S. N. Sriramadesikan (21 June 1921 – 17 March 2014) was an Indian scholar of Sanskrit and Tamil, lecturer, principal, editor and publisher. Among his many works, he is best known for translating the Tirukkural into both Sanskrit and English.[2]
Sirungathur Nadathur Sriramadesikan[1] | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 June 1921 Kancheepuram, India |
| Died | 17 March 2014 (aged 92) Chennai, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | Sanskrit scholar; translating the Kural into Sanskrit and English |
Biography edit
S. N. Sriramadesikan had a long scholarly career in the fields of language, literature and translation in Sanskrit, Tamil and English. He was appointed by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran as special officer in the State Government Department of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy for about 13 years, during which time he worked on his comprehensive and well-researched translation of ancient Ayurveda Sanskrit texts into Tamil. These include translations of 25,000 verses of Ashtanga Sangraham and Charaka Susruta Samhitas running into six volumes of 6,400 pages, which have been prescribed as college textbooks for students of Ayurveda in the country.[2]
When he requested the then President Rajendra Prasad for support to Sanskrit, a Sanskrit Commission was set up, whose recommendations led to the creation of centrally funded and managed Vidya Peetams for Sanskrit learning and research.[2]
During his long career, he served as a research scholar in Sri Venkateswara Oriental Research Institute (1943–1945), as a research officer in Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapith (1972–1975), as an honorary editor in Saraswati Mahal Library in Thanjavur (1980), and as an honorary adviser for Oriental Manuscript Library, Government of Madras, Chennai (1988).[3]
Sriramadesikan died on 17 March 2014 at the age of 92.[4]
Awards and honors edit
In recognition of his services to Ayurveda, the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham conferred on him the title, 'Ayurveda Bharati' and Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam the title of 'Abhinava Sushruta Vishruta'. Further to the initiative of the then Indian President V. V. Giri, Sriramadesikan was awarded the highest honour of President's award for Sanskrit Proficiency in 1971.[5] In 1993, the Government of Tamil Nadu conferred on him the Kalaimamani award.[2]
Literary works edit
Apart from the classic treatises on Ayurveda, Sriramadesikan has composed in Sanskrit 'Desika Mani Satakam' and 'Krishna Katha Sangraham'. He has also rendered the Tirukkural, Naaladiyar, Pathuppattu, Ettuthogai, Silappadikaram, Avvaiyar's Needi works, and Tiruppavai and the works of Subramaniya Bharati into Sanskrit. He also made the well-annotated translation of Bharata's Natya Shastra from the Sanskrit original of 6,000 verses.[2]
Below is a list of literary works of Sriramadesikan:
- Avvaiyar Niti (Sanskrit translation)
- Susruta Samhita (Tamil translation of Sanskrit Ayurveda text)
- Bharatanatya Sastram—Tracing the History
- Bharatiar Works
- Ettu Thogai (Sanskrit translation)
- Sanga Noolgalil Vaidika Kalacharam (research work)
- Kambaramayanam (Balakandam, Sanskrit translation)
- Naaladiyar (Sanskrit translation with Tamil and English expositions)
- Pathupattu (Sanskrit translation)
- Silappadikaram (Pukar Kandam, Sanskrit )
- Tirukkural (two volumes of Sanskrit translation with Tamil and English expositions)
- Tiruppavai (Sanskrit translation)
- Vemana Padaya (Sanskrit and Tamil translations)
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Srirama Desikan Reader - Extracts from his literary works
- ^ a b c d e Kannan, Neduntheru S. (14 July 2011). "Genius of a rare kind". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ A. A. Manavalan, ed. (2010). A Compendium of Tirukkural Translations in English. Chennai: Central Institute of Classical Tamil. p. xxvii–xxviii. ISBN 978-81-908000-2-0.
- ^ "Obituary". The Hindu. 23 March 2014. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Venkatramanan, Geetha (14 July 2011). "Candid views". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
Further reading edit
- Manavalan, A. A. (2010). A Compendium of Tirukkural Translations in English (4 vols.). Chennai: Central Institute of Classical Tamil, ISBN 978-81-908000-2-0.
- Sanskrit Works of SN Srirama Desikan