Ma.Po.Sivagnanam [15-Aug-2006]

Theme: Personality
Title: Ma.Po.Sivagnanam
Date Of Issue: 15-Aug-2006
Denomination: 500(Ps)
No/Issue Sheet: 40
Printing Process: Wet-offset
Nos. Printed: 0.4 Million
Printer: Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Ma.Po.Sivagnanam was a devout nationalist and freedom fighter, a great visionary, aTamil Scholar and prolific writer. Born to Shri.Ponnusamy Giramini and Smt.Sivagami on 26th June 1906 in Chennai, he had to discontinue his studies due to poverty, and work as a labourer. In 1927, he joined the Congress Party and actively participated in the movement against the Simon Commission. In 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi conducted the Dandi March, Ma.Po.Sivagnanam also took part in The Salt satyagraha at Chennai, under the leadership of Shri.T.Prakasam. He was imprisoned in 1940 for joining in the 'Individual Satyagraha' movement and again in 1942 for taking part in the Quit India Movement. In 1946, he founded The Tamil Arasu Kazhagam which participated in the movement for reorganization of the States on linguistic basis, and for formation of Tamilnadu State. He was elected as Alderman of the Corporation of Madras and continued for two terms upto 1952, and worked for the development of Madras. Ma.Po.Sivagnanam also made his mark as a writer, publisher, and editor. He has left more than 150 books in Tamil on various subjects, including "The Great Patriot V.O.Chidambaram Pillai", "The first Patriot Veerapandia Kattbomman", "Kamban Kavi Inbam", "Kallingathu Parani"' Bharathiyarin Padailay"' and "History of the Growth of Tamil during the Indian War of Independence", "Vallalar Kanda Orumaipaddu" bagged the Sahitya Academy Award in 1966 and several of his works were translated into English. Some have also come to be included as textbooks in schools and universities. He was conferred eith the title 'Silambu Chelvar' by the great Tamil Scholar Shri.Ra.Pi.Sethu Pillai, on behlaf of the Tamil writers Association in 1950 and was awarded "Padma Shri" in 1972 for his services to literature and education. Ma.Po.Sivgnanam breathed his last on 3rd October 1995 bur his legacy lives on by way of his contribution to the enrichment of Tamil language and literature. The Department of Posts is pleased to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Ma.Po.Sivagnanam.