Ponnudurai S (Es.Po)

Also known as Espo. Ponnuthurai (4 June 1932 – 26 November 2014) was one of the greatest writers of Eelam. He wrote in many dimensions like short story, novel, drama, poetry, criticism, translation, politics. He has written more than 40 books. Since 1989, he migrated and lived in Sydney, Australia. He established a publishing house named Mitra in Chennai and was involved in publishing books through it.

Life summary

Born to Shanmugam in Nallur, Jaffna, he did his higher education at Chennai Christian College and Tamil Nadu Annamalai University. He moved to Batticaloa in 1956 to join the teaching profession. He also worked as a teacher in Nigeria.

As a writer

He started writing in his 13th year. He started writing in 1940 when his elder brother Thambaiya started a manuscript magazine called Gnanodayam. The first poem written by Ponnuthurai was published in Veerakesari. Ponnuthurai's first short story was published in Suthanthiran in 1948. He also wrote in Tamil Nadu magazines Kadhal, Prasanda Vikatan and Anandabodini.[1]