<p>'Avvai' Natarajan, a renowned Tamil scholar and a multi-faceted personality who headed the prestigious Thanjavur Tamil University for three years, passed away here on Monday. He was 86 and is survived by three sons. </p>.<p>The scholar was admitted at a private hospital in Chennai due to age-related illness and breathed his last on Monday evening. His eldest son, N Arul works as Director in the Department of Tamil Development of the Tamil Nadu government, while other two sons – N Kannan and N Bharathan – are doctors. </p>.<p>Natarajan, who was bestowed with Padma Shri award in 2011 for his contributions to Tamil language, was a news reader with the All India Radio (AIR) in New Delhi in his early days and worked as a Tamil lecturer with the Thiagarajar College in Madurai and Rajah Serfoji Government College in Thanjavur. </p>.<p>An excellent orator who can keep his audience captivated for hours together, Natarajan served as the fourth Vice-Chancellor of the Thanjavur Tamil University from 1993 to 1995. He was also associated with the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, which was formed after Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004 by the then UPA-I government. </p>.<p>Impressed by his contributions to Tamil and efforts to further develop the language, the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had in 1972 appointed him as the Secretary of the Department of Tamil Development and Culture. This was a rare feat as the post of secretary is always held by an IAS officer. </p>.<p>Scholars recalled that Natarajan’s speeches on Sangam Literature would keep his audience spell-bound. Chief Minister M K Stalin led the state in mourning Natarajan’s death terming his demise as one that would make Mother Tamil cry. “We mourn the death of a great Tamil scholar. His works and his speeches will continue to live as long as Tamil exists,” Stalin added. </p>.<p>Born in Cheyyar, a town in Tiruvannamalai district, in 1936, Natarajan did his schooling in his native place. His father Avvai Duraisamy was a Tamil scholar himself and Natarajan’s love for Tamil began at a very early age. </p>.<p>Natarajan was cremated with full state honours on Tuesday evening. </p>
<p>'Avvai' Natarajan, a renowned Tamil scholar and a multi-faceted personality who headed the prestigious Thanjavur Tamil University for three years, passed away here on Monday. He was 86 and is survived by three sons. </p>.<p>The scholar was admitted at a private hospital in Chennai due to age-related illness and breathed his last on Monday evening. His eldest son, N Arul works as Director in the Department of Tamil Development of the Tamil Nadu government, while other two sons – N Kannan and N Bharathan – are doctors. </p>.<p>Natarajan, who was bestowed with Padma Shri award in 2011 for his contributions to Tamil language, was a news reader with the All India Radio (AIR) in New Delhi in his early days and worked as a Tamil lecturer with the Thiagarajar College in Madurai and Rajah Serfoji Government College in Thanjavur. </p>.<p>An excellent orator who can keep his audience captivated for hours together, Natarajan served as the fourth Vice-Chancellor of the Thanjavur Tamil University from 1993 to 1995. He was also associated with the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, which was formed after Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004 by the then UPA-I government. </p>.<p>Impressed by his contributions to Tamil and efforts to further develop the language, the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had in 1972 appointed him as the Secretary of the Department of Tamil Development and Culture. This was a rare feat as the post of secretary is always held by an IAS officer. </p>.<p>Scholars recalled that Natarajan’s speeches on Sangam Literature would keep his audience spell-bound. Chief Minister M K Stalin led the state in mourning Natarajan’s death terming his demise as one that would make Mother Tamil cry. “We mourn the death of a great Tamil scholar. His works and his speeches will continue to live as long as Tamil exists,” Stalin added. </p>.<p>Born in Cheyyar, a town in Tiruvannamalai district, in 1936, Natarajan did his schooling in his native place. His father Avvai Duraisamy was a Tamil scholar himself and Natarajan’s love for Tamil began at a very early age. </p>.<p>Natarajan was cremated with full state honours on Tuesday evening. </p>
