Arumugam Navalar

A 19th-century Indian scholar who revitalized Tamil language and education against colonial suppression.

Arumugam Navalar (1822–1879) was a visionary Tamil scholar, poet, and social reformer who played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting the Tamil language and culture during the British colonial era. Born into a Tamil Brahmin family in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Navalar became a leading figure in the Tamil literary revival movement. His efforts were instrumental in countering the British colonial emphasis on English education, which marginalized indigenous languages.

Navalar’s work included translating religious texts like the Ramayana into Tamil, making them accessible to the masses. He founded schools and libraries, such as the Saiva Siddhanta College in Jaffna, to promote Tamil education. His publication of Tamil Vaseegar, a bilingual Tamil-English journal, challenged colonial narratives and fostered Tamil literary identity.

His most enduring contribution was the codification of Tamil grammar, which standardized the language and ensured its survival. Navalar’s advocacy for Tamil language rights laid the groundwork for later movements, including the Tamil Renaissance of the 20th century. His legacy is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, where he is remembered as a cultural hero. For deeper insights, explore his works on Wikipedia or academic studies like this analysis.