V.G Suryanarayana Sastriar

Visionary Tamil Scholar and Champion of Classical Tamil

V.G. Suryanarayana Sastriar, later known as Parithimar Kalaignar, was a great visionary, eminent Tamil scholar, and prolific writer who made remarkable contributions to Tamil language and literature.

He was born on 6 July 1870 in Vilacheri, Madurai, to Govinda Sastrikal and Lakshmi Ammal. He completed his schooling at Zilla High School, Madurai, and received early training in Tamil, Sanskrit, and Mathematics from his father.

Academic Excellence and Career

Parithimar Kalaignar pursued his graduation at Madras Christian College, Chennai, in 1890, with financial assistance from King Bhaskara Sethupathy. He distinguished himself as a gold medalist in both Tamil Literature and Philosophy, reflecting his exceptional academic brilliance.

Though he was offered a position as Professor of Philosophy at Madras Christian College, he chose to serve in the Tamil Department, despite the lower salary — a decision that demonstrated his deep commitment to the growth of Tamil language.

• Joined as Assistant Professor of Tamil in February 1893 at the age of 23
• Promoted as Head of the Tamil Department in 1895

He also translated Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice into Tamil with remarkable precision, preserving the original meaning and literary spirit.

Name Change and Tamil Identity

Originally named Suryanarayana Sastriar (a Sanskrit name), he adopted the Tamil name Parithimar Kalaignar, retaining the meaning of his original name while expressing his dedication to Tamil linguistic purity. This symbolic act reflected his belief in strengthening Tamil identity.

Defender of Tamil in Education

In 1902, when the University of Madras proposed including Sanskrit and French while excluding Tamil from the syllabus, Parithimar Kalaignar strongly opposed the move. Through powerful arguments and scholarly evidence, he convinced the authorities to withdraw the proposal.

In November 1902, in an editorial published in Chenthamil, he boldly declared that Tamil is a classical language (Uyar Thani Chemozhi) — a visionary assertion made decades before Tamil officially received Classical Language status.

He also served as Editor-in-Chief of Gnanapothini, contributing significantly to Tamil intellectual discourse.

Literary Contributions

Parithimar Kalaignar was a versatile writer whose works spanned multiple genres — novels, essays, literary criticism, and poetry. Some of his notable works include:

• Roopavathy
• Srimaniya Sivanar – History
• Chithirakavi Vilakkam
• Kalavathy
• Pavalar Virunthu
• Mathivanan
• Tamil Pulavar History
• Tamil Viyasankal

Through these writings, he enriched Tamil scholarship and inspired pride in Tamil heritage.

Legacy and Commemoration

Parithimar Kalaignar passed away on 2 November 1903 at a young age. Despite his short life, his unwavering dedication to Tamil language, education reform, and literary excellence secured him a lasting place in history.

To honor his immense contributions, the Department of Posts issued a commemorative postage stamp on V.G. Suryanarayana Sastriar (Parithimar Kalaignar), celebrating his pioneering efforts in establishing Tamil as a classical language and promoting its literary glory.