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Era Natarasan
இரா நடராசன்
Born(1964-12-08)8 December 1964.
Lalgudi, Trichy District, Tamil Nadu, South India.(now living in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India).
NationalityIndian
Alma materJamal Mohamed College, Tiruchirappalli(1982-85).,
Annamalai University(1990-92),
Alagappa University(2004).,
Occupation(s)Children's writer, Educationist, Principal (Head master).
AwardsSahitya Akademi Award 2014,
Dr. Radhakrishnan Award 2008 (Government of Tamil Nadu),
Tamil valartchi thurai virudhu 2015,2001.(Government of Tamil Nadu)
Websitewww.eranatarasan.com
Signature

Era.Natarasan (Tamil: இரா நடராசன்) Born December 8,1964 popularly known as Ayesha Natarasan is an Indian writer of children’s books .[1] He writes in Tamil and English. He is most famous as the author of Ayisha(in English)/ Ayesha(a Novella) that has sold millions of Copies in 12 languages.[2] [3] [4][5] He has written more than 80 books most of them on science and Science Fiction including Vigyana vikramadhithyan  kadhaigal which won the "Bal Sahitya Puraskar Award" awarded by Sahitya Academy, India’s highest award for Children Literature.[6] [7]

Life and career

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Early days

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Natarasan was born in Lalgudi , in the Southern State of  Tamil Nadu in India, His Father Ramanathan was a Goverment Servent and mother Savithri Ramanathan a home maker grew up in Trichy district. He loved Science as a child and was inspired by his teachers to become a teacher. He joined The Jamal Mohamed College(1982-85) and completed graduation in physics and started writing while doing his first year there.  He became a teacher at an early age in a village service camp and still continuous to be one. He did his post Graduate degrees in psychology (Annamalai University)(1990-92) and in Education Management (Alagappa University)(2004). He married Mala Balakrishnan – a PG teacher in Mathematics and they have a son Gowthaman Natarasan and a daughter Aishwarya Natarasan. He is at present the Principal (Head master) of the Krishnasamy Memorial Matric Higher Secondary school, in the coastal town of Cuddalore near Puducherry , India.[8]

Literary career

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Era. Natarasan who started his writing career as a poet in the Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan in 1982 latter got interested to write short- stories Science and Science Fiction for children so for he has written 83 books (72 in Tamil and 11 in English).[9] He Published short stories in literary magazines and conducted weekly book - meets at Kural- Ilakkiya Amaipu in Cuddalore.He started writing science for children in 1990s through Thulir Magazine (Monthly of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum) and latter published widely in all children magazines in Tamil especially in the Chutti vikatan. His work Poojiyamam andu (year-zero) – the story of a visually impaired boy who wants to fly to moon – became the first Tamil work to be published in Braile language.

Turning Point

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His Famous -work Ayesha a Novella about the suffering of a school teenage prodigi won the first place in Kanayazhi Magazine -kuru novel(Short -Novel) competition in 1996. It sent a wave of shock across the intellectuals in Tamil Nadu. Soon the novella which appeared in a book form (published by Sneha Publishers) started selling in huge numbers- as it was seen a must read for the teaching community. Ayesha brought the much needed focus on the issue of corporal punishment against children in schools that was common in those days. Soon the School Education Department of Tamil Nadu used Ayesha in all its Teacher -work shops. Ayisha- Reached one million copies (later published by Bharathi Puthakalayam) in 1999 and had been since translated in to 12 Languages including English, French, Spanish and all Leading Indian Languages. Era Natarasan who became 'Ayisha' Natarasan started focusing on Education and child -right issues etc,there after.

The Busy Years

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His science books are simple and creative. His teen novels like- Circus Dot com(2000),[10] Malar Algebra(2002),[11] Rough Note(2009), Yureka court(2010),[12] Darwin school(2014),[13] Vande Matharam (2016)[14] etc..are read widely. He is able to mix science into stories and that makes in to a new style. The Vigyana Vikramadhithyan Kadhaikal(2009) has in itself the history of the medical inventions such as, polio vaccine, insulin, malaria vaccine etc., which received the Bala Sahitya Puraskar the Annual Sahitya Academy Award for children literature in 2014.[6]

His recent work for teachers Idhu yarudaya vagupparai(whose class-room is it ?)[15] [15] the best seller has received the Tamil Valarchithurai Virudhu  in 2015, the award he has already received in 2001 for his famous book on Mathematics Kanidhathin kadhai.[16] Era. Natarasan has brought a series (10 books) in English under the title Scientific Revolution on ten great names of science that signify the great leap forward which include Galileo Galilei,[17] Mendel,[18] Marie Curie,[19] Albert Einstein[20] etc., He is the writer, editor of The Puthagam Pesudhu – a Tamil Monthly for Books.[21]

Short Films

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     Era.Natarasan's Four Stories have been made into short -Flims so for.
  1. Ayesha -was adopted into a 28 minutes short film by B.sivakumar Released in year of 2000, short film Ayesha won the National Film Award - Best short film of the year (National Film Festival, New Delhi)
  2. Madhi -Another short story (Which was published by India Today(t)) magazine about the pathetic every day life of the third gender was filmed into a short film by cinematographer - Editor B. Lenin.
  3. Rathathin Vannathil (the color of Blood) story which received the Ilakkiya chindhanai Award,was made in to a feature film in the title Chellamma by Director Pa.sivakumar.
  4. Vattathin Pakkangal(the sides of cirle) was filmed as a feature film again by Director Pa.sivakumar.
  5. Ayesha Natarasan also appears in a supporting role in Director Thangar Bachan's famous film Ammavin Kaipesi.[22]

Educational Activism

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As an educational scholar & Psychologist he is an activist supporting alternative education.[23] [24] He has Translated Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed -the most important book on education in to Tamil. He served as a Master Resource Person on Right to Education Act for UNICEF Sponsored workshops in Tamil Nadu.He played a major role as the member secretory in the Vasanthi Devi Commitee on Alternate Education Policy (citizen's charter - against PM Modi's New Education Policy).[25] Ayesha Natarasan was in the Text Book commitee formed by the Govt of Tamil Nadu on the eve of the common syllabus formation. As an education activist Era.Natarasan has periodically Participated in many education debates on Television Channels as a key speaker, including Star Vijay(Neeya Naana)[26], Sun TV (India) (virundhinar pakkam)[27] etc., His articles and interviews on education have appeared in many leading magazines/Dailies such as The Hindu [1] , Ananda Vikatan[9], The Times of India(city)[28] Kungumam Vazhikatti, etc.,Era.Natarasan is also an active participant,[29] Resource Person cum trainer in book festivals children content seminars[30] and literary meets.[24]

Literary Review

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Era.natarasan's Science-books are simple and interesting with humour, a genre, which puts him parallal on the line with Sujatha Rangarajan tamil legend in writing science. Natarasan's children books though can be categorised age -based - are mostly for teenagers. His science fiction works such as Darwin school[13], Circus Dot com[10], Vande matharam etc., have child charaters who are super intelligent, His works on education -are student supportive and he is seen as a supporter of political activism in education -a leftist ideology. He has made some significant contributions in translating some notable science works in to Tamil. Era Natarasan is the translator-(Tamil) of Prof Dr.Vilayanur S. Ramachandran's book on psychology- The Emerging mind ,Tamil title -Uruvagum Ullam (Bharathi Puthakalayam). He has also translated Claude Alvares work - Science Development and Violence -Tamil title Ariiviyal Valarchi Vanmurai -Ethir Veliyeedu. other translation works include Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's The River Between (Idail Odum Nadhi), Buchi Emecheta's - Destination Biafra (Biafravai Nokki) etc. He has translated Hans Magnus Enzensberger's The Number Devil in tamil (Number Boodham).   

Awards and Honours

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which received the Bala Sahitya Puraskar the Annual Sahitya Akademi Award for children literature in 2014.[7]

The Sahitya Akademi's 2014 "Bal Sahitya Purasker" Press release states: Vigghana vikramaathitan Kathaikal is an interesting take on the story of Vikramadithya. Through this old folktale, the author introduces children to scientific concepts of science and various health issues. This book is remarkable in its clever introduction of science to young children.

Other awards and honours

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Year of award or honour Name of award or honour Awarding organisation
2016 Distinguished Alumni Award Jamal mohamed college.[31]
2014 Bal Sahitya Puraskar Award Sahitya Akademi, Government of India. [7]
2008 Dr. Radhakrishnan Award Government of Tamil Nadu.[32]
2015 Sujatha Award([Best Siru Pathirigai) Uyirmmai magazine, Sujatha Trust.
2014 Nigari Award(Samathuva Arisiyar of the year) Manarkeni Pathippagam.
2014 Vikatan Award (Best children fiction) Ananda Vikatan.[33]
2013 Tamil Valarchithurai Award Government of Tamil Nadu.[34]
2002 Thirpur Tamil Sangam Award(Best Translation award) Thirupur Tamil Sangam.[35]
2001 Tamil Valarchithurai Award Government of Tamil Nadu.[34]
1995 Ilakiya Chindhanai Award(Best Short Story) Ilakya Chindhanai, Chennai.

List of works

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Children Literature

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  • Oru Thozhanum Moonru Nanbargalum (2006, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
  • Rose (2002,Books for children)
  • Oru Thozhiyin Kadhai (2009, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
  • Rough Note (2009, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
  • Naveena Panchathandra kadhaikal (2006, vikatan)
  • Nathaiku Ethanai Kalgal (2006, Books for children)
  • Ayesha (2000, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
  • kodhaidoscope (2014, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
  • Naga (2000, Books for children)
  • Ayyal Mozhi Alamari, ISBN 9789382826415-1 (2009, Books for children)

Science

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Science Fiction

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Science-Drama

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Fiction(G)

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Education

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Translation

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English-Titles

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Metroplus'Insulting the Child isn't education'". The Hindu. 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  2. ^ "Ayesha Natarasan". Barathi Puthakalayam, India. 1999.
  3. ^ "Amazing Ayesha". The Hindu. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007.
  4. ^ "Ayesha-English" (PDF). A forward written by author ERA. NATARAJAN , India. 1999.
  5. ^ "Ayesha -Tamil". A forward written by author ERA. NATARAJAN , India. 1999.
  6. ^ a b "Bal Sahithya Akademi winner dedicates award to book-loving children". The Hindu. 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Bal Sahitya Puraskar Award". Sahitya Academy, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015. Cite error: The named reference "Bal Sahitya Puraskar" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Krishnasamy Memorial Matric Higher Secondary school". Cuddalore , India. 1999.
  9. ^ a b "'Ayisha' Natarasan's speech at Sakthi Vikatan's Camp". Vikatan. 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Circus Dot Com". Barathi Puthakalayam , India. 2000.
  11. ^ "Malar algebra". Barathi Puthakalayam , India. 2002.
  12. ^ "Yureka cour". vekatan veliyeedu , India. 2000.
  13. ^ a b "Darwin school". books for childern , India. 2014.
  14. ^ "Vande Matharam". Bharathi Puthakalayam. 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Ithu Yarudaya Vagupparai". books for childern , India. 2013. Cite error: The named reference "Ithu Yarudaya Vagupparai" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Kanidhathin kadhai". Bharathi Puthakalayam, India. 2001.
  17. ^ "Galileo Galilei -Scientific Revolution". Bharathi Puthakalayam, India. 2001.
  18. ^ "Mendel -Scientific Revolution". Bharathi Puthakalayam, India. 2001.
  19. ^ "Marie Curie -Scientific Revolution". Bharathi Puthakalayam, India. 2001.
  20. ^ "Albert Einstein -Scientific Revolution". Bharathi Puthakalayam, India. 2001.
  21. ^ "writer, editor of The Puthagam Pesudhu". Puthagam Pesudhu.
  22. ^ "Thangar Bachan's famous film Ammavin Kaipesi". Ammavin Kaipesi . 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  23. ^ "Be role models, teachers told". The Hindu. 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Literary meeting: 150 and going strong". Circle of Paalam The Book Meet in Salem. 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  25. ^ "Vasanthi Devi Commitee on Alternate Education Policy". Vasanthi Devi Commitee. 2016. Retrieved Oct 9, 2016.
  26. ^ "Children's welfare activist Ayesha Era Natarasan". Star Vijay (Neeya Naana)* Season 10 * Episode 249. 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  27. ^ "Sun Tv (Virundhinar Pakkam )". Sun TV (India). 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  28. ^ "Children's Day: Copies of Tamil novelette Ayesha distributed to students, teachers". The Times of India(city). 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  29. ^ "ALAP book council trainer". Academy of Literary Arts and Publishing Sngapore. 2012.
  30. ^ "AFCC National Book Development Council". AFCC. 2012.
  31. ^ "Distinguished Alumni Award". Jamal mohamed college. 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  32. ^ "Dr.Radhakrishnan Award". Government of Tamil Nadu. 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  33. ^ "Vikatan Award(Best Children Fiction)". Ananda Vikatan. 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  34. ^ a b "Tamil Valarchithurai Award". Government of Tamil Nadu. 2013.
  35. ^ "Thirupur Tamil Sangam Award". Thirupur Tamil Sangam. 2002.
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