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List of Tamil people

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This is a list of famous and notable Tamil people.This would include persons who are known to a large number of people and is not based on the extent of their popularity. Neither is the list viewed from the context of the present. Their fame could be brief, what matters is that they were well-known during the peak of their popularity. Entries on this list are demonstrably notable by having a linked current article or reliable sources as footnotes against the name to verify they are notable and define themselves as Tamil.

This list also includes emigrant Tamils and could be taken as a list of famous Tamils.

Tamil Dynasty

Administrators and heads of state

Presidents of other countries

Administrators during British colonial rule

  • N (Narayanaswamy). Sadasivam (d.1960), Auditor-General of Burma (-1942).
  • Rao Sahib Adukkambarai Singaravel Veerasami Mudaliyar: Deputy Assistant Controller of Military Accounts, Burma. He was awarded the title of Rao Sahib by the then Viceroy Lord Wavell on 14 June 1945

Dewans of Princely States

International positions

Indian independence movement

  • V.O. Chidambaram Pillai V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, (Tamil: வ. உ. சிதம்பரம் பிள்ளை) popularly known by his initials, V.O.C. (spelt Vaa. Oo.Ce in Tamil), was an Indian freedom fighter born on 5 September 1872 in Ottapidaram, Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu State of India. He was a prominent lawyer, and a trade union leader. He gets credit for launching the first indigenous Indian shipping service between Tuticorin and Colombo with the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, competing against British ships. He was an Indian National Congress (INC) member, later charged with sedition by the British government and sentenced to life imprisonment; his barrister license was stripped. He is also known as "Kappalottiya Tamilan"" (கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழன்), or The Tamil Helmsman in Tamil
  • Muhammadh Yusuf Khan alias Marudhanayagam (Tamil: மருதநாயகம்) A born warrior, circa 1725 in the village of Panaiyur, in Rammnad 'country', present day Ramanathapuram. Yusuf Khan was held in very high esteem even after his death by the English and in their opinion he was one of the two great military geniuses India had ever produced; the other being Hyder Ali of Mysore. Though served the British army in the early days, confronted them over their powers on Tamil Nadu.
  • Puli Thevar, Polygar chieftain who fought against first and win over British East India Company in the 1750s and 1767s
  • Rettamalai Srinivasan (1860–1945), Dalitactivist, politician and freedom fighter from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
  • Thalapathy Venni Kaladi, he was the general of Puli Thevar and a brave warrior who died while fighting the British(he belonged to the Devendra kula vellalar community).
  • Maruthu Pandiyar brothers Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu who fought the British in the First and Second Polygar Wars
  • Dheeran Chinnamalai (1756–1805), Polygar chieftain and feudatory of Tipu Sultan who fought the British in the Second Polygar War
  • Subramanya Bharathy (1882–1921), Indian freedom fighter, Tamil poet and social reformer. Often regarded as the national poet of Tamil Nadu
  • Bharathidasan (1891–1964), Tamil poet and rationalist.
  • V. Kalyanasundaram (1883–1953), Scholar and independence fighter
  • Subramaniya Siva (1884–1925), Freedom fighter and prolific writer
  • Jeevanandham (1907–1963), Social reformer, political leader, litterateur and one of the pioneers of the communist and socialist movements
  • Champakaraman Pillai(1891–1934), independence fighter
  • Tiruppur Kumaran (1904–1932), Indian Revolutionary freedom fighter
  • Quid-E-Milath Mohamed Ismail, independence fighter, Member of Parliament and was the President of Indian Union Muslim League
  • K. Kamaraj, Freedom Fighter, Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and All India Congress President
  • Baktavachalam (1897–1987), Freedom Fighter, Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
  • C. Subramaniam (1910–2000), Freedom Fighter and statesman and one of the men behind the Green Revolution
  • Lakshmi Sehgal (1914-), Head of Rani Jhansi Brigade, women's wing of the Indian National Army and a close associate of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. Presidential candidate in 2002 President's election.

Independence movements in other countries

Others-Significant contribution to Tamil people

  • Marshal Nesamony,Responsible for Kanyakumari district merger with Tamil Nadu.
  • Varadarajan Mudaliar: Known as Vardha Bhai;Hero for Mumbai tamilians, Tamil movie Nayagan was based on his life story

Political leaders

India

Indian President

Ex-Ministers in the Union government

  • C. Subramaniam (1910–2000), Former Union Minister, Bharat Ratna Awardee & Father of the Indian 'Green Revolution'.
  • R. K. Shanmukham Chetty (1892–1953), first Finance Minister of independent India.
  • O. V. Alagesan, Formal Union Minister for petroleum, ambassador to Ethiopia.
  • Mohan Kumaramangalam, Eminent Lawyer, Former Union Minister and Son of P. Subbarayan.
  • Jana Krishnamurthi, (1928–2007), Former Union Law Minister and National President of BJP.
  • Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, Eminent Lawyer, Former Union Minister & Congress/BJP Leader. Son of Mohan Kumaramangalam.
  • K. Santhanam (1895–1980), Freedom Fighter & the First Railway Minister of independent India.
  • Satyavani Muthu Former Union Cabinet Minister, and the one of first non-congress and dravidian party members from Tamil Nadu along with Aravinda Bala Pajanor to be part of the Union government.
  • N. V. N. Somu, former Minister for state Defence, died in air crash.
  • முரசொலி மாறன், (August 17, 1934- November 23, 2003 Member of Parliament for 36 years, he was made a Union Minister in three separate central governments, in charge of Urban Development in the V.P. Singh government, Industry in the Gowda and Gujral governments, and finally Commerce and Industry under Vajpayee.
  • Aravinda Bala Pajanor, (born 1935) Senior Advocate, Former Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas, Chemicals & Fertilizers, and one of the first non-congress and dravidian party members from Tamil Nadu along with Satyavani Muthu to be part of the Union government.
  • R. V. Swaminathan (1909–1984), Freedom Fighter and union Minister of State for Agriculture.he was three term M.L.A. from(1952,1962,1967)three term MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (1971,1977,1980) three term TNCC PRESIDENT from 1967, 1971,1977. he was closely associated with Mahatma gandhiji. when mahatma gandhiji toured Tamil Nadu.in 1933-34 he stayed twice in his house in paganeri village.he was instrumental in bring a private bill along with K.T.kosalram which facilitated in removal of DEVAR COMMUNITY from DENOTIFIED list.he was popularly known as R.V.S.

Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu

Central Ministers

Governors

Other countries

Major political parties for Tamil people

Political Families

Tamil Nadu

The Karunanidhi Family

The P. T. Rajan family

The Kumaramangalam Family

The Rajagopalachari family

The C. P. Ramaswami Iyer family

The Bhaktavatsalam family

The Moopanar family

Sri Lanka

  • Arumugampillai Coomaraswamy (1783–1836), Gate Mudaliyar, Member of Legislative Council
    • Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy CCS FRGS (1833–1879), Member of Legislative Council + Elizabeth Clay Beeby
    • Sellachchi Coomaraswamy + Arunachalam Ponnambalam (1814–1887), Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate
      • Ponnambalam Coomaraswamy (1849–1905), Member of Legislative Council
      • Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan KCMG QC (1851–1930), Solicitor General of British Ceylon, Member of Legislative Council + Leelawathy Ramanathan (1870–1953)
        • Sivagamasundari + Subaiya Nadesan, Member of Parliament, Member of State Council, Senator
      • Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam KCMG CCS (1853–1924), Member of Executive Council, Member of Legislative Council + Swarnambal Namasivayam
        • Arunachalam Padmanabha
        • Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva KCMG (1888–1969), Government Minister, Member of Legislative Council, Member of State Council, High Commissioner to India
          • Balakumar (Baku) Mahadeva
        • Arunachalam Ramanathan
        • Pathmavathy Arunachalam + Sir Sangarapillai Pararajasingham, Senator
          • Pararajasingham Nadesan
          • Lalithambikai (-2005) + M. Swaminathan
            • D. M. Swaminathan (1945-), Member of Parliament, Governor of Western Province
            • Nesadurai Thirunesan alias Shankar Rajee (1949-2005), Senior leader and founder member of the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS)

Corea

  • Mudliyar Corea-Vikramasinha, Mudaliyar of Peliyagoda, 1630
  • Vikramasinha-Corea - son of the Mudaliyar, Dissawa of Puttalam
  • Christoffel Corea-Vikramasinha, Mohandiram of Hapitigam Korale
  • Louis Corea-Vikramasinha, Padicara Mohindaram
  • Abraham Corea, Mohandiram of the Chilaw District
  • Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea - appointed Mudaliyar in 1899, Inspector of Coaches and Inquirer of Crimes of the Chilaw District, in charge of the rural police in Pitigal Korale North
  • Charles Edgar Corea - elected to the Legislative Council, President of the Ceylon National Congress (1924)
  • Victor Corea - founder Member of the Ceylon National Congress, elected to the Legislative Council
  • Sir Claude Corea - Minister of Labour 1946,High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK, Ceylon's Ambassador in the USA, President of the United Nations Security Council
  • Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea, Speaker of the Parliament of Ceylon, Member of Parliament for Chilaw
  • Dr. Gamani Corea, Ambassador, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Ernest Corea, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Canada, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States of America
  • Harindra Corea, Deputy Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Member of Parliament for Chilaw

Ganesan

  • V. P. Ganeshan, trade unionist, politician, film producer and actor
    • Mano Ganesan (1959-), Member of Parliament, Provincial Councillor
    • Praba Ganesan (1964-), Member of Parliament, Provincial Councillor

Ponnambalam

Sangarapillai[3]

  • A. V. Sangarapillai,
    • Sir Sangarapillai Pararajasingham, Senator + Pathmavathy Arunachalam
      • Lalithambikai (-2005) + M. Swaminathan

(also related to Coomaraswamy, Ulaganathar of Manipay)

Thondaman

  • Ulaganathar of Manipay
    • Ulaganathar Mathar (1650-)
      • Mathar Kathirgamakanakkar (1670-)
        • Kathirgamakanakkar Thillaiampalam
          • Thillaiampalam Arunachalam, Mudaliyar
            • Arunachalam Ponnambalam (1814–1887), Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate + Sellachchi Coomaraswamy
              • Ponnambalam Coomaraswamy (1849–1905), Member of Legislative Council
              • Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan KCMG QC (1851–1930), Solicitor General of British Ceylon, Member of Legislative Council + Leelawathy Ramanathan (1870–1953)
                • Sivagamasundari + Subaiya Nadesan, Member of Parliament, Member of State Council, Senator
              • Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam KCMG CCS (1853–1924), Member of Executive Council, Member of Legislative Council + Swarnambal Namasivayam
                • Arunachalam Padmanabha
                • Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva KCMG (1888–1969), Government Minister, Member of Legislative Council, Member of State Council, High Commissioner to India
                  • Balakumar (Baku) Mahadeva
                • Arunachalam Ramanathan
                • Pathmavathy Arunachalam + Sir Sangarapillai Pararajasingham, Senator
                  • Pararajasingham Nadesan
                  • Lalithambikai (-2005) + M. Swaminathan

(also related to Coomaraswamy)

Viswanather-Arumugam-Cathiravelu

Defence (India)

Army

Air Force

  • Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson, 12th Chief of the Naval Staff (March 1, 1982–November 30, 1984).
  • Admiral Sushil Kumar, 18th Chief of the Naval Staff (December 30, 1998–December 29, 2001).
  • Commander Joseph Peter(b.25-12-1954)
  • Admiral Laksminarayan Ramdas

Award winners

Academy Award

Nobel Prize Winners

Ramon Magsaysay Award

The Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in April 1957 in memory of Ramon Magsaysay, the late president of the Philippines. It is often considered to be Asia's Nobel Prize.


Dadasaheb Phalke Award

is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969,the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered as the father of Indian cinema

Bharat Ratna

The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honour.

  • C. Rajagopalachari received first Bharat Ratna award for public affairs in January 26 1955 (Posthumous).
  • சர்வேப்பள்ளி ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் - 1954 His birthday is celebrated in India as Teachers' Day on 5 September.
  • K. Kamaraj for Public Affairs 1976 (Posthumous).
  • A. P. J. Abdul Kalam for Science & Engineering 1997.
  • C Subramaniam for Public Affairs 1998.
  • Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (Tamil: மதுரை சண்முகவடிவு சுப்புலட்சுமி)She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award.
  • M.G. Ramachandran for public affairs (posthumous)

Padma Vibhushan

The Padma Vibhushan is India's second highest civilian honour.

This is NOT a complete list, please add/modify.

Padma Bhushan

The Padma Bhushan is India's third highest civilian honour.

Padma Shri

The Padma Shri is India's fourth highest civilian honour.

Param Vir Chakra

The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military honor.




Sahitya Akademi Award

Sahitya Akademi Award is an annual award, given by the Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters), to writers in 24 Indian languages. The award was instituted and first awarded in 1955. It carries a monetary reward of 50,000 Rupees and a citation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sahitya_Akademi_Award_winners_for_Tamil

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is India's highest sporting honour.

Arts, music & literature

Arjuna Award

The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961 by the Government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in national sports.

Social workers

Industrialists & CEOs

India

Other countries

Eminent scholars

Academicians

Agriculture

Botanists

Computer science

Finance & economics

Law

Mathematics

Medicine

Scientists

Zoologist

Arts & music

Tamil music

Carnatic music

Film music

Western music

Classical dance

Cinema

--176.16.63.96 (talk) 16:05, 4 January 2012 (UTC)=== Directors ===


Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, Ajith Kumar,Vijay, Surya, Vikram, and many others.

Actresses

Music composers

See: Film Music

In Bollywood

In Hollywood

Other entertainers

Sports & games

Carrom

Volleyball

  • A. Palanisamy, First Arjuna Award winner for volley ball (1961).
  • G E Sridharan, Arjuna Award winner.
  • Kumaran, played for Indian team and currently playing for IOB,Chennai.
  • Sundaram[disambiguation needed], former setter for Indian team and Indian Overseas Bank, Chennai.
  • Mangala Jeyabalan, former setter for Indian team. At present playing T.N.E.B, previously played for Hindustan photo films -ooty[citation needed]
  • Muthuraj, played for Indian team and currently playing for Indian Bank, Chennai.[citation needed]
  • Sayee Krishnan, played for Indian team and currently playing for Indian Bank, Chennai.[citation needed]
  • Pradeep John, represented India in Asian Games 2006 as part of Beach Volleyball.[citation needed]
  • Mohan Poothanathan, represented India in Asian Games 2006 as part of Beach Volleyball.[citation needed]
  • Sivaraman, played for Indian team and considered the best back row attacker during his playing time.[citation needed]
  • Natarajan J, playing currently for India and IOB, Chennai. Also the captain of the Tamil Nadu volleyball team.[citation needed]
  • Sivabalan, played for India and currently playing for IOB, Chennai.
  • Selvarasu, played for Indian junior team and currently playing for ICF, Chennai.[citation needed]
  • Raj Mohan, played for Indian junior team and currently playing for ICF, Chennai.[citation needed]
  • Kamaraj, represented Indian youth team which finished 2nd in the world championships.
  • J.Ramesh, Played for Indian team and played for Hindustan Photo Films[citation needed]
  • G.Chandra Mohan, former setter for Indian Team from Hindustan Photo Films, Ooty[citation needed]
  • Ukkra pandian, current indian setter from Indian Bank

Chess

Cricket

India

Other countries

[10]

  • Ravin Moorthy (born 1976) Vice President Cricket Canada 2007 - present
  • Rathan Moorthy (born 1974) Assistant Coach Cricket Canada 2008 - 2011
  • Arul Suppiah (Malaysia born English cricketer)
  • samsuddin khan ( Nepal cricket player )

Football

FIFA Committees: member of FIFA Strategic Studies Committee, Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup, Football Committee Awards: FIFA Centennial

Hockey

Kabaddi

  • perumal ganesan, of the Indian Kabaddi team that won the Gold in 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.[citation needed]

Racing

Tennis

Cultural icons

Tamil Literature

Spiritual icons

Literature

Classical literature

Spiritual literature

Johnson Gnanabaranam in the year 1995.

Hindu

Christian

Islam

  • Umaru Pulavar (1605–1703), author of Sirappuranam, Islamic spiritual work on the life of Muhammad.
  • Mohammad Ibrahim, author of Muhaidin Puranam, Islamic spiritual literature.
  • "Sheiku Tharjuma" Moulana M. Abdul Wahhab M.A.B.Th (1920–2002) author of Thithikum Thirumarai, Nammanigal Naalvar and many short stories and articles in Tamil magazines under various Pseudonyms; Translated Holy Quran in Tamil; edited many Islamic Books; was conferred the title "Nadamaadum Palkalai Kazhagam"; Vice President of Authors Guild of India; member of Tamil Nadu Wakf Board; Partner in Threeyem Printers and Publishers; editor of Monthly Magazine "Pirai"

Modern literature

India

File:MichaelPillay.jpg
Author and liberation fighter Michael Pillay

Other countries

File:NesanPather01.jpg
Designer, author and musician, Nesan Pather
  • Sharversvaran Pather, nom de guerre, Michael Pillay (born 1971), South Africa author, former liberation fighter, retired civil servant[13][14]
File:MelvinPather.jpg
Melvin Pather

Modern art

Other countries

See also

References

  1. ^ Laganparsad, Monica. "Recollections". Sunday Times.
  2. ^ "Family #5013 Coomaraswamy". Sri Lankan Tamil Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  3. ^ "Family #5026 Sangarapillai". Sri Lankan Tamil Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  4. ^ "Family #5006 Ulaganathar of Manipay". Sri Lankan Tamil Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  5. ^ http://www.vstmotorsgroup.com/index_home.aspx
  6. ^ [1] University of Colombo website]
  7. ^ Krishnamachari, Suganthy (16 December 2005). "Musical Waves with Water". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  8. ^ GOKHALE, RAGHUNANDAN (2003). Konguvel's title drought ends. The Hindu. National champion and International Master P. Konguvel
  9. ^ Rao, Rakesh (2001). Konguvel gains maiden GM norm. The Hindu. As a result, Konguvel, who became an International Master on winning the National title in 1995, made the norm he sought since then
  10. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/300092.html
  11. ^ Dinesh Raheja (2002-05-06). "Bollywood's Dancing Queen". Rediff. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  12. ^ Naidoo, Teneshia. "Nesan is booked for success". Sunday Times.
  13. ^ a b "Launch of 1994 by Nesan Pather and The Stars are my Guide by Michael Pillay".
  14. ^ Laganparsad, Monica. "Recollections". Sunday Times.
  15. ^ Mariah, Jolene. "Scribbling his way to Art". Post Natal.