The first short story I read in Tamil was written by Sujata. At that time, I was under the impression the author was a woman and I marveled at the intricate details in the narration and also the free-flowing, modernistic and futuristic style in using the language and thought this lady if she were an English author would have been among the top writers of the world. It was the style initially that had me glued to the story and subsequently it were the stories themselves with their intricate plots and classy characterization and climax. It was only much later I came to know Sujata was a male. I am yet to come across any writer in Tamil who made the language so easy to understand. A world class author by any standards, Sujata set benchmarks in Tamil fiction scene. It certainly is a major loss to Indian literary circle but then all good things will come to an end. The consolation is that the great writer and innovator has left a rich legacy and did not suffer for too long. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
