The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Easy to read, and colourful to boot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 17, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Easy to read, and colourful to boot

T. A. Narasimhan

FIRST IN TAMIL: I. Shanmuganathan presents his book to President Abdul Kalam.

CHENNAI: For readers who see history as more than just mythology here is an opportunity to travel into the past to learn about the personalities and the events that have shaped today's world.

I. Shanmuganathan's 460-page work, "Karkaalam mudhal computer kaalam vaarai" (From stone age to computer age), the first such one to be published in Tamil, is packed with political intrigue, drama, war and personal achievements. The book and its CD version in Tamil and English were recently presented to President Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Kalam congratulated Mr. Shanmuganathan, saying, "Your knowledge of history is encyclopaedic. This book will be very useful for the future generation."

Mr. Shanmuganathan, a journalist and novelist for 40 years, said, "This book has been created for easy use. In fact, one look at it and one will never forget historical facts. The book features everything: the creation of the Earth to the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre, the growth and disappearance of civilisations, cultural and political revolutions, discoveries, voyages, rise and fall of great leaders and information about the film industry.

"Once you get a chance to read the events along with the colourful illustrations, it is sure to stick in your mind. It will create a visual image of the world for the reader."

Tamil Nadu gets a special focus in this book. The Tamil Nadu Government had subsidised his earlier work, "Twentieth century history in a Tamilian's view." Mr. Shanmuganathan is now compiling a Tamil Kalanjiam (encyclopaedia).

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