D.Ravikumar (writer)
Constituency: Viluppuram
Born/Date of Birthday: 29 May 1960
Place of Birth: Manganampattu, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Political Party: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Educational Qualifications: M.A., B.L., Ph.d
Educated at: Tamil University (2017), Tamil University (2010), Annamalai University (1984), Annamalai University (1980)
Profession: Writer, Advocate, Politician
Occupation: VCK General Seceratory
Marital Status: Married
Date of Marriage: 15 Jun 1986
Spouse's Name: Smt. Senbagavalli
No. of Sons: 2
Parents: Shri Duraisamy V, Smt. Kanagammal
Permanent Address: 30&31, Bharatha Madha Street, Auroville (SO) Vanur Taluk, Distt. Villupuram, Tamil Nadu - 605101
Tel: 09443033305 (M)
D. Ravikumar (born 1961) is an Indian Tamil intellectual, writer, lawyer politician and an anti-caste activist. He was the editor of the magazine, Nirapirikai. Nirapirikai inspired several new writers in the 1990s in Tamil Nadu. He is an Ambedkarite. Ravikumar is the current Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Viluppuram and member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Ravikumar is the founder of the anti-caste publishing house Navayana, along with S. Anand, and the former president of the People's Education Movement (Makkal Kalvi Eyakkam) and PUCL (Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry).
Ravikumar was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, and served from 2006 to 2011. He was instrumental in bringing a new policy to handle EWaste in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government started a skill development program and Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, created six welfare boards, both at the request of Ravikumar.
In 2010, Ravikumar won the Aringar Anna Award, conferred by the Tamil Nadu Government. Vikatan Awards for Translation (2014) Thiranayvu chemmal award for literary criticism (2019) manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Bharathi Award (2019) Vitiyal Trust Chennai. villuppuram MP
Positions held
- Syndicate Member, Tamil University
- Senate Member, Annamalai University
- Member, Enperayam, Central Institute of Classical Tamil
- Member, Social Reforms Committee, Tamil Nadu Government
- Member, Puthirai Vannar Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Government
- Member of Legislative Assemby, Kattumannarkoil constituency, Tamilnadu (2006 - 2011)
- Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (2019-Incumbent), Vilupuram Loksabha Constituency
Writings
Books
- Ravikumar, D. (2009). Venomous touch : notes on caste, culture, and politics. Translated by R. Azhagarasan. Stree-Samya Publications. ISBN 978-8185604763.
Prose
- "Kankanippin Arasiyal" (1995) Vidiyal Pathippagam
- "Kothippu Uyarndu Varum" (2001) Kalachuvadu
- "Kadakka Mudiyatha Nizhal" (2003) Kalachuvadu
- "Malcolm X" (2003) Kalachuvadu
- "Sonnal Mudiyum" (2007) Vikatan Publication
- "Indrum Namadhe" (2008) Vikatan Publication
- "Thuyarathin mel patiyum Thuyaram" (2009) Aazhi Publication
- "Thamizharay Unarum Tharunam" (2010) Aazhi Publication
- "Kaana Mutiyaa Kanavu" (2010) Aazhi Publication
- "Bob Marley" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Andai Ayal Ulakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Piravazhip payanam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Katranaiththoorum" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Soolakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication
- "Meelum Varalaru" (2010) Ulakath Thamizaraychi niruvanam
- "Kumbatchiyilirunthu kodungonmaikku" (2017) Kizhakku Pathipakam
- "Kaalathai Thorkaditha Kalaingar" (2017) Manarkeni
- Kaanalaay marum kaveri (2018) Manarkeni Ayiram Pookkal Karukattum (2019) Manarkeni
Poetry
- "Avizhum Sorkal" (2009) Uyirmai
- "Mazhai Maram" (2009) CreA
- "Vaanil Vitterintha Kanavu" (2017) Manarkeni
Short Stories
- "Kadal Kinaru" (2014) Manarkeni
Translations
- Uraiyadal Thodarkiradu (1995) (interviews and articles of philosophers including Michel Foucault, Edward Said) Vidiyal Pathipakam
- Choli ke peche (2010) (short stories of women writers including Mahasweta Devi, Ismat Chuktai, Isabelle Allende) Aazhi
- Velichamum Thanneer Mathiritan (2003) (short stories of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and others) Dalit Veliyeedu
- Athikarathitam Unmaiyaip Pesuthal (2010) (writings of Edward Said) Manarkeni
- Varalaru Ennum Kathai (2010) (writings of Eduardo Galeano) Manarkeni
- Valasaip Paravai (2010) (poems of Yehuda Amichai, Maya Angelou, Ethelbert Miller, Joy Goswami and others) Manarkeni
Editing
Tamil
- Dalit Literature, Politics, Culture (1996)
- Dalit Engira Thanitthuvum (1998) Dalit Publication
- Iyothee Thaas Panditar Cintanaikal (four volumes) (1999) Dalit Sahitya Academy
- Rettaimalai Srinivasan Jeevida Carithira Curukkam (1999) (Autobiography) Dalit Sahitya Academy
- Mikai Naadum Kalai (2003) (Essays on cinema) kalachuvadu
- Dalit journal
- Bodhi journal
- Manarkeni journal
English
- We, the Condemned (1999) (Against Death Penalty) PUCL, Pondicherry
- Ravikumar; Azhagarasan, R., eds. (2012). The Oxford India anthology of Tamil Dalit writing (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-807938-5. A. S. Panneerselvan wrote of this book in The Indian Express: "The material is of sterling quality ... However, two glaring problems with this anthology the conspicuous exclusion of some of the finest voices and the narrow interpretation of the growth of Dalit literature and politics do a disservice to the stated objectives."