by K.S.SIVAKUMARAN

There is a distinct Sri Lankan Tamil Literature in Sri Lanka. This fact is not much known among other communities in Sri Lanka. Even the Lankan Tamilians who live in various parts of the island are not aware of this. Such readers blindly believe that the Sri Lankan Tamilians depend on Tamilnadu state in neighbouring India for anything. The Sri Lankan Tamil Literature has its own characteristics in the same way the English -English or American-English Literatures are. In this instance although the English is the medium of expression, each country using English as mode of communication has its own distinctive features.

If any reader in this country wishes to know something about Lankan Tamil Literature, at least through the medium of English, then they could read in translation some of the creative writing by the Lankan Thamilians either in Sinhala or English. As far as I know there are two volumes in English which include creative writing of Lankan Thamilians. They are The Lute Song edited by Prof. Chelva Canaganayagam, a Canadian Tamilian originally from Sri Lanka. He teaches English at the University of Toronto. There is also a book called A Lankan Mosaic edited by Lankan Emeritus Professors Ashley Halpe, Ranjani Obeysekera and M.A.Nuhman.

Perhaps two earlier slim books called Tamil Writing in Sri Lanka and Aspects of Culture in Sri Lanka in an interview format could also be helpful. This columnist is the author of these two books.

Numerous books of creative writing by Lankan Tamil writers are published regularly both in Sri Lanka and Tamilnadu.

At least five or six literary magazines are also published in Colombo. I am only aware of these. Perhaps in outstations there may be many periodicals that are being published. The four national Tamil dailies published from Colombo, in their weekend Sunday editions carry literary and the arts pages. Besides there are also tabloids like Thinamurasu, Wijey and the like too could be taken into account in searching for contemporary Lankan Thamil Literature.

The national dailies are Virakesari, Thinakutal, Thinakaran, Sudar Oli. One may take Metro also into account even though it is a Colombo regional paper. In Yaalpaanam, there are Uthayan, Puthiya Eelanadu, Eelanatham and Eela Murasu, Valampuri and Thinakutal (Yaalpaanam). The latter is not a replica of the Colombo edition. I understand that another Tamil weekly is to be launched shortly. This is the rebirth of a defunct alternative publication called Sari Nihar.

The well known little magazines that cater to serious readers are in order of the earliest arrival are: Mallikai, Thayaham, Gnanam, Moontravathu Manithan and Yatra. Some other literary magazines like Kolunthu are published outside Colombo.

Last Saturday (Feb 17, 2007) Mallikai edited by Dominc Jeeva who would be 80 years old in June, launched its 42nd Annual. The editor was the first recipient of the State Sahithya Award for creative writing in Tamil by a Lankan. He is the author of many books - creative and critical. At least one book is translated into English and a few in Sinhala. A progressive writer, Dominic Jeeva studied up to only 3rd standard, he said. And he took up the challenge that depressed class people could not be writers. He took up that challenge and read widely and writes well. He is also the publisher of his own books as well as others. We shall review the Annual shortly.

Contact: sivakumaranks@yahoo.com