THI.JA.RA- SHORT STORY WRITER

THI.JA.RA- SHORT STORY WRITER

(Short Story Writing is an art. Many People have built lucrative career in this field. Thi Ra alias T. Janakiraman was a well-known writer in this field. Besides employed in All India Radio as Chief Officer – Educational Broadcasting Section, he has contributed many popular short stories and novels to Tamil literature)


During my college days I used to read lot of Tamil Novels and short stories. Magazines like Ananda Vikatan, Kalki and Kalai Magal have enriched Tamil literature by encouraging young talents in this field. Some well-known People were Devan,
Chandilyan, Laxmi, Thi JA RA, Kalki Bunkim Chandra Chatterjee, Sarath Chandra Chatterjee and so on. Originally known as Thiagaraja Sasthri – Thi JA RA has carved a unique path in Short Story writing. Born in Tanjore District, he started his career after finishing his college education as Teacher at Kumbakonam and Tanjore.

He used to contribute short stories to college magazines from 1943 onwards. Thus it continued till his end. Bengali Novels in our time are very interesting and thought provoking. Apart from it they are closely linked to Bengali life. They are gems in our culture and literary field. Thee JA Ra felt that these novels should be translated into Tamil and made available to Tamil People. The result is what we such novels among us.

Thee. JA. Ra wrote in several popular magazines - short stories, novels some of them are: Novels: Amrutham (1944), Malar Manjam (1961), Moka Mul (1964), Semparuthi (1968), and Nalapakam (1983) Short Stories: Kottu Melam (1954), Akbar Sasthri (1963), Kamalam (1963), and Sakthi Vaidiyam (1978) He got Sahithya Academy award and Prize for his short story Sakthi Vaidiyam.

Thee JA RA works are based on the life and style of Cauvery Delta People. Tanjore is the seat of Carnatic music. No wonder then Thee JA RA’s works encircled this divine musicexample Moka Mul. He set his own style, which is appreciated, by the Tamil literary world. Any short story or novel writer should be able to understand the deep relationship in middle class family and reflect their sorrows and joys, their emotions and Thee JA Rae novels reflected these fully.

Thee JA Ra died in 1982 but his name is living among us. After reading the short stories of people like Thee JA Ra we many times felt that we should also attempt to write. We leave our effort abruptly unable to know how to start.Writing and reading are an art. Some people like Devan are gifted people to whom they flow effortlessly. But we can also be successful if we follow some hints given by wellknown people like Thee JA Ra.

You must have a small notebook with you. You note down interesting happenings in that
day. Short stories should not exceed more than 6-8 pages. The start itself should attract the readers to go through the entire story. For instance one short story started like this: Am I politic? Asks the host of Garter Inn in Shakespeare’s Merry wives of Windsor; Am I subtle? Am I a Machiavel? (Short story about Machiavelli: The Man and the reputation by Ernest O. Hauser- Reader’s Digest selection)

Start like this creates deep interest of what we are going to learn about this man who is blue print for aggression and dictatorship. The center point is about Machiavelle and the entire episode revolves around him. Many stories will have an end but some are left to the readers reasoning. Thee Ja Ra’s stories will start like the above creating deep interest of what he writes. Thee JA Ra live with us through his novels and short stories.

Analysis:

Opportunities unlimited is presenting one more interesting career to the readers. Short Story writing and novels are a unique field not exploited fully. Today scores of magazines are on the stand and these magazines need good writers. If you have interest and talent you can build a successful career.

· Short stories and novels are part of our life.
· Start to write.
· Be authentic.
· Imbibe dignity in the story.
· Avoid vulgarity.

R.Jagannathan.