Gnani Sankaran

Gnani Sankaran Biography

Gnani Sankaran is a popular Tamil writer of present times. He writes articles and columns under the pseudonyms Vamban, Cynic, and Nandan. He is known for frank and uncompromising views on politics and culture and his association with media has already passed 30 years. His collection of his articles has been published as books like - Pazhaya Paper, Marupadiyum and Kandathai Solgiren. Kandathai Solgiren is his collection of articles published in India Today. Thavippu, Oozhale un ver enge?, Manithan Pathilgal, Kandathai Solgiren, Media Uravugal, Balloon (Play) and Samoogappaalinam: Mediavum Kalviyum are other published works. He has written more than 30 plays for the troupe Pareeksha and has also been associated with television as a writer. He resides in Chennai right now.

Gnani was born in 1954 January 4 in Chennai as Sankaran to Vempuchami and Jayalakshmi in a middle class family. His father was an English journalist. He has three brothers and one younger sister. He along with his mother and aunt lived separately from father. After schooling, he did graduation from Madras Christian College, Tambaram. His subject was English literature. He has served as editor in school and college magazines. After education, he worked in ‘The Indian Express’ as office assistant in the marketing end of the ten months and later worked in the accounting department (1973-74). In 1974, he enrolled for a diploma course in journalism at Madras University and later worked as a news reporter. He had crisis in job and management decided to remove him from job in 1980.

In 1978 he acted in the street theater movement. In 1980, he formed Pariksha with the help of a few friends. He started Dheemtharikida, magazine in 1982 with friends, which became a major success. He served as its editor of many years.

Gnani Sankaran, died in the wee hours of Monday at his residence in Chennai. He was 64. Undergoing regular dialysis for kidney ailments for few years, Gnani was away from his active social life for several months.

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Updated: January 15, 2018