43rd Annual of Mallikai!
- K.S. Sivakumaran -
This
week I want to introduce to you a publication in Thamil. Its the 43rd Annual
of the literary magazine in Thamil published from 201/4 Sri Kathiresan Street,
Colombo 13. Mallikai (Jasmine) is its name and its editor is a senior writer
in his eighties Dominic Jeeva. This is a large size 160 page publication with
an impressive art in colour by a very talented artist Ramani who lives in
Yaalpaanam. nfortunately the Colombo press in Sinhala and English seldom
feature contributors to the total Lankan Culture and the Arts from the Thamil
and Muslim communities. This may be due to several reasons. I will leave it
that. That is why I write about cultural activities in Thamil also in English
for the benefit of really interested readers from all the communities in this
country.
Coming back to the Annual, we find that while Memon Kavi (Razak) has designed
the cover, art work in inside pages had been done by Mathipushpa. Both write
poetry and prose, the former being a senior writer.
The editor never prints the Contents page for some reason or the other. I
found it difficult to locate the pages of the material I wanted to read first.
One of the senior and a prolific creative writers and also a compiler of
anthologies of different aspects of Thamil writing in this country who was
also an SLAS officer is K. Kunarasa (Sengai Aaliyaan is his pen name). He has
written a fine researched piece on fiction writers of Eelanadu, the regional
paper in Thamil in the north. Their photographs too appear.
A short story in Sinhala by Dharsana Wijethilaka is translated by Dickwella
Zabwan. A story written in English by Russell Friedman is translated by
Kekirawa Zulaiha. A poem written by James Weston Johnson in English is
translated by So.Pathmanathan
Dickwella Zabwan has translated into Thamil the interview with Dominc Jeeva
published in Sinhala in the Lankadeepa and the response to it by Gunasena
Vithana published on October 10 & 20, 2007. The interviewer was Mano Fernando.
The short stories in Thamil are written by Theniyaan, M. Basheer, T. Kalamani,
Aananthi, K.Saddanaathan, S. Muruganandan, B.Aabdeen, Paran, S. Santhakumari,
Vasanthi Thayaparan, Prameela Pradheepan, M. Balasingham, Uduvai
S.Thillainadarasa, Sutharaj, and Theliwatte Joseph.
The Annual also includes poems including couplets by Mani, S.Muthu Meeran,
Anaar, Nirupa, Mallika, Lunugala Hazeena Buhar, Sri Prasandan, Kekirawa
Zahana, an Indian writer Thilakabhaama, Kamabavaarathy Jeyaraj, and
Thaamaraicheli.
Apart from the above there are interesting and useful articles in the Annual.
Anthony Jeeva writes about Lankan Thamil women writers, the challenges and
achievements of these writers. Dr. S.Yogarasa gives his impressions on
Prof.S.Sivasegerams poems. The essay by N. Ravindran is titled An Emotional
Exchange on the Rise of a Virile Marxism in Thamilnadu. Memon Kavi writes
about the Feminist poems of Lankan Thamil Women, Naachiyatheevu Parvin writing
from Qatar continues the series I Speak through the Pen, Anthony Jeeva
recounts his experiences meeting Thamilnadu writer Jeyakanthan.
Dickwella Kamal bemoans of the fact that it is only a dream for Lankan
Thamilians to publish, sell and distribute books, K. S. Sivakumaran writes
about his experiences in Thiruvananthapuram in India, Udapoor Veerasokkan
writes about his areas cultural values in maintaining the individuality of the
Thamilians, Chandrakantha Muruganandan speaks about the Language of women in
Modern Creative writing, Pathma Somakanthan reminisces cultural and literary
events over 50 years ago in the north.
The editor pays a tribute to World Class Lankan bowler Muthiah Muralidharan.
His editorial touches on several issues pertaining to literary activities.
There are also two letters by readers from abroad: Aruna Sundararasan from
Maana Mathurai and L. Murugapoopathy from Australia.
From my point of view this is a rich publication for only Rs.200/-
Contact: sivakumaranks@yahoo.com
Pathivugal ISSN 1481-2991