His command of language was great and he had a racy style: Maalan
Ra.Ki. Rangarajan, a journalist, novelist, short story writer, essayist, translator and writer of self-improvement books, known for coming out with timely publications to suit market conditions, died here on Saturday. He was 85.
Born in the temple town of Kumbakonam to Sanskrit scholar R.V. Krishnamacharya, Rangarajan started writing at the age of 16. He first joined Sakthi, a literary magazine run by V. Govindan. His write-ups on freedom fighters Mangal Pandey, Rani of Jhansi and Nana Sahib have been included in the compilation of writings from the now-defunct magazine.
Later, he worked for Kalachakkaram. His association with the magazine Kumudam began in 1950 and initially, he worked for Jinkili, a child magazine run by the group.
His name became synonymous with Kumudam and the middle letter of A-ra-su Pathilgal, a popular question-answer section jointly administered by three writers, was a reference to him. He was later appointed deputy editor of Kumudam.
V. Srinivasan of Alliance Publishers narrated an incident that bore testimony to Rangarajan’s instinct for coming out with books at the opportune moment.
“Late Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai was reading The Master Christian by Marie Corelli when he was at the Cancer Institute, Adyar. He requested doctors to let him finish the book before he was taken into the operation theatre. When it became public knowledge, Rangarajan lost no time in translating the novel and serialising it in Kumudam.”
Similarly, when pugilist Muhammed Ali was in the news, he came up with Jeyithukondey Iruppen, based on Ali’s autobiography, which was lapped up by a large number of the boxer’s fans.
“Rangarajan used many pen names. ‘Mohini’ was the name he used while writing historical novels, Sundara Bhagavathar for comic writings, Surya, Krishakumar, Hamsa, Malathi and Avittam for other genres. But each genre would have a style of its own and you could never guess that all these works were by the same person,” said senior journalist R. Sivakumar.
A few literary works captured in detail the old Madras as his serial novel Adimaiyin Kadhal. It is a favourite of actor Kamal Haasan’s, who wrote the foreword for it. “I was filled with wonder that my Madras once looked like this,” wrote Kamal Haasan.
“Whenever I go for a walk near Santhome, the image of a Christian Missionary walking on the streets with his pet chameleon on his shoulder continues to haunt me,” recalled the actor in the foreword, while acknowledging the role played by Rangarajan in shaping the film Mahanadi.
“He wanted to see Adimaiyin Kaadhal in book form. Unfortunately, he died before it,” said Srinivasan. Some of his stories were made into films, a notable one being Sumai Thaangi.
He is survived by two sons and three daughters.
Keywords: Ra.Ki. Rangarajan, Tamil novelist, Ra.Ki. Rangarajan death
It is indeed sad to hear about this. May his soul rest in peace. He is a writer who keeps you interested even in short pieces as evident in his "Naalu Moolai" column in Mambalam Times.
Another point missed out is, he writes cinema and TV tid-bits under the pen name "Vinodh" which used appear in Kumudham and Thuglak. The style of writing and content will be entirely different from his other writings as is pointed out in this article.
I am a regular reader of his column in Anna Nagar Times. Really interesting article
for all ages , every week. Shall be missing that. May His Soul Rest in Peace.
Though Ra.Ki. Rangarajan not with us, his life bounded with the literature and our culture, binds his soul with us.
Oh God! how sad to register the demise of one of the India´s greatest writers. The way he presented the stories with such ease and depth was remarkable and innovative. Two of his stories that I read during my time in Chennai attracted me very much His translation work of Papillon in Tamil (Pattambuchi in mid seventies serialised in Kumudam) caught the attention of millions of devoted Kumudam readers who waited anxiously the next instalment to look for the fate of the protogonist Papillon (A true story of Henri Charriere)-contemporary reality of my time in Chennai. The other one Paduvidhu, in which he merged a careless easy going hero into a commmitted saint, and the way he treated theme.. a lovely piece of originality and innovative style. May his soul rest in peace.
Mining Industry collapses. US in doldrums (Gold topper). India loses 2.5 percent GDP. And one for one? Wah! Sleeping!
India doesn't produce GOLD. It only produces Aluminium, easily bendable metals.It only takes steel to not get bent.
I regularly read his writing in the second page of Mambalam Times.He was a mobile Reader's Digest.His humour gets submerged but emerges in all glory whenever Raa.Kee decides to end his presentation.From his writings I could gauge how close he was to Kumudam's Annamalai.We 'll all miss this versatile writer.
The first novel of Ra. Ki. Rangarajan that I read was ‘Naan
Krishnadevarayan’, a story that revolved around Vijayanagaram and from
then on I was a keen reader of everything he wrote in Kumudam. He was
able to attract readers of all ages.His demise is a big loss to the
Tamil literary scene.
The other Rangarajan who is now in his eighties is Vaali and who still continues to write. For
the record, actor Sathyaraj's birth name is also Rangarajan and who is known for powerful
delivery of the Tamil language. Perhaps the name 'Rangaraj' has some significance in the
Tamil literary world.
I paid a visit to the late Ra.Ki. Rangarajan at his Anna Nagar house in Chennai in January
2008. Both he and his wife were very hospitable and for a good hour or so he was talking
about his life as a writer. He was visibly not in good physical health but that did not deter him
from writing his weekly assignments by the Tamil periodicals. I was awed by his sheer grit
even at that ripe age of 81 despite his health condition. All those books and writing pad in
his modest office-cum-home bear testimony to his passion.
May His Soul Rest In Peace!
I am proud to say that I am a great fan of Ra.Ki.Ra . Modern Tamil owes
a lot to him.
A writer, rare to see passed away. He lives in the form of works.May his
soul rest in peace.
All those who admired Sujatha Rengarajan also were ardent fans of Ra.Ki.Rengarajan during last 3/4 decades. The two Rengarajans ruled the Tamil magazines, with their wonderful contributions by way of short stories, novels etc. Now both are gone. Ra.Ki.Ra even at the age of 85, continued to contribute in weekly neghbourhood newspapers in Chenai like Mambalam Times and Anna Nagar times.I was one among the lakhs of readers of Kumudam only because of stalwarts like Ra.Ki.Ra, SAP, Ja.Ra.Su, BM Kannan and Punithan. May his soul rest in peace.
Manakkal J.Raman
It is indeed a great loss to the literary world. Ra. Ki. my name sake in the initials was my favourite writer.There are some facts I would like to clarify. It was in Brooklyn hospital that Anna said those words. And it is Punithan who wrote as Sundara Bhagavathar.
I have met Ra. Ki. in Kumudam office in the 70's sitting on a small table translating Sidney Sheldon-Jennifer.
May his soul rest in peace.
He was till recently writing interesting articles in Annanagar Times
and Mambalam Times under the title NAALU MOOLAI. It is not well known
that before joining Kumudam he also ran a Children's Magazine VAANARA
SENAI for some time. He himself had not been mentioning it. In one
issue appeared a joke of mine when I was about 14 years. Some four
years ago I sent him an email recalling my having seen him in those
days in our George Town residence. I also reminded him of the payment
for the joke which was still due! He replied with some nostalgia but
ignored the payment matter.
It is a very big loss for kumudam teachers. It's a news that Ra Ki was arasu badhilgal.
What a great man he was.
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