D. Ravikumar (born 1961) is an Indian Tamil intellectual, writer, lawyer, politician and an anti-caste activist. He was the editor of the magazine, Nirapirikai. Nirapirikai inspired several new writers in the 1990s in Tamil Nadu.[1] He is an Ambedkarite and Buddhist.[2] Ravikumar is the current Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Viluppuram and member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.[3][4]
D. Ravikumar | |
|---|---|
 Photo for Lok Sabha in 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 23 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | S. Rajendran |
| Constituency | Viluppuram |
| General Secretary Of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi | |
| Assumed office 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Thol. Thirumavalavan |
| Succeeded by | Thol. Thirumavalavan |
| Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2006–2011 | |
| Preceded by | P. Vallalperuman |
| Succeeded by | N. Murugumaran |
| Constituency | Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 June 1961 Manganam Pattu |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | VCK |
| Occupation | VCK General Secretary |
Career
editRavikumar is the founder of the anti-caste publishing house Navayana, along with S. Anand, and the former president of the People's Education Movement (Makkal Kalvi Eyakkam) and PUCL (Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry).[citation needed]
Ravikumar was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, and served from 2006 to 2011.[5] He was instrumental in bringing a new policy to handle EWaste in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government started a skill development program and Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, created six welfare boards, both at the request of Ravikumar.[citation needed]
In 2010, Ravikumar won the Aringar Anna Award, conferred by the Tamil Nadu Government. Vikatan Awards for Translation ( 2014) Thiranayvu chemmal award for literary criticism (2019) manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Bharathi Award (2019) Vitiyal Trust Chennai.[citation needed]
Writings
editBooks
edit- Ravikumar, D. (2009). Venomous touch : notes on caste, culture, and politics. Translated by R. Azhagarasan. Stree-Samya Publications. ISBN 978-8185604763.
Prose
edit- "Kankanippin Arasiyal" (1995) Vidiyal Pathippagam
- "Kothippu Uyarndu Varum" (2001) Kalachuvadu
- "Kadakka Mudiyatha Nizhal" (2003) Kalachuvadu
- "Malcolm X" (2003) Kalachuvadu
- "Sonnal Mudiyum" (2007) Vikatan Publication
- "Indrum Namadhe" (2008) Vikatan Publication
- "Thuyarathin mel patiyum Thuyaram" (2009) Aazhi Publication
- "Thamizharay Unarum Tharunam" (2010) Aazhi Publication
- "Kaana Mutiyaa Kanavu" (2010) Aazhi Publication
- "Bob Marley" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Andai Ayal Ulakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Piravazhip payanam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Katranaiththoorum" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Soolakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Meelum Varalaru" (2010) Ulakath Thamizaraychi niruvanam
- "Kumbatchiyilirunthu kodungonmaikku" (2017) Kizhakku Pathipakam
- "Kaalathai Thorkaditha Kalaingar" (2017) Manarkeni
Kaanalaay marum kaveri (2018) Manarkeni Ayiram Pookkal Karukattum (2019) Manarkeni
Poetry
edit- "Avizhum Sorkal" (2009) Uyirmai
- "Mazhai Maram" (2009) CreA
- "Vaanil Vitterintha Kanavu" (2017) Manarkeni
Short stories
edit- "Kadal Kinaru" (2014) Manarkeni
Translations
edit- Uraiyadal Thodarkiradu (1995) (interviews and articles of philosophers including Michel Foucault, Edward Said) Vidiyal Pathipakam
- Choli ke peche (2010) (short stories of women writers including Mahasweta Devi, Ismat Chuktai, Isabelle Allende) Aazhi
- Velichamum Thanneer Mathiritan (2003) (short stories of Gabriel García Márquez and others) Dalit Veliyeedu
- Athikarathitam Unmaiyaip Pesuthal (2010) (writings of Edward Said) Manarkeni
- Varalaru Ennum Kathai (2010) (writings of Eduardo Galeano) Manarkeni
- Valasaip Paravai (2010) (poems of Yehuda Amichai, Maya Angelou, Ethelbert Miller, Joy Goswami and others) Manarkeni
Editing
editTamil
edit- Dalit Literature, Politics, Culture (1996)
- Dalit Engira Thanitthuvum (1998) Dalit Publication
- Iyothee Thaas Panditar Cintanaikal (four volumes) (1999) Dalit Sahitya Academy
- Rettaimalai Srinivasan Jeevida Carithira Curukkam (1999) (Autobiography) Dalit Sahitya Academy
- Mikai Naadum Kalai (2003) (Essays on cinema) kalachuvadu
- Dalit journal
- Bodhi journal
- Manarkeni journal
English
edit- We, the Condemned (1999) (Against Death Penalty) PUCL, Pondicherry
- Ravikumar; Azhagarasan, R., eds. (2012). The Oxford India anthology of Tamil Dalit writing (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-807938-5.[5]
References
edit- ^ Satyanarayana and Tharu (2011). No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing from South India. New Delhi: Penguin India. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-143-41426-1.
- ^ "Want the complete annihilation of caste: First-time MP D Ravikumar". 23 July 2019.
- ^ "Members : Lok Sabha".
- ^ S, Mohamed Imranullah (8 September 2021). "Villupuram MP Ravikumar tells HC he is a member of the DMK". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ a b Kolappan, B. (20 March 2012). "Tamil Dalit writing set to go English". The Hindu.
Further reading
edit- Satyanarayana, K & Tharu, Susie (2013) From those Stubs Steel Nibs are Sprouting: New Dalit Writing from South Asia, Dossier 2: Kannada and Telugu, New Delhi: HarperCollins India.