Dr. T. T. Thavasi Muthu Maran

Dr. T. T . Thavasi Muthu Maran was born on April 10, 1959, in Arumuganeri village, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. He is the son of freedom fighter Mr. T.Thagavel Nadar and Mrs. T. Shanmuga Kani Ammal. He began his career as an art teacher at a government school in 1988. Through dedication and distance learning, he advanced to become a Tamil graduate teacher in 2002. He continued to serve in this role until his retirement in 2015.

T. T. Thavasi Muthu Maran

In 1997, he underwent specialized training in epigraphy with the Archaeological Survey of India, under the auspices of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Thavasi Muthu was honored with the title of Kalaisudarmani by the Art and Culture Department of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, in 2004.

In October 2005, he earned his PhD as a part-time research student at Madurai Kamaraj University, under the guidance of Dr. T. Natarasan. His dissertation, titled Udayar Kathaipadalkalum Vazhipattu Marapukalum (Udayar Ballads and Worship Traditions), uncovered the historical truths embedded in bow-song ballads, a performing art form integral to the culture and worship practices of rural communities.

Mr. Thavasi Muthu Maran has extensively studied the archaeological remains, architecture, inscriptions, sculptures, and folklore of the Thoothukudi district, historically known as Kudanad. His research and documentation have been shared through the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Society and various newspapers. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, he has organized numerous art exhibitions, bringing the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region to a broader audience.

In the Kottamadaikadu area near Arumuganeri and the Chilapakadu forests to the north, he unearthed a variety of artifacts, including pottery shards, burial urns, clay pots, large bricks, and scratched conch shells. Among these discoveries was a fish seal stone from the Pandya dynasty. Additionally, he excavated clay fragments from the temple of Rajaraja Chola's era from the soil layers at this site and documented their historical significance.

Mr. Thavasi Muthu Maran is renowned for his contributions to the field of Tamil epigraphy and historical research, particularly in the regions surrounding the districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. Over the years, he has uncovered numerous inscriptions of historical and cultural importance, including the AD 1012 Rajaraja Cholan inscription at Vilathikulam, the AD 1656 Valli Amman Cave inscription in Tiruchendur, and the intricate stone inscriptions of Kayalpattinam’s Manavala Perumal Temple. His discoveries span various centuries, such as the AD 1234 First Maravarman Sundara Pandian Kamalai Well inscription in Madathur and the AD 1888 Nalumavadi stone inscription.

Mr. Thavasi Muthu Maran has also contributed to Tamil historical research by presenting research papers on Adichanallur, Korkai, and Kalugumalai. He presented the article Villages and Names of Thoothukudi District at the Thoothukudi District Silver Jubilee Celebration in 2012 and a paper on Sariyakulapperumal Ballads at the 2013 Palm Leaf Manuscript Seminar. Most recently, in 2024, he presented a research paper titled Thiruchendur Valli Amman Kudaivara Temple at the Muthathamizh Murugan Conference, further advancing his work in Tamil epigraphy and culture.

Mr. Thavasi Muthu Maran has authored numerous research articles focusing on the history of temples, architecture, and sculpture. His commitment to preserving historical knowledge is evident in his donation of valuable palm-leaf manuscripts to institutions such as Nellai Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Thanjavur Tamil University, and the International Institute of Tamil Studies, enabling further research and study.

In 2008, he published the book Thyaga Bhoomi Arumuganeri, which delves into the legends of Arumuganeri and includes accounts from the freedom struggle era. A decade later, in 2018, he released another work, India Viduthalai Poril Thoothukudi Mavattam (Indian Liberation War in Thoothukudi District), during a ceremony graced by the District Collector of Thoothukudi. In 2024, Mr. Thavasi Muthu Maran published the book Aivar Rajakkal Padai Vettukathai (The Story of the Battle Wounds of the Five Kings). In the same year, he also released the book The Ballad of Sariyakulaperumal (Sariyakulaperumal Kathai Padal).

As a life member of the Thanjavur Archaeological Society, Mr. Thavasi Muthu Maran is deeply committed to uncovering and documenting untold aspects of South Tamil Nadu's archaeological history, viewing this pursuit as a service to Tamil Nadu and its rich heritage.