Kurinji Then

Since Krishnan was an electrical engineer and his job involved transfers to different places, Rajam's stories, and novels depict vividly the lives in Ooty, Goa, and Chennai. 'Kurinji Then', is a beautiful novel on Badagas of Nilgiris spanning three generations. One cannot but feel moved while reading the last chapter. Rajam Krishnan's life once again is a testimony to how literature can be created, irrespective of educational or professional qualifications. Born in a conservative Brahmin family near Tiruchi, she got married at a very young age to Krishnan and started writing at the age of 16. Her first story 'Oosiyum Unarvum' (Needle and Sense) won an international award for the Tamil short story in 1952. It was given by the New York Herald Tribune. In 1953, her novel 'Pen Kural' (Voice of the Woman) was the recipient of the Kalaimagal Narayanaswami Iyer novel. In 1958, she won the Ananda Vikatan novel prize for her 'Malargal.' The Sahitya Academy award was given to her novel 'Verukku Neer.'