Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t36: V Akilan

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t36

Language: English

V Akilan

v2.c10.s2.t36.1

Akilan (June 27, 1922 – January 31, 1988), born in Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, India and originally named P V Akilandam, was known as a contemporary Tamil author in India. His novel *Vengayin Mainthan* was

awarded by Sahithya Akademi of the Government of India in 1963, and *Chitra pavai* (1968) won the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1975. He published 18 novels and nearly 200 short stories (released in 15 collections), most of which were translated into many Indian languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam etc. and also in other foreign languages such as English, Russian, German, Czech, Polish, Chinese and Malay, enjoying great

v2.c10.s2.t36.4

'Selected Short Stories of Akilan', front cover of the Chinese edition

v2.c10.s2.t36.5

popularity from both home and abroad. Some were even adapted for the stage or the screen, generating enormous influence. Having been widely honoured by people, his works served as Tamil language textbooks of Tamil schools in countries like India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore etc.

v2.c10.s2.t36.6

V Akilan and his books were studied and introduced by Zhang Xilin, a Chinese scholar, who translated and published his short story collections and novelette *Women* (1946) and *Golden Flower* (1965). The novel *Chitra pavai* has been translated from Hindi by Liu Guonan.

v2.c10.s2.t36.7

(*Xue Keqiao & Liu Jian*)