Devan (writer) - Revision history

Sylvin Thomas: updated content for consistency and added references based on references

2025-05-26T11:09:55Z

updated content for consistency and added references based on references

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:39, 26 May 2025
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	{{About\|\|the film\|Devan (film)\|the singer\|Devan Ekambaram\|the actor\|Devan (actor)}}		{{About\|\|the film\|Devan (film)\|the singer\|Devan Ekambaram\|the actor\|Devan (actor)}}
	{{Infobox writer		{{Infobox writer
	\| name=Devan (R. Mahadevan)		\| name = Devan (R. Mahadevan)
	\| image =		\| image =
	\| imagesize =		\| imagesize =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| pseudonym = Devan		\| pseudonym = Devan
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date={{Birth date\|df=yes\|1913\|9\|8}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=yes\|1913\|9\|8}}
	\| birth_place=[[Thiruvidaimarudur]], [[Thanjavur District]], India		\| birth_place = [[Thiruvidaimarudur]],<br/>[[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)\|Tanjore District]],<br/>[[Madras Presidency]],<br/>[[British Raj\|British India]]<br/>(now [[Thanjavur District]],<br/>[[Tamil Nadu]], India)
	\| death_date={{death date and age\|df=yes\|1957\|5\|5\|1913\|9\|8}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|df=yes\|1957\|5\|5\|1913\|9\|8}}
	\| death_place=[[Chennai]], India		\| death_place = [[Madras]], [[Madras State]]<br/>(now [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]), India
	\| occupation = Managing editor, [[Ananda Vikatan]]		\| occupation = Managing editor, [[Ananda Vikatan]]
	\| nationality =		\| nationality =
	\| period =		\| period =
	\| genre =		\| genre =
	\| subject =		\| subject =
	\| movement =		\| movement =
	\| notableworks = [[Thuppariyum Sambu]]		\| notableworks = [[Thuppariyum Sambu]]
	\| spouse =		\| spouse =
	\| partner =		\| partner =
	\| children =		\| children =
	\| relatives =		\| relatives =
	\| influences =		\| influences =
	\| influenced =		\| influenced =
	\| awards =		\| awards =
	\| signature =		\| signature =
	\| website =		\| website =
	\| portaldisp =		\| portaldisp =
	}}		}}

	'''Devan (R. Mahadevan)''' (8 September 1913 – 5 May 1958) was a 20th-century Indian writer who wrote in [[Tamil language\|Tamil]], known for his witty and humorous stories.<ref>[~~http~~://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2013/sep/09/~~Remembering~~-a-literary-genius-514879.html "Remembering a literary genius"]</ref><ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/he-was-a-man-of-next-generation/article18483453.ece " Human traits — Devan’s forte"]</ref>		'''Devan (R. Mahadevan)''' (8 September 1913 – 5 May 1958) was a 20th-century Indian writer who wrote in [[Tamil language\|Tamil]], known for his witty and humorous stories.<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2013/sep/09/remembering-a-literary-genius-514879.html "Remembering a literary genius"]</ref><ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/he-was-a-man-of-next-generation/article18483453.ece " Human traits — Devan’s forte"]</ref>

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Devan was born in 1913 at Thiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur district, [[Tamil Nadu]], India, where he did his schooling. He came to Kumbakonam Government College to complete his B.A. degree. He worked as a school teacher for a year, before joining the popular [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] weekly magazine, [[Ananda Vikatan]] in 1933. Devan's first foray into the world of writing was through the humorous short story "Mister Rajamani", written when he was in his twenties.		Devan was born in 1913 at [[Thiruvidaimarudur]] in present-day [[Thanjavur district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India, where he did his schooling. He came to Kumbakonam Government College to complete his B.A. degree. He worked as a school teacher for a year, before joining the popular [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] weekly magazine, [[Ananda Vikatan]] in 1933. Devan's first foray into the world of writing was through the humorous short story "Mister Rajamani", written when he was in his twenties.

	==Life as an editor==		==Life as an editor==
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	==External links==		==External links==
	* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/09/18/stories/13180671.htm Wrote to delight]		* {{usurped\|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090623043212/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/09/18/stories/13180671.htm Wrote to delight]}}
	* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/06/stories/1306046a.htm Wow! It's a woman]		* {{usurped\|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20021218162555/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/06/stories/1306046a.htm Wow! It's a woman]}}
	* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003101001631300.htm&date=2003/10/10/&prd=fr& God's plenty, with a touch of humour ]		* {{usurped\|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090623102031/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003101001631300.htm&date=2003/10/10/&prd=fr& God's plenty, with a touch of humour ]}}
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040620085916/http://www.hindu.com/lr/2004/06/06/stories/2004060600280500.htm Murder Mystery ]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040620085916/http://www.hindu.com/lr/2004/06/06/stories/2004060600280500.htm Murder Mystery ]
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230405/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/01/28/stories/2007012800130400.htm Kalki and Devan ]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230405/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/01/28/stories/2007012800130400.htm Kalki and Devan ]
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	* [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2507389.ece The Devan days ]		* [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2507389.ece The Devan days ]
	* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/he-made-people-laugh/article5119970.ece He made people laugh ]		* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/he-made-people-laugh/article5119970.ece He made people laugh ]
	* [http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Remembering-a-literary-genius/2013/09/09/article1774681.ece Remembering a literary genius ]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131001050107/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Remembering-a-literary-genius/2013/09/09/article1774681.ece Remembering a literary genius ]
	* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/art/fine-insight-into-human-psychology/article5096398.ece Fine Insight into Human Psychology ]		* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/art/fine-insight-into-human-psychology/article5096398.ece Fine Insight into Human Psychology ]
	{{Authority control}}		{{Authority control}}
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	[[Category:Tamil-language writers]]		[[Category:Tamil-language writers]]
	[[Category:Children's writers in Tamil]]		[[Category:Children's writers in Tamil]]
	[[Category:~~People~~ from Thanjavur district]]		[[Category:Writers from Thanjavur district]]
	[[Category:Indian children's writers]]		[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
	[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]		[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
	[[Category:Indian short story writers]]		[[Category:Indian short story writers]]
	[[Category:Indian travel writers]]		[[Category:Indian travel writers]]

>Gotitbro: added Category:Indian travel writers using HotCat

2021-05-04T16:44:58Z

added Category:Indian travel writers using HotCat

New page

{{no footnotes|date=May 2015}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{About||the film|Devan (film)|the singer|Devan Ekambaram|the actor|Devan (actor)}}
{{Infobox writer
| name=Devan (R. Mahadevan)
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| pseudonym = Devan
| birth_name =
| birth_date={{Birth date|df=yes|1913|9|8}}
| birth_place=[[Thiruvidaimarudur]], [[Thanjavur District]], India
| death_date={{death date and age|df=yes|1957|5|5|1913|9|8}}
| death_place=[[Chennai]], India
| occupation = Managing editor, [[Ananda Vikatan]]
| nationality =
| period =
| genre =
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks = [[Thuppariyum Sambu]]
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| relatives =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards =
| signature =
| website =
| portaldisp =
}}

'''Devan (R. Mahadevan)''' (8 September 1913 – 5 May 1958) was a 20th-century Indian writer who wrote in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], known for his witty and humorous stories.<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2013/sep/09/Remembering-a-literary-genius-514879.html "Remembering a literary genius"]</ref><ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/he-was-a-man-of-next-generation/article18483453.ece " Human traits — Devan’s forte"]</ref>

==Early life==
Devan was born in 1913 at Thiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur district, [[Tamil Nadu]], India, where he did his schooling. He came to Kumbakonam Government College to complete his B.A. degree. He worked as a school teacher for a year, before joining the popular [[Tamil language|Tamil]] weekly magazine, [[Ananda Vikatan]] in 1933. Devan's first foray into the world of writing was through the humorous short story "Mister Rajamani", written when he was in his twenties.

==Life as an editor==
Devan started as a Sub-Editor at [[Ananda Vikatan]] in 1933. After [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]] left Vikatan, worked as Managing Editor from 1942 to 1957.

During this time, he wrote about 20 serials, more than 500 stories, articles and travelogues. A common feature in all his works was his gentle sense of humour. He was a very popular writer and stories abound of how, when a new issue of [[Ananda Vikatan]] came out, everyone in the family would fight to get hold of the copy first.

Devan worked under famous writers like Kalki Krishnamurthy and [[S. S. Vasan]]. It was his wish that his stories get published as books, but sadly this did not happen in his lifetime, due to the nature of his contract with Vikatan.

During this time, he also served as Chairman of the Tamil Writers' Guild twice, and helped to promote [[Tamil literature]].

Devan was the editor of Ananda Vikatan until his death in 1957. In his short life, he experimented with different types of writing – travelogues, detective novels, articles, short stories, current affairs. Devan's books are a joy to read even today, when social values and techniques in fiction writing are so different.

About ten of Devan's writings were also dramatised by several Tamil drama troupes, even during his lifetime. He himself wrote most of the dialogues for the plays. More recently, some of his works like Thuppariyum Sambu, Sriman Sudharsanam and Mister Vedhantham were made into television serials also. Only one of his novels, gOmathiyin kAdhalan, was made into a movie, starring T. R. Ramachandran and Savithri.

==Bibliography==
All of Devan's stories and travelogues were serialised in [[Ananda Vikatan]] (with, perhaps, one exception, 'Mythili' which was serialised in 'Naradar'). His writings are copyright of the Devan Endowments. Recently, many of Devan's works have been published by Alliance Publishers, [[Chennai]], India. 'Kizakkup padhippagam' has also recently started publishing Devan's writings.
One of his novels, Justice Jagannathan, has been translated into English.

His writings include :

Novels:
* Mythili (1939 )
* Malathi ( 1942)
* [[Thuppariyum Sambu]] (1942)
* GOmathiyin KAdhalan
* KalyANi (1944)
* Miss JAnaki
* SrimAn Sudharsanam
* Mr VedhAntham (1949–50)
* Justice JagannAthan (1953–54)
* Lakshmi KatAksham (1951–52)
* CID Chandru (his last novel) (1955–56 )

Other collections of stories, articles and travelogues include:
* Mister RajAmaNi – a series
* Vichuvukku Kadithangal – a series
* AppaLak KachchEri – a series of articles with a recipe at the end of each article
* Aindhu NaadugaLil ARupathu NaaL (60 Days in 5 countries) – Travelogue
* POkkiri MAmA
* PallisAmiyin Thuppu
* MOtAr AgarAthi
* Chinna KaNNan katturaigaL – a series
* RAjiyin PiLLai – a series
* Adhisaya thaambathigaL – a series
* Kamalam SolgirAL – a series
* Podaatha Thapaal – a series
* Sarasuvukku Kadithangal
* manidha subAvam
* chInup payal
* chinnan chiRu kadhaigaL – a series
* pArvathiyin sangalpam
* mallAri rAo kadhaigaL – a series
* En indha asattuththanam
* jAngiri sundharam
* peyarpOna puLugugaL
* prabuvE! uththaravu! – a series
* nadandhathu nadanthapadiyE – a travelogue
* rangUn periyappA
* chonnapadi kELungaL
* rAjaththin manOratham – a series on building a house

==References==
{{reflist}}
* "dEvanin ezuththulagam" Tamil Book by S. Vaitheeswaran, vAnathi publishers, April 1995.
* Prefaces in Devan's books published by Alliance Publishers.
* [http://www.tamilbooksonline.in/booklist1.php?authorname=DEVAN Books listed by Tamilbooksonline]

==External links==
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/09/18/stories/13180671.htm Wrote to delight]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/06/stories/1306046a.htm Wow! It's a woman]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003101001631300.htm&date=2003/10/10/&prd=fr& God's plenty, with a touch of humour ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040620085916/http://www.hindu.com/lr/2004/06/06/stories/2004060600280500.htm Murder Mystery ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230405/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/01/28/stories/2007012800130400.htm Kalki and Devan ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121107152316/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2008/10/17/stories/2008101751440600.htm Devan's house ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080915094654/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/09/12/stories/2008091251250300.htm A mirror to human nature ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080824061113/http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/06/stories/2007050606850400.htm Devan day 2007 ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080513203319/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/05/09/stories/2008050951330600.htm Devan day: 2008]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121107152334/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/05/14/stories/2010051451600400.htm Devan day:2010 ]
* [https://archive.today/20130103222550/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-09/chennai/30134254_1_tamil-popular-writer-literary-merit First Devan memorial lecture ]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article2462158.ece Wodehousian or just William? ]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2507389.ece The Devan days ]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/he-made-people-laugh/article5119970.ece He made people laugh ]
* [http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Remembering-a-literary-genius/2013/09/09/article1774681.ece Remembering a literary genius ]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/art/fine-insight-into-human-psychology/article5096398.ece Fine Insight into Human Psychology ]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:Tamil-language writers]]
[[Category:Children's writers in Tamil]]
[[Category:People from Thanjavur district]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian travel writers]]