Tamilavel Umamaheswarar

February 18, 2006

A commemorative postage stamp on Rao Bahadur T. Umamaheswaranar, a great Tamil scholar :

Issued by India

Issued on Feb 18, 2006

Issued for : The Department of Posts honours the work and life of Tamilavel Umamaheswarar through issue of this commemorative postage stamp.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Brahm Prakash (Based on the photograph provided by the proponent)
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolor

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Tamilavel Umamaheswarar

Born on May 7, 1883

Died on May 9, 1941

About :

Tamilavel Umamaheswarar was a great Tamil scholar. He served the society as an eminent lawyer and was known for his unimpeachable honesty and integrity. One of the best representatives of the cultural renaissance in literature, Umamaheswarar was known for his significant contributions to the Tamil language.
Born on 7^th May 1883, Tamilavel Umamaheswarar advocated upgradation of Tamil language by incorporating certain elements of other languages. He did not support alterations in the letters of the script. His efforts resulted in the founding of Karanthai Tamil Sangam, which was instrumental in the revival of Tamil as a medium of literary expression. Great Tamil scholars like Gnaniyar Swamigal, Pandithamani, U.V.S. Iyer, Raghava Iyengar etc. were some of the eminent voices who used the platform of the Tamil Sangam. He also worked for the development of Sanskrit.
He started the Oriental College in Karanthai Tamil Sangam, which is presently converted to the Arts College. His aim was to develop Oriental College on the pattern of Viswa Bharati University founded by Ravindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan in West Bengal.
In the political arena, Umamaheswarar was a prominent leader of the Justice Party of Tanjavur. He was elected as a President of Taluk Board and remained in office for twelve years. During his tenure he gave proper attention to digging wells, constructing elementary schools and establishing hospitals and dispensaries etc. Due to his efforts, 170 elementary schools were opened in his Taluk.
He had a deep commitment for the poor and downtrodden. He opened the boarding schools for all communities. He was also instrumental in reforming the rules and regulation of Thiruvaiyaru Sanskrit College, renamed as Raja’s College, to facilitate academic upliftment of the backward and downtrodden rural masses.
Tamilavel Umamaheswarar was a proficient orator both in English and Tamil. His Presidential address in 1934 at Tirunelveli conference showed ample testimony to his depth and verve in literature, grammar and phonetics. His hints for coinages and neologisms in increasing vocabulary for science and technology were practical. He started and served as an editor of a literary monthly ‘Tamil Pozhil’ in the year 1925, which is still in circulation.
The Government of Madras conferred on him the title of “Rao Bahadur” in 1935.
Tamilavel Umamaheswarar breathed his last during his journey to Ayodhya on 9^th May 1941.
Text: Material provided by the proponent.