Manonmaniyam P. Sundaranar (4 April 1855 – 26 April 1897) was an Indian scholar, noted for the famous Tamil drama Manonmaniyam.^[1] as well as the state song of Tamil Nadu Tamil Thai Valthu.

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Quick Facts Manonmaniyam P. Sundaram Pillai, Born ...

Manonmaniyam P. Sundaram Pillai
Born	Manmoniyam Perumal Sundaram 4 April 1855
Died	26 April 1897(1897-04-26) (aged 42)
Occupation(s)	writer, scholar

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Sundaram showed his respect for Harvey, a Scottish Professor of Philosophy and English at The Maharaja's College, by dedicating his drama Manonmaniyam to him, and naming his farmhouse after him.^[2] Together they wrote the book, Some Early Sovereigns of Travancore.

The MDT Hindu College, Tirunelveli, of which he was the first Principal, describes his works as follows:^[3]

In 1885, he published Chathira Saugiragam, commonly known as Nootrogai Villakkam. He wrote and published his masterpiece Manonmaniam in 1891. In the same year, he became a member Fellow of Madras University (FMU). In 1897, Some Early Sovereigns of Travancore was published and he became a Member of Royal Asiatic Society (MRAS).^{[citation needed]}

He died of diabetes on 26 April 1897, at age 42. His son P. S. Nataraja Pillai served as Minister of Finance for Travancore-Cochin state from 1954–56 and was also a member of Constituent Assembly of India. He was elected to state legislative assembly of Kerala and to the Indian Parliament as a Lok Sabha member. He was politically associated with the Indian National Congress and Praja Socialist Party of India.^[4]

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University was named after him.

The 1942 cinema adaptation of Manonmani is considered a classic film.^[1]

• Nūṟṟokai viḷakkam (நூற்றொகை விளக்கம்) (Tamil,1888)
• Maṉōṉmaṇīyam (மனோன்மணீயம்) (Drama, 1891)
• Some early sovereigns of Travancore (திருவிதாங்கூர் பண்டை மன்னர் கால ஆராய்ச்சி. P.S. Natarajan. 1894.
• Some Milestones in the History of Tamil Literature: Found in an Enquiry Into the Age of Tiru Gnana Sambandha. Addison & Company. 1895.
• Tamiḻttāy vāḻttu (தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து)

• Tamil Thai