Rajagopal Muthukumaraswamy

R.Muthukumaraswamy Rajagopal Muthukumaraswamy is a publisher, librarian, translator and a Tamil Scholar. He is also the Managing Director of South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society Ltd., (also known as Kazhagam).

Biography

R.Muthukumaraswamy has been known to Tamil research scholars for more than 6 decades. As a writer he has contributed in translating famous English classics such as Kadathapatta David (David Copperfield), Wakefield Pathariyar (The Vicar of Wakefield), Karumani Malar (Black Tulip), Thayathu (Talisman) by Sir Walter Scott, Sirumi Eithi (Heidi) by Johanna Spyri, Indira Priyadharshani & 1008 Commemoration Bibliography. He has also compiled a Bibliography of Tamil books jointly with Dr.S. R. Ranganathan, the father of the Library Movement of India.

Born in the year 1936(Dec 12)in Chennai, R.Muthukumaraswamy had his education in Madras. After graduation in 1957 he trained in Library Science. Education: B.A. (Hons)(Tamil Literature).,(1957) Pachaiyappa's College M.A.,(1958), D.L.S.(1959), B.Lib.Sc.,(1961).

In 1980, he joined as the General Manager of South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society Ltd. and was promoted to Managing Director in the year 1983. Apart from publishing old manuscripts and rare books, the Kazhagam is running a library called Maraimalai Adigal Library and he started his career as a Librarian from this library. The library is considered important to Tamil Research Scholars. As a librarian he has helped more than 500 scholars to prepare their Thesis for Ph.D., M.Litt., & M.Phil., degree. He showed keen interest in collecting papers related to Tamil and Tamils history & culture. Likewise, few of the collections was utilized to publish a book in the year 1946 called Madras Presidency Tamil Sangam this is recorded by the author in the book called Antinomies of modernity essay[[1]] Also, he is the editor of the Tamil literary Magazine called SenTamizh Selvi.

He hails from a family devoted to Tamil language. Padma Shri Awards (1960–1969) Padma Shri V.Subbiah pillai is his father-in-law. Shri V.Subbiah pillai is the younger brother of Shri V.Thiruvarangam Pillai who is the son-in-law of well known Tanittamil Iyakkam scholar "Maraimalai Adigal". This strong relationship made V.Subbiah pillai to call Padma Shri as Thamarai Chelvar.

Endowment Lecture: University of Madras, Annamalai University & Ulaga Tamizh Araichi Niruvanam.

Posts Held

• 1960-1970: Secretary - Madras Library Association, Madras.
• 1963  : Member - Indian Standards Institution, Library Committee, Madras Chapter.
• 1967  : Secretary - IInd International Tamil Conference - Exhibition Committee.
• 1981  : Secretary & Treasurer Vth International Tamil Conference, Madurai. (Paper Studies & Seminar Area - Madurai Kamaraj University
• 2003-2005: President BAPASI -Chennai Book Fair.[[2]]

Awards

• Dr.S. R. Ranganathan Award for Library Service.
• Federation of Indian Publishers Award for leading Tamil Publishing service.
• Sentamizh Selvar virudhu by the Government of Tamil Nadu