Popular Profiles - 05. Anuradha Ramanan

Anuradha Ramanan is a popular tamil writer. Her writings are popular for her refreshingly new feministic approach.

Personal Life:

Anuradha Ramanan was born on 19th June 1947 in Thanjavur.

Anuradha Ramanan's marriage life was a failure. She got married, even before completing her graduation in Arts college. After a brief marriage life, she returned back to her parent's house with her two daughters Suba and Sudha. She was a very bold person for her period. She understood her situation well and hence opted to continue her education. She brought up her two children all alone.

Anuradha Ramanan was a strong and confident person. Lot of women across Taminadu used to come to meet her to get advice on their personal problems.

Anuradha died of Kidney failure on 17th May 2010 in Chennai.

As Writer:

Anuradha Ramanan, actually started her career as an artist. In 1977, while visiting the Tamil magazine 'Mangai's office, Anuradha Ramanan, left behind her diary. Mangai's editor found the diary and he very much liked her writing style. He persuaded the reluctant Anuradha Ramanan to write a novel for his magazine. Ofcourse, a new writer was born!

Anuradha Ramanan wrote her first novel, "Kanavu malargal karugum pothu" with a pesudo name Sambavi. From then on there was no stop or pause for her writing....

Her Books:

Anuradha Ramanan has written about 800 novels and 1230 short stories. She has also penned many articles in various news papers and magazines.

Some of her popular books include, Sirai, Koottu puzhukkal, Oru veedu iru vaasal and Unnai pol oruthi

Controversy:

In 2004, Anuradha Ramanan accused popular spiritualist Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati of sexually harassing her in 1992. Considering the stature of the Kanchi Math, it created a huge furore across the country.

Awards and Recognitions:

• Sirai, a short story published in Anatha Vikatan magazine won gold medal for best short story.
• She Won gold medal in the Indian short stories contest held in 1978.
• She was awarded Queen of novels award.
• She was also awarded the Rajiv gandhi award for National social welfare writer by Taminadadu Congress Comitee.
• Six of Anuradha Ramanan's stories were made into Tamil films and some of her stories were also made into TV serials (Paasam, Punnagai, Archanai Pookal and Panneer pushpangal).