Sundara Ramaswamy (30 May 1931 – 15 October 2005) was an Indian novelist, poet, and literary critic, widely considered to be a pre-eminent figure in post-Independence Tamil literature. Born in 1931 in Nagercoil, then part of the princely state of Travancore, he grew up in Kottayam and, later, central Travancore until the age of eight, when his family moved to Nagercoil. His notable works include Oru Puliyamarathin Kathai, J.J. Sila Kuripugal and Kuzhanthaigal, Pengal, Aangal. A key figure in Tamil modern literature, the translations of his novels and short stories have brought him international acclaim. Sundara Ramaswamy has been praised for his versatility, his skillful negotiation of various literary forms: poetry, short fiction and the novel.