He was an outspoken poet on the Tamil National Question

Source: Northeastern Monthly

An outspoken poet on Sri Lanka’s National Question,
S. Vilvaratnam, popularly known as ‘Vilvam’ or ‘Vilvar’ is
no more with us.

He died in Colombo of natural causes.


As a modern poet interested in contemporary social and political questions, Vilvam did not limit himself to pen and paper, but moved beyond the written word and fight for the causes he was committed to.


Vilvam as a disciple and co-activist of literary theorist and creative writer M. Thalayasingam, engaged in denouncing caste discrimination, the ever-bleeding tragedy of the Tamil community.


The genuineness of Vilvam’s voice on the issue surrounding the Tamil National Question is reflected in his poems, which will reverberate down the passage of years as written evidence of the yearning of a people engaged in a struggle for a righteous life.


Vilvam’s sense and sensibility in his celebrated work on the oppression of women in the Tamil community has a lesson in it to learn.


The inclusiveness in Vilvam’s perceptions as a committed Tamil nationalist contains a message about his life.

S.Jeyasankar