K. V. Jakannatan is a highly venerated and renowned Tamil writer who is regarded as one of the assets in the modern era in Tamil literature. He has written many short stories in Tamil language, such as Mittaikkaran and Pavalamallikai. Although the short stories of K. V. Jakannatan are composed following the earlier conventions, but the appearance of the composition is instilled with new brilliance. Jakannatan depicts his affluent and complicated experiences, depth of understanding and also his ability to feel and express happiness and sorrow in their intensity. Most of his short stories contain an artistic structure. He is regarded as one of the most noteworthy Tamil writers of the 20th century. K. V. Jakannatan`s literary works have greatly helped in the development of modern Tamil fiction.
One of his most popular short stories is about the chaste love of a young maiden and a woman who realised and understood her feelings. In the beginning of the story, the female protagonist is shown to have picking pavalamallikai flowers, which is prevented by the owner of the land, but later provides her permission. The subject matter of this story is gradually developed in various stages and the description is provided in an interesting manner.
In another short story, the Tamil author represents the attitude of a retailer of sweets towards a youngster who grabs some sweets from the vendor`s basket. The sweet seller beats and scolds the child for his unscrupulous act and intends to teach him a lesson. Later in the course of the story, the vendor of sweets goes out on his business in order to sell his delectable product of sweets. The vendor stumbles on the way and all of his sweets fall down and end up in the gutter. Thus the sweet seller learns a lesson himself and regrets for cruelly beating the child who took his sweets. Later when the seller manages to find the child, he sees the child running towards him. The vendor gives a loving caress to the child.
Thus, it can be said that K. V. Jakannatan, through his numerous literary works, has contributed to a great extent for the development of Tamil literature in the contemporary times.
