Avvai Duraisamy

Avvai Duraisamy (Tamil: ) (September 5, 1903 – April 3, 1981) is a Tamil scholar. He has the pride of leaving the job of Sanitary Inspector for his love of the language of Tamil. He then learnt Tamil, after which he became a scholar.

Avvai Duraisamy was born 5 September 1903 to Sundaram Pillai – Chandiramathi in a small village called Avvaiyarkuppam, located nearer to Dindivanam of Villupuram district. He had his primary education in his village. Then he continued in US Arcot Charitable High School, Tindivanam where he completed his school education with distinction. He joined Voorhees College in Vellore for his inter. But owing to prevailing poverty in his family, he could not continue his education. He joined the job of Sanitary Inspector to help his family. As he had no likes for that job, he had to resign in just 6 months.

Avvai Duraisamy had the ambition of learning Tamil from a proper source. Thamizhvel Umamaheswaran appointed him as teacher in Karanthai Tamil Sangam School. He learnt Tamil simultaneously after which he cleared the “Vidvan” examination conducted by Madras University.

He began his career as Sanitary Inspector. Then he worked as Tamil teacher in Kalavai Ranipet (Karai) Primary School. He worked as High School Tamil teacher in schools located at Kaveripakkam, Cheyyar, Chengam and Polur from 1929 to 1941. He wrote research articles on Tamil literature and grammar in magazines like Tamizhpozhil, Senthamizhchelvi and Senthamizh. He joined as researcher in Tirupati Thiruvengadavan Eastern College in 1942. Then he worked as lecturer in the research department of Annamalai University for eight years since 1943. He joined as Professor in Madurai Thiyagaraja College in the year 1951.

After Navalar Na. Mu. Venkatasamy Nattar who was involved in writing commentary for the epic Manimekalai, died suddenly, Avvai Duraisamy completed the work writing commentary for the final four kaathais of Manimekalai, as per the wish of ‘Karanthai Kaviarasu’ Venkatachalam Pillai. He wrote rare books like Literary History of Shaivism and Gnanamirtham, while working in Annamalai University. They were published as Annamalai University Publications.

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