User:ERA NATARASAN/sandbox

Era.Natarasan (Tamil: இரா நடராசன்) Born December 8,1964 popularly known as Ayesha Natarasan is an Indian writer of children’s books. He writes in Tamil and English. He is most famous as the author of Ayisha(in English)/ Ayesha(a Novella) that has sold millions of Copies in 12 languages. He has written more than 80 books most of them on science and Science Fiction including Vigyana vikramadhithyan  kadhaigal which won the "Bal Sahitya Puraskar Award" awarded by Sahitya Academy, India’s highest award for Children Literature.

Early days
Natarasan was born in Lalgudi, in the Southern State of  Tamil Nadu in India, His Father Ramanathan was a Goverment Servent and mother Savithri Ramanathan a home maker grew up in Trichy district. He loved Science as a child and was inspired by his teachers to become a teacher. He joined The Jamal Mohamed College(1982-85) and completed graduation in physics and started writing while doing his first year there. He became a teacher at an early age in a village service camp and still continuous to be one. He did his post Graduate degrees in psychology (Annamalai University)(1990-92) and in Education Management (Alagappa University)(2004). He married Mala Balakrishnan – a PG teacher in Mathematics and they have a son Gowthaman Natarasan and a daughter Aishwarya Natarasan. He is at present the Principal (Head master) of the Krishnasamy Memorial Matric Higher Secondary school, in the coastal town of Cuddalore near Puducherry, India.

Literary career
'''Era. Natarasan''' who started his writing career as a poet in the Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan in 1982 latter got interested to write short- stories Science and Science Fiction for children so for he has written 83 books (72 in Tamil and 11 in English). He Published short stories in literary magazines and conducted weekly book - meets at Kural- Ilakkiya Amaipu in Cuddalore.He started writing science for children in 1990s through Thulir Magazine (Monthly of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum) and latter published widely in all children magazines in Tamil especially in the Chutti vikatan. His work Poojiyamam andu (year-zero) – the story of a visually impaired boy who wants to fly to moon – became the first Tamil work to be published in Braile language.

Turning Point
His Famous -work Ayesha a Novella about the suffering of a school teenage prodigi won the first place in Kanayazhi Magazine -kuru novel(Short -Novel) competition in 1996. It sent a wave of shock across the intellectuals in Tamil Nadu. Soon the novella which appeared in a book form (published by Sneha Publishers) started selling in huge numbers- as it was seen a must read for the teaching community. Ayesha brought the much needed focus on the issue of corporal punishment against children in schools that was common in those days. Soon the School Education Department of Tamil Nadu used Ayesha in all its Teacher -work shops. Ayisha- Reached one million copies (later published by Bharathi Puthakalayam) in 1999 and had been since translated in to 12 Languages including English, French, Spanish and all Leading Indian Languages. Era Natarasan who became 'Ayisha' Natarasan started focusing on Education and child -right issues etc,there after.

The Busy Years
His science books are simple and creative. His teen novels like- Circus Dot com(2000), Malar Algebra(2002), Rough Note(2009), Yureka court(2010), Darwin school(2014), Vande Matharam (2016) etc..are read widely. He is able to mix science into stories and that makes in to a new style. The Vigyana Vikramadhithyan Kadhaikal(2009) has in itself the history of the medical inventions such as, polio vaccine, insulin, malaria vaccine etc., which received the Bala Sahitya Puraskar the Annual Sahitya Academy Award for children literature in 2014.

His recent work for teachers Idhu yarudaya vagupparai(whose class-room is it ?)  the best seller has received the Tamil Valarchithurai Virudhu  in 2015, the award he has already received in 2001 for his famous book on Mathematics Kanidhathin kadhai. '''Era. Natarasan''' has brought a series (10 books) in English under the title Scientific Revolution on ten great names of science that signify the great leap forward which include Galileo Galilei, Mendel, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein etc., He is the writer, editor of The Puthagam Pesudhu – a Tamil Monthly for Books.

Short Films
Era.Natarasan's Four Stories have been made into short -Flims so for.
 * 1) Ayesha -was adopted into a 28 minutes short film by B.sivakumar Released in year of 2000, short film Ayesha won the National Film Award - Best short film of the year (National Film Festival, New Delhi)
 * 2)  Madhi -Another short story (Which was published by India Today(t)) magazine about the pathetic every day life of the third gender was filmed into a short film by cinematographer - Editor B. Lenin.
 * 3)  Rathathin Vannathil (the color of Blood) story which received the Ilakkiya chindhanai Award'',was made in to a feature film in the title Chellamma by Director  Pa.sivakumar.
 * 4)  Vattathin Pakkangal(the sides of cirle) was filmed as a feature film again by Director Pa.sivakumar.
 * 5)    Ayesha Natarasan also appears in a supporting role in Director Thangar Bachan's famous film Ammavin Kaipesi.

Educational Activism
As an educational scholar & Psychologist he is an activist supporting alternative education. He has Translated Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed -the most important book on education in to Tamil. He served as a Master Resource Person on Right to Education Act for UNICEF Sponsored workshops in Tamil Nadu.He played a major role as the member secretory in the Vasanthi Devi Commitee on Alternate Education Policy (citizen's charter - against PM Modi's New Education Policy). Ayesha Natarasan was in the  Text Book commitee formed by the Govt of Tamil Nadu on the eve of the common syllabus formation. As an education activist Era.Natarasan has periodically Participated in many education debates on Television Channels as a key  speaker, including Star Vijay(Neeya Naana), Sun TV (India) (virundhinar pakkam) etc., His articles and interviews on education have appeared in many leading magazines/Dailies such as The Hindu , Ananda Vikatan , The Times of India(city) Kungumam Vazhikatti, etc.,Era.Natarasan is also an active participant,  Resource Person cum trainer in book festivals children content seminars and literary meets.

Literary Review
Era.natarasan's Science-books are simple and interesting with humour, a genre, which puts him parallal on the line with Sujatha Rangarajan tamil legend in writing science. Natarasan's children books though can be categorised age -based - are mostly for teenagers. His science fiction works such as Darwin school, Circus Dot com , Vande matharam etc., have child charaters  who are super intelligent, His works on education -are student  supportive and he is seen as a supporter of political activism in education -a leftist ideology. He has made some significant contributions in translating some notable science works in to Tamil. Era Natarasan is the translator-(Tamil) of Prof Dr.Vilayanur S. Ramachandran's book on psychology- The Emerging mind ,Tamil title -Uruvagum Ullam (Bharathi Puthakalayam). He has also translated Claude Alvares work - Science Development and Violence -Tamil title  Ariiviyal Valarchi Vanmurai -Ethir Veliyeedu. other translation works include Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's The River Between (Idail Odum Nadhi), Buchi Emecheta's - Destination Biafra (Biafravai Nokki) etc. He has translated Hans Magnus Enzensberger's The Number Devil in tamil (Number Boodham).

Awards and Honours
which received the Bala Sahitya Puraskar the Annual Sahitya Akademi Award for children literature in 2014. The Sahitya Akademi's 2014 "Bal Sahitya Purasker" Press release states: Vigghana vikramaathitan Kathaikal is an interesting take on the story of Vikramadithya. Through this old folktale, the author introduces children to scientific concepts of science and various health issues. This book is remarkable in its clever introduction of science to young children.

Children Literature

 * Oru Thozhanum Moonru  Nanbargalum (2006, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Rose (2002,Books for children)
 * Oru Thozhiyin Kadhai (2009, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Rough Note (2009, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Naveena Panchathandra kadhaikal (2006, vikatan)
 * Nathaiku Ethanai Kalgal (2006, Books for children)
 * Ayesha (2000, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * kodhaidoscope (2014, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Naga (2000, Books for children)
 * Ayyal Mozhi Alamari, ISBN 9789382826415-1 (2009, Books for children)

Science

 * Srinrvasa Ramanujam-125 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Kanitha Methaigalin Facebook, ISBN 9789381908945-2. (2012,Books for children)
 * Ulaga Thozhil Nutpa Munnodigal, ISBN 9789380325309-4. (Books for children)
 * India Ariviyalin Irunda Sarithiram, ISBN 978-93-84421-34-2 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Varalaaru Marantha Vingnanigal, ISBN 9789382826484-2 (Books for children)
 * Ulaga Pen Vignanigal, ISBN13 9789380325019-4, ISBN10 9380325010  (Books for children)
 * Neengalum Vingani Aaga Vendum Endru Vrumbugireerkala, ISBN 9789383661718-4 Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Nano Thozhilnutpam ,ISBN 9789380324996-2 (2010, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Higgs Boson Varai ,ISBN 9789381908983-1 (2011, Books for children)
 * Ulgai Maatria Samanbadugal (2008, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Kanithathin Kathai,ISBN 9789381908563-6 (2000, Books for children)
 * Vethiyal Parisothanaigal, ISBN 9789380325033-6 (2000, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Uyriyal Parisothanaigal,ISBN 9789384421212-6 (2000, Books for children)
 * Eyarpiyal Parisothanaigal,ISBN 9789384421205-6 (2000, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Oliyein Surukkamana Varalaru, ISBN 9789385377341-1 (2011, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Marabiyal,ISBN 9789380325989-2 (2009, Books for children)
 * Sooravaliyum Adipaniyum –cuba, ISBN 812341048-4 (2007, New Century Book House)
 * Ulagai Kulukkiya Noolgal,ISBN 9789382826682-02 (2000, Bharathi Puthakalayam)

Science Fiction

 * Malar Algebra ,ISBN 9788189909918-7 (2002,Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Boojjiyamam Andu ,ISBN 978983661930-2 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Booma. ISBN 9789381908761-2 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Darwin School,ISBN13 9789384421335-1 (2014, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Ureka Count, ISBN 978818476617-2 (2000, vikatan)
 * Vinveliikkua oru Puravali Salai ,ISBN 9789380325378-2 (2013, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Vigyana vikramadhityan kadhaikal (2014, Bharathi Puthakalayam)

Science-Drama

 * Michael Faraday (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Phoenix Ariviyal Nadagankal,ISBN 9789382826507-1(2013,Bharathi Puthakalayam)

Fiction(G)

 * Oru Thooya Mozhiyin Thuyara  Kuzhandhaikal,ISBN 818737152-6 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Era Natarasan Siru Kathaigal ,ISBN 9789381908013-2 (2001, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Madhi Ennum manidhanin maranam kurithu ,ISBN 9789381908013-2 (Sneha publication)
 * Palitheen Paigal(novel),ISBN 818737152-6 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * ''Michamiruppavan (1994,Kaavya Bangalore)

Education

 * Ithu Yarudaiya Vagupparai,ISBN 9789383661060-8 (2013, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Ulaga Kalviyalargal,ISBN 9789381908662-3 (2009, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Geometry Box (2012, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Malala Karumpalagai yutham,ISBN 978938442474-1 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Vanmurai illa Vagupparai, ISBN 0027638 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Ennai Sedhukkiya Manavarkal, ISBN 0027638 (The Hindu Publisher)
 * ''Semmnozhigal ,(Bharathi Puthakalayam)

Translation

 * Ulagileye Magizhchiyana Siruvan, ISBN 9789381908976-2 (2012, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Nee Erumbukalai Nesikkiraayaa, ISBN 9789380325682-4(Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Vaanga Ariviyal Pesalaam, ISBN 978938577372-2 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Uruvaakum Ullam, ISBN 9789385377976-1 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Number Boodham,ISBN 9789381908907-3 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Kundu Raja, ISBN 0027052 (Books for childern)
 * Ariviyal  Valrchi  Vanmurai (T),ISBN 97893464665-3 (2016, Ethir Veliyeedu)
 * Idaiyil Odum Nadhi (T), ISBN 97893803266-8(2012, Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Federic Duglas, ISBN 97893803266-8(Bharathi Puthakalayam)

English-Titles

 * Pavlov, ISBN 978-93-85377-49-5 (Books for children)
 * Euclid, ISBN 978-93-85377-42-6 (Books for children)
 * Galileo Galiei,ISBN 978-93-85377-43-3 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Antoine Lavisier,ISBN 978-93-85377-45-7 (Books for children)
 * Issac Newton,ISBN 978-93-85377-44-0 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Nicholas Copernicus, ISBN 978-93-85377-48-8 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Mendel, ISBN 978-93-85377-47-1 (1937, (Books for children)
 * Marie Curie,ISBN 978-93-85377-46-4 (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Charles Darwin, ISBN 978-93-85377-41-9'' (Bharathi Puthakalayam)
 * Albert Einstein,ISBN 978-93-85377-40-2 (Books for children)
 * Wings of Learning (will RTE service) (Indian University Press)