Umaru Pulavar

Umaru Pulavar was a Tamil Muslim poet from Tamil Nadu, India. Umaru Pulavar was born in 1642 in the town of Nagalapuram in Thoothukudi district. He is celebrated as one of the greatest Islamic poets of India. Umaru pulavar's forefather was from Nagalapuram, before moving to Ettayapuram where the poet was born. Umaru Pulavar's literary talents flourished under Kadikai Muthu Pulavar that is only in Tamil language (Tamil: கடிகை முத்து புலவர்), court poet of the Ettayapuram Zamin. At the age of 16, Umaru Pulavar stole the national limelight by winning a literary debate with Vallai Varundhi, a renowned poet from North India. Umaru Pulavar was then made the court poet of the Ettayapuram Zamin. But he was not able to learn Arabic grammar. While learning the Arabic language his master went for his essential work for earning money. His family and heirs were awarded with Pulavar title by government of Tamil Nadu, and they carry the initial before their bio initial. Pulavar died on 28 July 1703. PF Nazeer, one of his last heirs with some unpublished work poems died recently of cancer. His family has set up a trust for education and social reforms for poor people on his anniversary. He was commissioned by Seethakaathi, to pen Seerapuranam considered to be one of the best works in Tamil Muslim literature until date, depicting the biography of Nabi. It contains 5,027 poems in three ‘Kandams’ (parts), which are Vilathathu Kandam, Noobuvathu Kandam and Hijurathu Kandam. Each of the ‘Kandams’ narrates various stages of the life of Nabi.