The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Indomitable spirit of artist-writer lauded

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 12, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Indomitable spirit of artist-writer lauded

Special Correspondent

Devadoss' writing demonstrates spirit of secularism: N. Ram

SHARING A LIGHT MOMENT: Manohar Devadoss, writer-artist (centre), with Mike Connor, British Deputy High Commissioner (extreme right), at the launch of "Multiple Facets of My Madurai" in Chennai on Wednesday. S. Theodore Baskaran, writer-historian (le ft), is in the picture.

CHENNAI: A host of speakers on Wednesday commended artist-writer Manohar Devadoss for his indomitable spirit — producing high-quality creative works despite declining vision.

The speakers were addressing a function organised by the Madras Book Club here to mark the launch of Mr. Devadoss' fourth book, Multiple Facets of My Madurai.

Suresh Krishna, industrialist, who received the first copy from N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu , said the book was a good replica of life in Madurai about 60 years ago. Mr. Devadoss brought life into lifeless text and vigour to black and white drawings, he said.

Mr. Ram said the author converted what superficially looked like challenges into an asset. Mr. Devadoss' writing was marked by the art of economy. It also demonstrated his spirit of secularism. The writer's creativity rose above craftsmanship, he said, expressing his appreciation for the process and the technique that went into the production of the book.

Theodore Baskaran, writer-historian, said Mr. Devadoss brought perspective in his drawings and elevated personal notes into a work of universal validity.

The author spoke of how he captured the hovering clouds over the hill temple of Thriuparukundram, on the southern outskirts of Madurai.

His wife Mahema Devadoss said the author was a good example of what a challenged person could do.

Mike Connor, British Deputy High Commissioner, and P.C. Ramakrishna, theatre personality, read out passages from the book.

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