R. Chudamani

R. Chudamani (1931 – 2010) was a Tamil short story writer and novelist. She was born and brought up in Chennai, India. Due to her physical disability, she was schooled at home. Apart from her regular lessons, she also learnt to paint. But what she enjoyed most was learning language Tamil from the well-known Tamil writer S.G. Srinivasachari (who wrote under the pseudonym Konashtai). She is one of the poineers of the succesful publication of Tamil monthly magazine, “Kalaimagal”. Chudamani began to write in her early 20’s. Her first story “Kaveri” was published in 1957. In 1960, she published her first novel “Manathukku Iniyaval” followed by “Daktarammavin Arai” and “Iravu chudar”. In 1961, her play ‘Iruvar Kandanar’ has been performed several times. In the span of fifty years, she almost wrote more than 500 short stories in various Tamil magazines. She have also written more than 200 short stories in English as Chudamani Raghavan.

R. Chudamani’s selected works are

In 1957, Kaveri In 1959, Pinju Mukham In 1961, Iruvar Kandanar– play In 1965, Punnagai PoongothuMagalin Kaigal Manattukkiniyaval Daktarammavin AraiMangai BAAnniyargal  – short story Thanimai Thalir – short story Nankavatu Aciramam – short story In 1974, Iravuchchudar ; translated into English as Yamini (1996)

Her accolades

In 1957 Kalaimagal Silver Jubilee Award In 1957 Narayanaswami Iyer Memorial Award of Kalaimagal In 1966 Tamil Nadu Government Award In 1992 The Lilly Devasigamani Award and In 2009 The Kalaignar Mu Karunanidhi Award