T. K. Doraiswamy

T. K. Doraiswamy (21 August 1921 – 17 May 2007), also known by his pen name Nakulan, was an Indian poet, professor of English, novelist, translator and short fiction writer, who wrote both in Tamil and English, and is known for his surrealism and experimentation as well as free verse. He served as Professor of English, Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram for four decades.

During his literary career which started in his forties, when he started writing in Ezhuthu, a literary magazine founded by C. S. Chellappa, he wrote a novel and six books of poems in English, and nine novels and five books of poems in Tamil. His English work was mostly published under his real name, while Tamil works often appeared under his pen name. He also wrote briefly under the pen name, S. Nayar(sp?). His symbolic novel Ninaivup Patai Nilakal (1972) is considered a milestone in Tamil literature His other notable works in Tamil include, Nizhalgal, Naykal, Naveenante Diary Kurippukal, Ezhuthu Kavithaikal, Iruneenda Kavithaikal, Antha Manchal Nira Poonaikutty, and in English, Words to the Wind, 'Non-Being' and 'A Tamil Writer's Journal'.

Early life and education Born in 1921, in Kumbakonam, in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, Prof. Doraiswamy moved to Thiruvananthapuram at age 14.

Later he completed his MA in Tamil from Annamalai University, followed by M.A. in English from University of Kerala. and started full-time freelance writing. His best known novels are Ninaivu Pathai, Naaikal (Dogs) and Vaakku Moolam (Confession).

He was awarded the Asan Memorial Award for Tamil Poetry in 1983, and several other literary awards.

Personal life He was a bachelor. He died on 17 May 2007, at Thiruvananthapuram, at the age of 86. He had looked after his parents till they died and so their domestic help Purthai took care of him till the very end.

Works English Words for the Wind. Writers Workshop, 1973. (as T.K. Doraiswamy) Routes of Evanescence: a cycle of poems. Samkaleen Prakashan, 1981. That Little Sparrow: poems from Subramanya Bharati, with Paratiyar. Zha Publications, 1982. A Tamil Writer's Journal I & II. Publisher: T.K. Duraiswamy, 1984. Words to the Listening Air. Atri Publishers. Non- Being Tamil Short stories Oru raathal irachi Hippies Oru naal Tamil Nillakal. Publisher Tamilp Puttakalayam, 1965. Kurukshetram: oru ilakkiyat tokuppu. Publisher Vir̲panai urimai, Tamil̲ Puttakālayam, 1968. Ninaivup patai. Publisher Tas Puk Centar, 1972. Nāykal. Publisher Turaicāmi, 1974. Navinaan tayari: naval. Publisher Ilakkiyac Kankam, 1978. Mūnru: kavitaikal. Publisher Turaicami, 1979. Aintu: kavitaikal. Publisher T.K. Doraiswamy, 1981. Kotstānt kavitaikal. Publisher La Veliyitu, 1981. Ivarkal. Publisher Narmata, 1983. Curuti. Publisher Tarani Patippakam, 1987. Gramam: nōval. Publisher Sahityapr̲avarttaka Sahakaranasangham, 1991. Iru ninta kavitaikal. Publisher Virutcam, 1991. Vakkumulam. 1992. Nakulan̲ kataikal. Kavya, 1998. Nakulan kavithaikal (Selected poems). Ed. Sudalaimuthu Shanmugasundaram. Publisher Kavyā, 2001. Nakulan̲ katturaikal. Publisher Kavya, 2002. Kannadiyahum kangal, ed. R. R. Srinivasan. Kāvyā, 2006. Nakulan Novelkal — Collection of Eight Novels of Nakulan. Kaavya, 2006.