History & Culture
ASI Approves Excavations
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- Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has permitted the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) to conduct excavations at eight historical sites in Tamil Nadu.
- Keeladi Excavation Continues: Permission includes the 11th phase of excavations at Keeladi, a major archaeological site linked to the ancient Tamil civilisation.
- The ASI had earlier approved underwater archaeological surveys near Poompuhar in September 2025.
- Poompuhar was historically known as Kaveripoompattinam, an ancient port city linked to early Tamil maritime trade.
Excavations will also take place at
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- Pattinamarudhur in Thoothukudi district
- Karivalamvanthanallur in Tenkasi district
- Manikollai in Cuddalore district
- Adichanur in Villupuram district
- Vellalore in Coimbatore district
- Telunganur-Mangadu in Salem district
- Nagapattinam
Awards
Sahitya Akademi Award 2025
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- Tamil writer and essayist S. Tamilselvan has won the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2025 in the literary criticism category. The award is for his book, Tamizh Sirugathaiyin Thadangal, which traces the history of Tamil short stories.
- The book Tamizh Sirugathaiyin Thadangal comprehensively examines the evolution of the Tamil short story from 1913 to 1970.
- The book has been published by Bharathi Puthakalayam.
- He was born on May 27, 1954, in Nagalapuram, Thoothukudi District.
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- His first poem, titled Oru Naal Diary was published in 1972.
- Mr. Tamilselvan, editor of the literary magazine Semmalar.
- Mr. Tamilselvan, a former president and general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artistes Association, also served as a State committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
- In 2008, he received the Best Story Writer Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu.
- His short story, Veyilodupoi, was made into a film titled Poo.
- Tamizh Sirugathaiyin Thadangal begins with V.V.S. Iyer, whose Kulathankarai Aalamaram is considered the first Tamil short story.
His other works
- Arasiyal Enakku Pidikkum, which explains Left-wing politics in simple terms
- JindabadJindabad, recounts a trade unionist’s experience in politics
Thiruppiaditha Varalaru is a 1,000-page account of the 100-year history of the communist movement and the empowerment of peasants in the erstwhile composite Thanjavur district.
