Sunday Celebrity: Thilagavathy I P S shining both in career and literature

Here’s one shining both in uniformed services, her chosen career, and as a writer, her love to literature. There are few of her caliber, shining in both the fields. The first woman IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, she is a human rights activist, feminist, besides being novelist.

G. Thilakavathy I.P.S. has created a niche for herself in the literary world and rose to become member of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi, the country’s unique body “committed to promoting culture and literature, in all its richness and diversity throughout the world.” She has authored a number of novels in Tamil, a few translations from other languages.

Thilakavathy is at present Additional Director General of Police, Economic Offences Wing (EOW), also in charge of Idols wing. In less than one year she is in charge of the Idols Wing, she has brought to book several idol theft cases. Worth mentioning is the Rs. 50 crore Maragathalingam (Emarald lingam), stolen from Thiruvarur Thiagarajaswamy temple on February 19 this year.

Idol-lifters have to lie low as long as she is in the post. May be her love to Tamil literature, antiquity, heritage and her urge to protect the treasure of the state, makes her dig deep into such crimes.

She began writing pretty early in life and her first effort was poetry. Then the young ‘poet try’ prose, and her creative instinct rose, so did she in the literary world.

Real life characters and situations, her inputs

It was during the publication of her first collection of short stories – “Alai Puralum Karayoram” (The shore where waves roll) – that she came in touch with the women press workers and their pathetic working conditions. This triggered the writer and the humanist in her to launch into her next creation. Thilagavathy’s next novel exposed the working conditions of the women at the lowest rung.

That became her trend. The people she met in all walks of life, their trials and tribulations, their raise and fall, and various situations she dealt with in the course of her policing, molded her writing centred on them. “They provide fresh ideas and fresh insight into life,” Thilagavathy told this writer of Asian Tribune.

As every forward thinking woman writer, she pleads for a society where women are not treated as equals of men. This is not surprising given the fact that she was the first woman IPS officer in a service largely dominated by men. By breaking barriers, her intellect and grit expanded. This gets reflected in her writing. This is the strong reason why Thilagavathy celebrates womanhood in her novels and other writings.

“Kanavai Soodiya Nakshatram” (Star who made her dream true) was her latest novel, where she talks about the pitiable state of the film world. But the heroine, Jhansi, though struggles in an unequal world, is able to fulfill her dreams and creates an award-winning film.

This concept of troubles and triumphs makes the strength of Thilakavathi’s writings. She is able to give the much-needed punch of confidence as a fitting climax to her writings. This is in keeping with the character of Thilakavathy who is famous for her never-say-die attitude in real life as well as professional life.

Her writings touch upon various sections of society and various aspects of life. In “Nalai Enathu Rajangam” (Tomorrow is my Reign), she talks of the presentd-day political situation and its impact on individuals. In “Pathini Pen” (Virgin), she examines the male-female relationship in all its depths. “Varthai Thavarivittai” (You slipped word), talks of puppy love and its consequences.

Sahitya Akademi award

In the novel “Kalmaram” (Stone Tree), she took up the life and struggles of construction workers. This could be considered a milestone in the fight of construction works for a better life. This novel won Thilagavathy the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award.

Thilakavathi gives life to these novels by doing a lot of research into subject she has chosen. This meticulous approach ensures that her novels impact well with the public.

She won the best short story award for 1988-89 for “Theiyumo Suriyan” (Will Sun Wane) and “Arasigal Aluvathillai” (Queens don’t rule). Thilagavathy has won several awards to her credit.

Thilagavathy’s first short story was published in Tamil Daily ‘Dinakaran’, in 1987. Thilakavathy has so far written about 300-odd short stories. Most of her novels have won award. She has translated four novels in Tamil.

Some of her works have been adapted for TV – like ‘Varthai Thavari Vittai’, which won the best serial award from the Mylapore Academy, ‘Arasigal Aluvathillai’ and ‘Muppathu Kodi Mugangal’ (Thirty crore faces).

Her novel “Pathini Penn” was made into a film and it was adjudged best film by the Government of Tamil Nadu and won four awards.

The books she translated for Sahitya Akademi are ‘Nizhal Kodugal’, ‘Uthirum Ilaigalin Oosai’, ‘Govarthan Ram’ and 50 short stories. ‘Aparajito’ the next translation work is under process.

Born in Dharmapuri, a backward district of Tamil Nadu, Thilakavathy did her schooling there. She graduated from Auxilium College, Katpadi and did her post graduation in Stella Mary’s College, Chennai. She became an IPS officer in 1976.

The early influences in her life were her parents and Periyamma (an elderly woman who became attached to the family). Rangaswamy, a school teacher who was her neighbour sowed the literary seed in the child and moulded her thinking process and nurtured in her a love for literature.

From a humble background to a life of recognition is no mean achievement, especially for a woman. But then it seems nothing strange for someone in the caliber of Thilakavathy.

- Asian Tribune -