U. V. Swaminatha Iyer (1855–1942)
Uttamadhanapuram Venkatasubba Iyer Swaminatha Iyer was a renowned Tamil scholar and researcher, celebrated for his monumental work in reviving and preserving ancient Tamil literature, especially from the Sangam period. Often called the “Tamil Thatha” (Grandfather of Tamil), he dedicated his life to collecting, editing, and publishing long-lost classical Tamil texts.
Swaminatha Iyer traveled extensively across Tamil Nadu, visiting old temples, monasteries, and private libraries to find palm-leaf manuscripts. Thanks to his efforts, masterpieces such as Silappatikaram, Manimekalai, and many Sangam poems were recovered, edited, and made accessible to modern readers.
His dedication earned him respect across India, and his autobiography, “En Charithiram” (My Life), provides valuable insights into the intellectual history of Tamil Nadu. Swaminatha Iyer remains a key figure in the Tamil literary renaissance.