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Writers have duty to highlight social issues: Nallakannu

Special Correspondent

Pudhumaipithan birth centenary celebrations held at Pondicherry University

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

TRIBUTE: Sahitya Akademi awardee K. Rajanarayanan addressing a seminar held at Pondicherry University on Wednesday to celebrate the birth centenary of Tamil writer Pudhumaipithan. To his right is Director of the New Century Book House R. Nallakannu.

Puducherry: Director of the New Century Book House R. Nallakannu recalled the sterling contributions of Tamil writer Pudhumaipithan to Tamil literature.

Inaugurating a two-day seminar organised jointly by the Subramania Bharathiar School for Tamil Studies at Pondicherry University and the New Century Book House, Chennai, to mark the birth centenary of Pudhumaipithan on the university premises here on Wednesday, Mr. Nallakannu said that 1906 was an epoch .

A number of distinct social thinkers, writers and poets were born in 1906, who set a new trend in various facets of social life. Veteran leader Jeevanandham and writer Pudhumaipithan were among them.

Paying rich tributes to the contributions of Pudhumaipithan, he said that writers and scholars owed much to society to highlight various social issues.

New trend

Mr. Nallakannu said that the works of Bharathiar were eternally relevant and distinguished himself by producing new trend, new thoughts and new contents for a free life for mankind. Similarly, Pudhumaipithan created a new trend in Tamil literature and he braved all comments and criticisms and presented his candid thoughts and outspoken views.

Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) S. Kuppuswamy, who presided, said that the seminar would bring to focus the works of the great writer as a mark of recognition of his contributions.

He said that the works of great personalities should be popularised. Sahitya Akademi awardee K. Rajanarayanan said that presentation of views and projection of thoughts could be in a language that the common people understood. He said those who used the language of the given area in creating works would be remembered for ever.

Professor Durai Seenichamy said that the youth should read the works of great stalwarts who would kindle their thoughts and orient their capabilities.

Dean of the Subramania Bharathiar School for Tamil Studies and organiser of the seminar A Arivunambi and Executive Director of the NCBH V. Durairaj also spoke. Delegates from various institutions of Tamil Nadu as well as Puducherry participated.

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Writers have duty to highlight social issues: Nallakannu

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