Kalki Krishnamurthy

In this Indian name, the name Ramaswamy is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Krishnamurthy.

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 future incarnation 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 Mayiladuthurai
Died	5 December 1954(1954-12-05) (aged 55) Chennai, India
Pen name	Kalki Tamil: கல்கி
Occupation	journalist, critic and writer
Nationality	Indian
Education	Municipal High School, Mayiladuthurai & National High School, Tiruchi
Period	1899–1954
Genre	Historical fiction, social novels
Notable works	Ponniyin Selvan, Sivagamiyin Sapatham, Thyaga Bhoomi, Parthiban Kanavu, Alai Osai, Kalvanin Kadhali
Notable awards	Sahitya Akademi Award for Alai Osai
Spouse	Rukmani
Children	2

Early life

Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy was born in a Poor Tamil Brahmin Iyer 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 Mayiladuthurai 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. 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 propagating 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]

Works

Historical novels

Serial	Name	Setting
1	Sivagamiyin Sapatham (1 January 1944 – 30 June 1946)[6]	Pallava Dynasty
2	Parthiban Kanavu (16 October 1941 – 10 February 1943)[7]
3	Ponniyin Selvan (29 October 1950 – 16 May 1954)	Chola Dynasty
	Solaimalai Ilavarasi (1947)	The Independence of India

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

Serial	Name	Comments
1	Subhathraiyin Sagodharan	The story revolves around a young man and woman who meet on a train journey from Tirunelveli to Chennai and initially plan to end their lives due to personal failures. However, their encounter takes a different turn, leading to a positive resolution. Kalki's writing style is praised for its wit, incisive commentary on various aspects of life, and ability to weave historical and fictional elements together.
2	Otrai Roja	This story is about two strangers – a young man and a young woman – who meet on a train from Tirunelveli to Chennai. The woman is originally from Sri Lanka and the man is from Madras (now Chennai). They have failed in their respective exams and plan to end their life. Things take a different turn from here and all ends well.
3	Theepiditha Kudisaigal	two individuals, a young man and woman, who meet on a train from Tirunelveli to Chennai. Both are contemplating suicide after failing their exams. Their meeting takes an unexpected turn, and the story concludes with a positive outcome. The narrative is known for its social commentary, particularly on themes of literacy, women's empowerment, and education.
4	Pudhu Ovarsiyar
5	Vasdhadhu Venu
6	Amara Vazhvu
7	Sunduvin Sanyasam
8	Thirudan Magan Thirudan
9	Imayamalai Engal Malai
10	Pongumaangkadal
11	Master Medhuvadai	Collection of 5 short stories
12	Pushpa Pallaaku
13	Prabala Nakchatiram
14	Pithalai Ottiyanam
15	Arunachalathin Aluval
16	Parisil Thurai
17	Susila MA
18	Kamalavin Kalyanam
19	Tharkolai
20	S.S.Menaka
21	Saradhaiyin Thandhiram
22	Governor Vijayam
23	Kanaiyazhiyin Kanavu
24	Banker Vinayakarao
25	Tiger King	The story revolves around a King whose death at the hands of a tiger had been foretold by astrologers when he was born. He tries to reverse the fate spelled out for him and the author uses thinly veiled satire to walk the reader through the King's attempts which later prove futile, in a manner that makes them laugh.
26	Punnaivanthupuli
27	Devakiyin kanavan
28	onbathu kulinilam
29	number 888
30	Thiruvazhundhur sivakozhundhu
31	Zamindar Mahan
32	Mayilak kalai
33	Rnagathurkam Raja
34	Idintha kottai
35	Mayilvizhi maan
36	Thappili cup
37	Kethariyin Thaayar
38	Gandhimadhiyin kadalan
39	Srikandhan punarjenmam
40	Paladaindha Bangala
41	Chandramathi
42	Chiranjeevi kadhai
43	Kadithamum kaneerum
44	Vaira mothiram(Kaanama pogaathathu)
45	Veenai Bavani
46	Dhanakodiyin Manoratham

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

Various individuals including veteran actor, director, philanthropist and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. G. Ramachandran; actor, director and politician, Kamal Haasan; and director Mani Ratnam, have tried to adapt Krishnamurthy's novel Ponniyin Selvan, into a film at various stages, but only Mani Ratnam has succeeded so far. The first part of Mani Ratnam's two-part film was released on 30 September 2022 as Ponniyin Selvan: I, and second part was released on 28 April 2023 as Ponniyin Selvan: II.

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