Ashokamitran, 1931-

Select page numbers to listen or LCCN to display the bibliographic record.

Readings:

1. Tannir.
   Madras : The Christian Literature Society, 1973.
   (LCCN : 74903041)
   Realmedia excerpt: pp. 66-69
   MP3 excerpt: pp. 66-69
   
2. Water.
   Oxford : Heinemann International Literature, 1993.
   (LCCN : 94144236)
   Realmedia excerpts: The author read from an unpublished manuscript and Textbooks
   MP3 excerpts: The author read from an unpublished manuscript and Textbooks
3. Muraip pen: Cevai.
   Madras : Narmadha Pathipagham, 1984.
   (LCCN : 85909893)
   Realmedia excerpt: pp. 64-73
   MP3 excerpt: pp. 64-73
   

Ashokamitran (Jagadisa Thyagarajan), born in 1931 in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, is one of the finest craftsmen of the Tamil writers living today. His novels and short stories are marked by subtle satire, a gorgeous undercurrent of humor and an engrossing portrayal of people who thrive in life despite the hardships they face. Understatement, a rare quality in Indian writing, marks his literary style. His stories hold up a mirror to many aspects of contemporary life and deeply focus on human situations and tendencies. His novel Thanneer which is translated into English is an acclaimed masterpiece of Indian writing.

He is a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award. He has received several other awards as well, such as the "Ilakkiya Chinthanai" award twice in 1977 and 1984, the Government of Tamil Nadu award thrice and the University of Iowa Creative Writing fellowship in 1973-74. He was conferred the Lilly Memorial Award in 1992 and Akshara Award in 1996. He was honored with K.K. Birla Fellowship to do a study in comparative Indian literature. He was Honorary Editor of Kanaiyazhi, a Tamil literary magazine during 1966-1989.

Among his works, Appavin Snehidar, Thanneer and Mansarovar are considered the best.

The Library of Congress has thirty-three of his works in its collection.