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Sri Lankan
Thamil Literature
A.N.KANTHASAMY:
a rationalist of a
fine order
by K.S. Sivakumaran
 Thirty
six years ago - to be exact on February14, 1968 - a leading light among
Sri Lankan intellectuals from the Thamil community passed away leaving
a remarkable legacy to the left- inclined rationalists of the next generation.
He belongs to the generation of writers from Yaalpanam (Jaffna) in the
calibre of the late A.S. Muruganantham, Mahakavi (R.Rudramoorthy), Naavatkuliyoor
Nadarasan (K.S. Nadarajah), and others who are with us, like S.Velupillay
(Su.Vae), R.Ambikaipahan (Ambi ).Sadly though, his contribution to Lankan
Thamil Literature has easily been forgotten and not highlighted by those
who have attempted to write short accounts of the development of such a
genre. Anthony Jeeva, a prolific writer, columnist, promoter and dramatist
has faithfully recorded some of the achievements of the late ANK and the
e-zine Pathivukal has compiled a brief dossier on the important contributions
of this bilingual and sharp social critic. I would suggest that the readers
of this column refer to these sources for authentic information on ANK.
My association with ANK was very brief - from 1961 to 1968 - and was not
very close as I was just then developing an interest in contemporary Thamil
literature. In other words I was in the formative stage of understanding
the medium and therefore not on even keel to understand him fully.However
with little communication I had with him, I could see then that he was
different from other Thamilian writers in Colombo at that time. As I was
then totally immersed in western literature at that time and was thus being
introduced to contemporary Thamil literature, noticing that ANK was fully
informed of what was happening in the west, I began to admire him for his
forthright views on many matters.
The late Sillayoor Selvarajan
( poet, critic, actor and versatile exponent in many fields (Pal Kalai
Venthar - Master of many Arts), hi friend the late M. S. M. Iqbal ( a voracious
reader and literary enthusiast ), Ramanathan and 'Rainbow'
Kanagaratnam were my friends in the early 1960s, who opened up a window
for me to enjoy Thamil literature. Later I came under the influence of
the late K.Kailasapathy and through him I came to know K.Sivathamby, R.Murugaiyan,
Mahakavi, Pramjee Gnanasundaram, S.Ganeshalingan, Ilankeeran (Subair)
Dominic Jeeva, K.Daniel, N.K.Ragunathan, Neervai Ponnian, S.Agasthiyar,
Kavaloor Rasadurai, M.Sameem, the late H.M.P.Mohideen and others who were
in the vanguard of leftist 'progressive ' thinking and writing.
A little earlier, in the
late 1950s, I had known S.Nadarajah ( Sovanna Nadarasa) nee Navaliyoor
Nadarajah, Saravanamuttu ( Radio Maama), S.M. Kamaldeen, Siva Saravanabhavan
(Sitpi), Kanaga Senthinathan, N.Somakanthan (Eelathu Somu ), M.Thalayasingam,
S.Ponnuthurai and a few others. Thus, I should say, that I had a feeling
that I could stand aside and see and learn the profitable aspects of these
writers to enrich my understanding of Lankan Thamil Literature.
The reason why I stated
the above is to establish a context of the period in the process of my
learning through which I began to evaluate them and their work for the
benefit of the uninitiated readers. Having said that, let me focus on ANK
and how I saw him as a person and writer. I am not trying to write
a biography of the late talented writer, but to recollect memories of him.
In 1960, Ilankeeran edited
and published a monthly literary magazine called "Matagatham". I
was writing a series of introductory articles on western writers
like Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Giovanee Verga and Jean Paul Sartre. Having
read my piece on the existentialist writer Albert Camus, ANK has evinced
interest in meeting me. In fact, when reviewing the first issue of 'Matagatham'
in ' Sri Lanka' ( a publication in Thamil by the Department of Information
), he had referred to my article and said something charitable on my writing.
ANK was then working as a Thamil translator in the department under Mudaliyar
Kula Sabanathan ( a writer and folklore elucidator). So, one day, Sillayoor
took me to the department to meet ANK. I was really a 'podian' (adolescent
not matured enough to rub shoulders with people like ANK ). As soon as
I saw him first I began to like him. He was refreshingly zestful, nattily
clad, well groomed with a little bump of hair ( like the Yankees or cowboys
of that time), full of smiles and a 'sexy' voice( meaning musical). He
greeted me as if I am an equal and encouraged me to write. That was my
pleasant encounter with ANK.
When his play 'Mathamatram'
(religious conversion) was staged as a provocative play in Colombo,
I wrote a review of it for the Tribune' ( edited by the late S.P.Amarasingam
) and spoke about it in the ' Arts This Week ' programme compiled by Vernon
Abeysekera over the English service of the then Radio Ceylon. At that time
I was working as a Thamil translator in the department of the Local Government
Service Commission in Colombo. ANK visited me and discussed the 'Tribune'
review. He spoke about Bertrand Russell, Ingersol, Abraham Kovoor and other
rationalists and educated me. All this happened 40 years ago.
Later, we used to meet
at public cultural and literary events and enjoyed stimulating conversation.
I think his contribution as a novelist, poet, playwright and exponent of
life's secrets, A.N.Kanthasamy spelt out an ideal of rationalism. He was
a thinker and openly put forward his points of view without fear or favour.
That was his strength.
Let me conclude my reminiscences
with the following details about him. They are not comprehensive, but important
ones. He is understood to have written nearly 60 short stories. I
have not read all of them. His 'Itatha Uravu' (Blood Relationship) is understandably
his best writing in he genre. His poem in ' Noaku' (edited by the
late E.Ratnam , a translator and a playwright), his novel ; Mana Kann'
(The Eye of the Mind ' - a socio-psychological fiction, his play 'Matha
Matram', his interpretation of a major epic in Thamil, Silapadikaram are
well known works by him. Like most writers and artists sex was one of his
studies. He used pseudonyms like Ravindran, Thirumalai Kavirayar.
He had worked in many capacities and was a rounded person.
In conclusion, one must
not fail to mention the care and protection Ladis Veeramani (an actor,
playwright,producer and 'Villu Paatu '' practioner) and his wife
provided to ANK during the last stages of his life. ANK was single
for greater part of his productive life. I hope some literary critics or
university students do a research paper on A.N.Kanthasamythe rationalist
Footnote:
To help readers understand the significance
of A.N.Kanthasamy, I wish to highlight, belated though, the following information:
 'Pathivuhal
' had been consistently collating all the information possible on A.N.
Kanthasamy, the indomitable literary figure of the last half a century.
For instance, it is currently serializing his novel, 'Manakkan'. It also
includes a remarkable poetic portrayal of ANK by another versatile writer,
poet, critic, broadcaster and master of many arts, the late Sillayoor Selvarajan.
In fact, on several occasions, 'Pathivukal' had been consistently spotlighting
on ANK, which is welcome. Yet another piece of information is that a student
from the university of Yalpanam (Jaffna) has done a research on ANK as
her thesis. She is Juvana. Congratulations to her. Hopefully, 'Pathivukal'
will publish this work. One other facet of A.N.Kanthasamy was that despite
odds and obstacles, he ' never said die'. He was a positive thinker
as evidenced by his psychological insight in his book, ' Vettiyin Rahasiyangal
' ( The Secrets of Life ). It was a valuable opportunity given to me
by 'Pathivukal' to recollect my impressions and assessment of the indefatigable,
the late A.N.Kanthasamy.
kssivan1@juno.com
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