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{{refimprove|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram
| image = Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram.jpg

| caption =
| author = [[Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai]]
| translator = Meenakshi Tyagarajan
| country = India
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| cover_artist =
| genre = [[Novel]]
| publisher =
| release_date = 1879
| english_pub_date = 2005
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]])
| pages =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| isbn = 81-89020-42-0
| isbn_note = Eng. edition
| oclc = 67840366
}}

'''''Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram''''' ({{lang-en|The Life of Prathapa Mudaliar}}), written in 1857 and published in 1879, was the first [[novel]] in the [[Tamil language]].<ref name="Das1991">{{cite book|author=Sisir Kumar Das|title=A History of Indian Literature 1800-1910 (Western Impact: Indian Response)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHklK65TKQ0C&pg=PA207|accessdate=18 April 2018|year=1991|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7201-006-5|pages=207–208}}</ref> Penned by [[Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai]] (1826-1889), it was a [[landmark]] in [[Tamil literature]], which had hitherto seen writings only in [[poetry]]. The book gave birth to a new [[literary genre]] and Tamil [[prose]] began to be recognized as an increasingly important part of the language.

The author was the munsif (a 'Village President' with some judicial powers) of Mayuram (present day [[Mayiladuthurai]] near [[Thanjavur]]). Influenced by Western ideas of [[women's liberation]] and [[secularism]], he set out to publish works that projected his ideals. His first publication was ''Pen Kalvi'' ("Female Education"), which he addressed to his daughters. After witnessing the explosion of novels in Western literature, he set out to publish his groundbreaking novel that would showcase the [[heroine]] of the novel as an equal of the [[hero]], if not more savvy and righteous. The story revolves around the [[protagonist]], Prathapa [[Mudaliar]] and his travails.

==Plot introduction==
The story is a loose collection of events and narratives centered on a naive but good-natured hero and his life and adventures. It begins in a typical forward [[caste]] family setting, with the young Prathapa Mudhaliar, from Tuluva Vellala Mudaliar family of Arcot indulging in [[hunting]] and enjoying himself. The plot also introduces the heroine as a rather intelligent and morally upright girl who marries the hero through a myriad of events.

==Plot summary==
The novel is narrated in [[First-person narrative|first person]].<ref name="Das1991"/>

Soon  they are separated and the wife is found wandering in the forest. In order to safeguard herself, she dresses up as a man and roams through the jungle. Meanwhile, a nearby kingdom loses its heir to the throne and as per custom, requires that a new king be chosen at random by the royal [[elephant]]. The elephant wanders into the forest and decides to put the flower [[garland]] on the unsuspecting young lady. Soon, she is proclaimed the chief of the region and carried to the royal palace.

The hero, meanwhile, is despondent after losing his wife and goes in search of her. En route to a city, the hero's sandals get torn, and he decides to repair them using the services of a [[shoemaking|cobbler]]. He promises the cobbler that if he stitches the footwear properly and the hero is satisfied, he will reward him with happiness. In a few minutes Prathapa's sandals are mended to his satisfaction and he in turn gives the cobbler one [[rupee]] (a princely amount in the era in which the novel is set). The cobbler, however, says he is not satisfied with the rupee and demands his "happiness", since that was the promise of Prathap. Perplexed at this sudden turn of events, a crowd soon gathers and no one is able to resolve the issue. Soon, the matter reaches the court of the new "King," who recognizes her husband despite his dishevelled and bewildered face. Prathap, however is unable to recognize the disguise of his wife and addresses her as the King.

She decides to settle this dispute by asking the cobbler if he was happy to see the kingdom's new king. He responds positively, to which she replies that since this quarrel with the young man resulted in his visit to the new king, which ultimately made the cobbler happy, he should go back to his duties, since "happiness" was provided. The cobbler, finding that he has no other way of needlessly harassing the young hero, returns. The "King" soon reveals herself to her husband in private quarters and, after entrusting the kingdom to a young apprentice in the court, leaves the kingdom. Both return to their house and live [[Happy ending|happily ever after]].

==Characters==
*Prathapa Mudhaliar - protagonist of the novel
*Gnanambal - Prathap's wife

==Literary significance and criticism==
The idea of a novel in Tamil language was an instant hit. Though the level of literacy was still abysmal in late 19th century [[Tamil Nadu]], sales of the book were still higher than expected. The novelty and success of this novel prompted many other writers to produce more such works. The novel was followed by ''Kamalambal Charitram'' by [[B. R. Rajam Iyer]] in 1893 and ''Padmavathi Charitram'' by A. Madhaviah in 1898, and set the trend for Tamil books.

===Translations===
The book was translated in various other languages including [[Dravidian language]]s and in English. The English translation was done by Meenakshi Tyagarajan in 2005.<ref name="Piḷḷai2005">{{cite book|author1=Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai|author2=Meenakshi Tyagarajan|title=The Life and Times of Pratapa Mudaliar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WuO24gKgWroC&pg=PA7|accessdate=18 April 2018|year=2005|publisher=Katha|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-89020-42-2|page=7}}</ref> This also convinced many other writers in other Indian languages to write more prose-oriented books. ''Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram'' is still translated and published, with ''[[Amar Chitra Katha]]'' even creating a [[List of Amar Chitra Katha comics|comic book adaptation]] of this novel.<ref>{{cite book|author=Indira Ananthakrishnan|title=The adventures of Pratapan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfncDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA38|date=1 April 1971|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-8482-565-7}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Google books|id=WuO24gKgWroC}}

[[Category:1879 novels]]
[[Category:Tamil novels]]
[[Category:Novels set in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian novels]]
[[Category:Indian historical novels in Tamil]]
[[Category:Novels adapted into comics]]

Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram - Revision history

imported>Gotitbro: −Category:Sri Lankan novels; +Category:19th-century Indian novels; +Category:Indian historical novels in Tamil using HotCat