T. R. Damodaran Dr.
• He was born in Madurai with three brothers in a family engaged in color dying business. • He is better known as a Sanskrit scholar and a researcher of Sourashtra / Saurashtra language, literature, and culture. • On his blog “Sourashtralogy Research”, he describes himself as “Professor of Sanskrit at Sourashtra College, Madurai” and expresses deep interest in research into the Sourashtra language.
Educational & Professional Background
• Dr. Damodaran is (or has been) Professor of Sanskrit at Sourashtra College, Madurai. • In a monograph titled Life and Contribution of Venkataramana Bhagavatar, he is credited as “Dr. T. R. Damodaran M.A., Ph.D., D.Ling., D.G.T., Lecturer in Sanskrit, Sourashtra College (S.F), Madurai.” • His scholarly interests lie in the intersection of Sanskrit, Sourashtra language, and literature / heritage research.
Contributions & Work
Sourashtra / Saurashtra Language & Literature • Dr. Damodaran’s blog and published works reflect a mission: to document, analyze, and promote Sourashtra (Saurashtram / Sourashtram) language, script, and literature. • He has compiled and published works such as Life and Contribution of Venkataramana Bhagavatar, as part of a “Great Men of the Sourashtra Community” series. • His research and publications often juxtapose Sanskrit, Tamil, and Sourashtra contents—showing he is interested in bridging linguistic and cultural studies. • In the general discourse on the Saurashtra language, he is also recognized: in 2007, Dr. Damodaran won the Sahitya Akademi’s Bhasha Samman Award for his book Jiva Sabda Kosam, a compilation of 1,333 Saurashtra words with English and Tamil meanings.
Public / Cultural Leadership
• He has been involved in community-cultural events. For example, during the inauguration of RISHI (Research Institute of Sourashtra Heritage & Immigration) in 2008 (Madurai), Dr. Damodaran delivered the welcome address. • He is also identified as President of Sourashtri Sahitya Sadas, Madurai (a literary / community body) in some social media mentions.
Significance & Legacy
Dr. T. R. Damodaran occupies a niche but meaningful role in cultural and linguistic preservation. Though not widely known outside academic / community circles, his work is crucial for: • Preserving an endangered linguistic tradition: Sourashtra language (originally from Gujarat) retains distinct identity in Tamil Nadu. Dr. Damodaran’s efforts help sustain its script, vocabulary, and literature. Wikipedia+2Sourashtralogy Research+2 • Bridging traditions: His Sanskrit grounding gives his work both depth and credibility in the classical languages sphere, while his engagement with modern linguistic communities helps make scholarly work accessible to community readers. • Community inspiration: Leaders like him help younger generation scholars and community members appreciate the heritage they belong to, and gives institutional legitimacy to lesser-studied languages.
References
1. Dr. T.R. Dhamodharan blog and Sourashtralogy research: https://trdamodaran.blogspot.com
2. https://venkataramanabhagavadar.org/LIFE_And_Contribtion_of_SriVRB.pdf
3. https://www.endangeredalphabets.net/alphabets/sourashtra
4. https://subramanian-obula.blogspot.com/2008/04/inauguration-of-rishi.html
