Lakshmi (writer)

Thiripurasundari was born in Thottiyam in ,Tamil Nadu. Her parents were Dr. Srinivasan and Pattammal (Sivakami). She was schooled at Thottiyam, Musiri and Holy Cross School, Trichy. She studied in Stanley Medical College and became a medical doctor. She began publishing short stories in Ananda Vikatan while still at college. She used "Lakshmi" as her pen name. Her first short story Thagunda thandanaya? (lit. An apt punishment?) was published in March, 1940. Her first novel to be published was Bhavani. After completing her medical education, she practiced at Chennai. She married Kannabiran in 1955 and moved to South Africa, where she lived for the next twenty two years. Her husband died in 1966. She returned to India in 1977 and took up full-time writing. She died in 1987.[1]

Thiripurasundari was a prolific writer who has published hundreds of short stories and novels. Her novels Penn manam and Mithila Vilas were awarded the Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam price. In 1984, she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil for her novel Oru Kaveriyai pola(lit. Like the river Kaveri).[2] Her Kanchanaiyin Kanavu and Penn Manam and sooryakandham, one of her best works were made into Tamil films - Kanchana(1952)[3] and Iruvar Ullam (1963).[4] Most of her works were based on family issues.[5]

Her autobiographical books were published in two volumes titled Kadhaasiriyaiyin Kadhai. In 2009, when the Government of Tamil Nadu offered to nationalise her works, her legal heirs refused the offer.[6]

In her writing career, Lakshmi has published over 1000 short stories and over 150 novels. Some of her novels include

• Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam award for Penn manam and Mithila Vilas
• Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil in 1984

• Lakshmi Profile at Koottanchoru blog