N D Rajkumar, a poet born in a family practicing tantric art, is known for his command over folk idiom and for retelling myths and legends in his poetry. He has published four collections of poetry, Odakku, Theri, Rattha Santana Paavai, Kaattalan) and Sottu Sottai Vizhukinrana Cevarali Pookkal). A collection of his poetry has been published in a selection by Ravikumar titled Kal Vilakkukal) (2004). His recent poetry appeared as Karuda Kodi) (2013). He has translated the poetry of A Iyyappan and Pavithiran Theekkunni from Malayalam into Tamil. His song compositions are available in CDs. He has been maintaining the Vandanam Arts Group. Navayana publication brought out the English translation of some of his poetry as Give Us this Day a Feast of Flesh) (2011).

P Rajani is Emeritus Professor at the University of Madras, was nominated the first Tagore Chair for Theatre in 2000 at the Department of English. A veteran director of over a hundred plays, in 1998, he started Curtain Call, which draws students from the various departments of the University as also from affiliated colleges such as Madras Christian College, Loyola College, Stella Maris College, Women’s Christian College, Ethiraj College and Meenakshi College.

Rajamanickam Azhagarasan is Associate Professor of Cultural Studies, Translation and Postcolonial Studies at the Department of English, University of Madras. He is the co-editor of The Oxford India Anthology of Tamil Dalit Writing (2012) with the prominent Tamil intellectual and anti-caste activist, D Ravikumar. Azhagarasan translated, from the Tamil into English, D Ravikumar’s Venomous touch: notes on caste, culture and politics (Samya 2009) and has edited New Bearings in English Studies: a Festschrift for C T Indra (Orient Longman 2008).