Prapanchan

Prapanchan, is the pseudonym of S. Vaidyalingam (; 27 April 1945 – 21 December 2018) a Tamil, writer and critic from Puducherry, India.

Biography Prapanchan was born in Pondicherry and did his schooling in Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Puducherry. His birth name was Vaidyalingam. His father ran a toddy shop. He attended the Karandhai College and graduated as a Tamil Vidwan. He started his career as a Tamil teacher in Thanjavur. He also worked as a journalist in Kumudam, Ananda Vikatan and Kungumam. In 1961, he published his first short story Enna ulagamada in the magazine Bharani. He was influenced by the Self-Respect Movement. He had published 46 books. In 1995, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil for his historical novel Vaanam Vasappadum (lit. The Sky will be ours) set in the times of Ananda Ranga Pillai. His works have been translated into Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, German, French, English and Swedish. His play Muttai is part of the curriculum in Delhi University and his short story collection Netrru Manidhargal is a textbook in many colleges. He was married to Pramila Rani and they have three sons. He was living in Chennai and Pondicherry. He was diagnosed with lung cancer (Squamous cell carcinoma), for which he underwent palliative chemotherapy from Manakula Vinayagar Medical College & Hospital under the department of pulmonary medicine and oncology. On 21 December 2018 he died of respiratory failure and tumor metastasis.

Partial bibliography

Novels Vaanam vasappadum Mahanadhi Manudam vellum Sandhya Kagidha Manidhargal Kaneeral Kappom Penmai velga Padhavi Erodu Thamizhar uyirodu

Novellas Aangalum Pengalum

Short story collections Nerru Manidhargal Vittu Viduthalayagi Iruttin Vaasal Oru ooril irandu manidhargal Appavin veshti Mari engira aatukutti

Plays Muttai Akalya

Awards and recognitions Sahitya Akademi Award in Tamil, 1996 for Vaanam vasappadum Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award Coimbatore Kasturi Rangammal Award for Mahanadhi Ilakkiya Chinthanai Award for Manudam vellum Adithanar award for Sandhya Award for Non-Fiction from The Tamil Literary Garden, Toronto