How Tamil sci-fi writers are bringing science closer to children

When Tamil-medium schoolchildren are intrigued by science and wish to pick up a few novels to quench that curiosity, they come across many English titles translated into Tamil. But a sci-fi novel written in Tamil, whose plot is set in familiar neighbourhoods and features futuristic inventions in towns the student recognises, fills a much larger gap. This is exactly what some new-age Tamil authors writing for children have been working towards.

“Tamil science fiction written exclusively for children is a niche, but it has been steadily growing compared to previous decades,” says Kamalalayan of Bharathi Puthakalayam, a Chennai-based publishing house that has brought out over a hundred Tamil sci-fi titles for children. “We make sure our science fiction books are available at book fairs. When Tamil-medium students show an interest in reading science, English sci-fi titles are often expensive and harder to comprehend.”

Writer Era Natarasan, popularly known as ‘Ayisha’ Natarasan, consciously chooses to write Tamil sci-fi so that students interested in science have accessible reading avenues. He adds that some non-profit organisations now bring government schoolchildren to book fairs, where his books are sold for as little as five to 10 rupees.

“Many Tamil-medium students who come from underprivileged backgrounds may be the first graduates in their families. When they pick up a Tamil sci-fi title, it can transform their lives,” says Mr. Natarasan, who also won the 2014 Bala Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Children’s Literature for his Tamil sci-fi work Vingyana Vikramadithan Kathaigal.

Tamil sci-fi authors in the State have been writing about ecological awareness, technology, and environmental protection through fiction, says writer Komako Elango. “Reading itself has become a long-lost habit, so new-age writers are trying to make Tamil sci-fi more interesting by combining science with fantasy,” says Mr. Elango, who writes stories about earthworms, milk packets, technology, and medical sciences.

Retired zoology professor Mohana S. writes stories set in familiar towns such as Sivakasi, making sci-fi not-so-intimidating for children. She says the genre is still a niche because adding science to fiction requires careful thought and research.

Govt. efforts

Journalist Adhi Valliappan, who predominantly writes science non-fiction alongside some sci-fi, spoke about initiatives such as the Ilanthalir Ilakkiya Thittam and Vaasippu Iyakkam schemes by the State government, which ensure that science and environment books are more are accessible to children. “If English-medium students can enjoy reading sci-fi in English, Tamil-medium students from underprivileged backgrounds deserve the same exposure,” says the writer, who also talks about climate change in his children’s sci-fi novels.

Adding to these efforts are government-run fortnightly children’s Tamil magazines like Thenchittu for classes 6 to 9 and Puthuoonjal for classes 4 and 5, circulated across Tamil Nadu’s government schools. “Among other subjects, we also talk about everyday science through fiction and comics in an easy-to-understand format. Compared to previous years, science-related work for children is not limited anymore,” shares Bala Bharathi, its editor-in-chief.