A cultural and political history of Tamilnadu through its most colourful personalities.
The fascinating history of Tamilnadu comes alive in this archive of cultural and political knowledge, thoughtfully assembled by the prize-winning historian A. R. Venkatachalapathy. From glamorous film stars turned politicians such as Jayalalithaa and M. G. Ramachandran to a revolutionary anti-caste movement that began over a century ago and the ongoing struggle against Hindi hegemony, Tamilnadu has at once reshaped the mainstream and profoundly influenced the trajectory of the nation. As informative as it is entertaining, Tamil Characters is an essential deep dive into the modern history of India’s most idiosyncratic state.
About the Author
A. R. Venkatachalapathy (b. 1967) is a professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai. He studied in
Chennai before doing a PhD in history at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Chalapathy has taught at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli; the University of Madras; and the University of Chicago. He has held research assignments in Paris, Cambridge, London, and Harvard. He was the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Chair in Indian studies at the National University of Singapore (2011–12). He has published widely on the social, cultural, and intellectual history of colonial Tamilnadu. Apart from his writings in English he has written and published extensively in Tamil. His more than thirty books include non-fiction, compilations, scholarly editions and translations. Over the last few years he has been writing in the popular media. He was awarded the VKRV Rao Prize for History in 2007. Presently he is working on a biography of Periyar.
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