The Hindu : National : Reflecting those momentous times

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 14, 2007
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National

National

Reflecting those momentous times

T. Ramakrishnan

SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION: Se. Ganesalingan, with a copy of Kumaran Thoguppu. — Photo: N. Sridharan

CHENNAI: Sri Lanka witnessed momentous political events through the 1970s and 1980s. The island-nation also saw several developments on the Tamil literary scene during the period.

The publication of the Tamil journal Kumaran was one such development. It was launched in 1971 but folded up in 1983 when the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis struck.

Kumaran, noted for its effective articulation of the Leftist-Marxian philosophy, carved out a niche for itself on the Sri Lankan art and cultural scene. The person behind the journal was Se. Ganesalingan, a Marxist and Sri Lankan Tamil writer-author who is now based in Chennai.

He has now compiled selected content from the noted journal during the 12-year-period. A collection of the works of fiction and non-fiction, Kumaran Thoguppu, runs to 960 pages.

It contains the works of the essayists T.S. Rajamani and K. Govindan, the poets Puduvai Rathinadurai and Charumathi and the writer Y. Benedict Balan. Mr. Ganesalingan's works form a major part of the collection.

Many of the works depict the impact of Marxian arguments on many facets of life. They also bring out contradictions in the very capitalist order.

They cover a wide canvas including events involving Kachatheevu, Vietnam and Chile. Brought out by Kumaran Publishers of Chennai, the book will serve as a defi nitive guide to certain historical events that took place in the 1970s and the early 1980s.

The 78-year-old writer has over 70 books to his credit and has authored about 45 Tamil novels.

He is influenced by the writings of Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser and Theodor Adorno.

Mr. Ganaesalingan's books include short story collections, a comparative study of the Thirukkural with Arthasastra, Machiavelli's The Prince and the Bhagavad Gita, and on feminism.

His 40th novel, Thenparippor, has been translated into English and is titled Bitter Honey.