Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5 December 1954), better known by his pen name Kalki, was an Indian writer, journalist, poet, critic and Indian independence activist who wrote in Tamil. He chose the pen-name "Kalki", the tenth and last avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu.[1] He founded a magazine, which was also named Kalki, with T Sadasivam being the co-founder, in 1941. Krishnamurthy‘s writings include over 120 short stories, 10 novellas, 5 novels, 3 historical romances, editorial and political writings and hundreds of film and music reviews.

Kalki Krishnamurthy
Krishnamurthy on a 1999 stamp of India
Born	Ramasamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy (1899-09-09)9 September 1899 Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu
Died	5 December 1954(1954-12-05) (aged 55) Chennai, India
Pen name	Kalki Tamil: கல்கி
Occupation	journalist, critic and writer
Nationality	Indian
Education	High School
Alma mater	Municipal High School, Mayiladuthurai & National High School, Tiruchi
Period	1899–1954
Genre	Historic fiction, social fiction
Notable works	Ponniyin Selvan, Shangeeth Oru Bean, Sivagamiyin Sapatham, Thyaga Bhoomi, Parthiban Kanavu, Alai Osai, Kalvanin Kadhali
Notable awards	Sahitya Akademi Award for Alai Osai
Spouse	Rukmani
Children	Kalki Rajendran & Anandi Ramachandran

Early life

Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy was born in a Brahmin family on 9 September 1899 in Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu, in Mayiladuthurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Krishnamurthy's father was Ramaswamy Aiyar, an accountant in Puttamangalam village in the old Tanjore district of erstwhile Madras Presidency. He began his primary education in his village school and later attended Municipal High School in Mayavaram but quit in 1921, just short of completion of his Senior School Leaving Certificate, in response to Mahatma Gandhi's 1921 call for non-co-operation joining the Indian National Congress instead.[2][3]

His son Kalki Rajendran was married to Sadasivam's daughter Vijaya. And Krishnamurthy's daughter Anandi was married to Sadasivam's nephew (sister's son) Ramachandran, known as Ambi in music circles. Anandi's daughter Gowri Ramanarayanan was a music critic for The Hindu newspaper, and she also learned music under M S Subbulakshmi.[4]

Literary work

Krishnamurthy started writing fiction stories in Navaskthi in 1923 where he worked as a sub editor. He was working under the tutelage of Thiru Vi Ka when he published his first book in 1927. He started working with C Rajagopalachari in Thiruchengode in Gandhi Ashram. He published Vimochanam along with Rajaji, a journal propogating liquor prohibition. He was working in freedom struggle and during 1931, he was jailed for six months. He joined Ananda Vikatan, a popular Tamil magazine along with editor S S Vasan. He became very popular as a critic, witty author, political commentator and short story writer. He wrote under various pen names like "Kalki", "Ra. Ki", "Tamil Theni" and "Karnatkam". He left Ananda Vikatan and joined freedom struggle in 1941. On his release, he and Sadasivam started a weekly named Kalki. He was the editor in the journal till his death on 5 December 1954[5]

Bibliography

Historical novels

Social novels (Tamil)

• Kalvanin Kadhali (1937)
• Thyaga Bhoomi (1938–1939)
• Magudapathi (1942)
• Abalayin kaneer (1947)
• Alai Osai (1948)
• Devagiyin Kanavan (1950)
• Mohini Theevu (1950)
• Poiman Karadu (1951)
• Punnaivanathu Puli (1952)
• Amara Thara (1954)

Short stories

Critical work

Krishnamurthy was also a film and music critic, writing under the pseudonym "Karnatkam".^{[citation needed]} He also penned lyrics for many songs, most of which were adapted into Carnatic Music.^{[citation needed]}

Honours

• The release of a postage stamp in honour of Krishnamurthy was among the highlights of the centenary celebrations. Government of Tamil Nadu announced the nationalisation of Krishnamurthy‘s works, this will enable publishers to produce reprints of his works.
• Krishnamuthy had the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award conferred on him by The Indian Fine Arts Society in 1953.

Death

Krishnamurthy died in Chennai on 5 December 1954 aged 55 years from tuberculosis. Kalki magazine's special issue for Annai Sarada Devi, dated the day Krishnamurthy died, was his last editorial work. The magazine shared the information that his health was improving prior to his demise.[8]

Legacy

Veteran actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R.), actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam tried to adapt Krishnamurthy's novel Ponniyin Selvan into a film at different times, but only Mani Ratnam succeeded. The first part of Mani Ratnam's two-part film was released on 30 September 2022 as Ponniyin Selvan: I.

Biographies of Kalki

• Ponniyin Puthalvar by Sunda[9][10]
• Amarar Kalki
• Oray Roja

See also

• List of Indian writers
• Kalki (magazine)
• Ponniyin Selvan
• Parthiban Kanavu
• Sivagamiyin Sapatham

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Kalki Krishnamurthy.

• Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil) Wikisource (Unicode)
• Kalki's novels online, Chennailibrary.com (in Tamil)
• Ponniyin Selvan Facts and Fiction, ponniyinselvan.in
• English translation by Nandini Vijayaraghavan of Sivakamiyin Sabadham
• English Translation by Indra Neelameggham of Ponniyin Selvan

На других языках

[de] Kalki (Autor)