Thamizhachi Thangapandian
Indian politician and writer
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Thamizhachi Thangapandian (born 25 April 1962), also known as Sumathy, is an Indian poet, lyricist, orator, politician and writer.[1] She has been a member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India, since the 2019 Indian general election as a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). She worked as a lecturer in English at Queen Mary's College, Chennai before entering politics.[2][3]
Sumathy (Thamizhachi Thangapandian) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | J. Jayavardhan |
| Constituency | Chennai South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sumathy 25 April 1962 |
| Party |  Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| Spouse | C. Chandrasekar |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Parent | V. Thangapandian (Father) |
| Relatives | Thangam Thennarasu (Brother) |
| Occupation | Lyricist Writer Politician |
Awards | Pavendhar Bharathidasan Virudhu – 2009 |
| Website | ithamizhachi |
| Source: | |
Early life and education
Thamizhachi Thangapandian was born in 1962 to V. Thangapandian and Rajamani Pappathy. Her higher education was completed at Thiagarajar College of Arts & Science, Madurai Kamarajar University and the University of Madras, Chennai. Her PhD was in English Literature.[4] Her younger brother, Thengam Thenarasu, is an active DMK politician.
Literary work
Thangapandian has written in a number of genres. She has published widely in Tamil and English. Her output includes:[1]
Tamil
- Enjottu Penn, collection of poems published in International Tamil Literary Conference, Chennai (2004, Mithra Publications)
- Uravukal compiled by S. Ravikumar & T. Sumathy (2004, Archuna Publications)
- Vanapechi, collection of poems (2007, Uyirmmai Publications)[5]
- Pecharavam Ketilaiyo, compilation of interviews (2008, Uyirmmai Publications)
- Manjanathi, collection of 70 poems (2009, Uyirmmai Publications)[6]
- Naveenathuvathai Kamban (2010, Annai Muthamizh Publications)
- Katru Konarntha Kadithangal, Kalamum Kavithaiyum, Soll Thodum Thoram, Pampadam (2010, Uyirmmai Publications)
- Aruhan, collection of 39 poems (2011, Uyirmmai Publications)[7]
- Mayileragu Manasu, collection 13 articles (2012, Vikatan Publications; second edition in 2022)
- Manvasam, collection of 30 articles (2013, Vikatan Publications; second edition in 2022)
- Avalukku Veyil Endru Peyar, collection of 32 poems (2015, Uyirmmai Publications)[8]
- Poonaigal Sorgathirku Selvathillai, collection of 56 review articles (2015, Uyirmmai Publications)
- Kallin Kadungobam ("The Rage of a Stone"), translation of Galician poems by Maria Reimondez into Tamil, via English (2017, Uyirmmai Publications)
- Nizhal Veli, translation of Thangapandian's "Island to Island" into Tamil by Sa. Devadoss (2018, Uyirmmai Publications)
- Chottangal, collection of 20 articles (2018, Thamizh Thisai Publications; second edition in 2022)
- Muttu Veedu, collection of five short stories (2019, Uyirmmai Publications)
- Thamizhachi Thangapandiyanin Kavithai Veli, collection of reviews of Thangapandian's works (2020, Uyirmmai Publications)
- Anbin Ulagu Eliyathu, compilation of Thangapandian's interviews in various magazines (2023, Uyirmmai Publications)
English
- Island to Island: the Voice of Sri Lankan Australian Playwright, Ernest Thalayasingham Macintyre (2013, Emerald Publications)[9]
- Internal Colloquies, translation by C.T. Indra of selected poems from Vanapechi by Thangapandian (2019, Rubric Publishing)[10]
- Birthing Hut and Other Stories, English translation by Dr. V. Bharathi Harishankar from the collection of short stories Muttu Veedu by Thangapandian (2022, Vitasta Publishing Pvt. Ltd)
- The Throb of Silence, English translation by Dr. K. S. Subramanian of selected poems from Thangapandian's published collections (2023, Vitasta Publishing Pvt. Ltd)
Other Languages
- Internal Colloquies, Hindi translation by Dr. Bina Biswas & Srishti Gupta of selected poems from Vanapechi by Thangapandian (2023, Rubric Publishing)
- Internal Colloquies, Bengali translation by Dr. Bina Biswas of selected poems from Vanapechi by Thangapandian (2023, Rubric Publishing)
Film career
As a lyricist
| Year | Film | Songs | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Pisaasu | Pogum Paadhai | [11][12] |
| 2019 | Paris Paris | Annachi Kondadu | [13] |
As a dialogue writer
Thangapandian wrote the dialogue for the movie Paris Paris.[14][15]
Political career
She is one of the prominent woman leaders and orators in the DMK. She stood in the Indian general election, 2019 from Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency).[16][17] She was elected again in 2024 and continues to serve as a Member of Parliament, 17th Lok Sabha.[18][19]
Elections contested and results
| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result | Vote percentage | Opposition Candidate | Opposition Party | Opposition vote percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian general election, 2019 | Chennai South | DMK | Won | 50.17[20] | J. Jayavardhan | AIADMK | 26.88 |
| Indian general election, 2024 | Chennai South | DMK | Won | 47[21] | Tamilisai Soundararajan | Bharatiya Janata Party | 26.44 |