (2009) Uyirmai
  • "Mazhai Maram" (2009) CreA
  • "Vaanil Vitterintha Kanavu" (2017) Manarkeni

Short stories

  • "Kadal Kinaru" (2014) Manarkeni

Translations

Editing

Tamil

  • Dalit Literature, Politics, Culture (1996)
  • Dalit Engira Thanitthuvum (1998) Dalit Publication
  • Iyothee Thaas Panditar Cintanaikal (four volumes) (1999) Dalit Sahitya Academy
  • Rettaimalai Srinivasan Jeevida Carithira Curukkam (1999) (Autobiography) Dalit Sahitya Academy
  • Mikai Naadum Kalai (2003) (Essays on cinema) kalachuvadu
  • Dalit journal
  • Bodhi journal
  • Manarkeni journal

English

  • We, the Condemned (1999) (Against Death Penalty) PUCL, Pondicherry
  • Ravikumar; Azhagarasan, R., eds. (2012). The Oxford India anthology of Tamil Dalit writing (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-807938-5.[5]

References

  1. ^ Satyanarayana and Tharu (2011). No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing from South India. New Delhi: Penguin India. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-143-41426-1.
  2. ^ "Want the complete annihilation of caste: First-time MP D Ravikumar". 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Members : Lok Sabha".
  4. ^ S, Mohamed Imranullah (8 September 2021). "Villupuram MP Ravikumar tells HC he is a member of the DMK". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b Kolappan, B. (20 March 2012). "Tamil Dalit writing set to go English". The Hindu.

Further reading

  • Satyanarayana, K & Tharu, Susie (2013) From those Stubs Steel Nibs are Sprouting: New Dalit Writing from South Asia, Dossier 2: Kannada and Telugu, New Delhi: HarperCollins India.