CREATIVE WRITING: Please do not tell me that you have not heard of a Lankan writer in English named Ayathurai Santhan. It is gratifying to note that at least a few non-partisan academics and writers have read him and appreciated his uniqueness in creative writing. He writes in Thamil too.
His short stories are remarkable for its conciseness and subtle observances. But don't dismiss him as a Thamilian writer from the north of Lanka. This I say because I feel in the histories and anthologies of Lanakan Literature in English, Thamil writers of this country are not well or fully represented.
The reason the compilers say is that they do not know Thamil and therefore they have no way of knowing what was happening in the Thamil literary scene in this country.
This cannot be true, because some columnists particularly yours truly had been writing about this scene for several decades in English. But the irony is that they do not read these columns and assume that there is no Lankan Thamil Literature.
Most people are ignorant as to assume that the readers in Thamil here depend on what is churned out in Thamilnadu for their reading pleasure. This is far from the truth.
There is a vibrant Lankan Thamil Literature. This maybe due to the assertion by some of the fringe ultra-nationalists whose rationale is: the Thamilians in this country should go back to Thamilnadu as they are the descendants of invaders and therefore they are aliens and pariahs of this country. It is this arrogant attitude that hurts me.
Righteous indignation
Having released my pent up righteous indignation, let me talk about Santhan's (His name should be pronounced as Saanthan) collection of his works in Thamil. It is called Saanthanin Eluththuulagam (meaning Saanthan's World of Writing). Published professionally in Thamilnadu by Annai Rajeswari Pathipaham, 41 Kalyana Sundaram Street, Peramboor, Chennai 600 011.
This comprehensive collection Saanthan's creative writing in Thamil has 312 pages. The cover of the book has a sketch of Saanthan portraying of the writer as he looks today. He was born in 1947 in Suthumalai, Maanippaai. He has lived in Colombo and other places during 1966 -1980.
Saanthan has written 15 books in Thamil and four in English. His works had been translated into Sinhala, Hindi, Russian and English. Twice he has won State Literary Awards - in 1975 for the book in Thamil and 2000 for his work in English. He worked for the Government as an Engineering Draftsman and now retired.
A writer in Sinhala Cyril Perera who was his boss was also one of his mentors. He has visited Moscow as guest of the Lanka - Soviet Friendship Association in 1982, and Kenya in 2003. His two pieces of travelogue on his visit to these two countries and his experiences of travel are fascinating.
They read like short stories.
The book is divided into four sections: Short Fiction, Travelogues, Stories and Mini Stories, In the Eyes of the Critics. Asokamitran one of the leading Thamil writers in Thamilnadu, the late K.Kailasapathy and Dr.
Genuine feelings
N. Subramaniam have evaluated his works. They identify genuine feelings and freshness and commitment in his writings.
His short fictions are: Krishnan Thoothu (22 pages), Theadal (18 pages) and Vealihalin Kathai (21 pages). The titles of these short fictions could be translated into English as The message of Krishnan, In Search of and the Story of the fences respectively. There are stories that include short skits.
Here is a translation by me of one of skits titled Peyar (Name):
"Kanapathipillai decided to open money lending with interest shop. He was thinking of having a name for it. Days passed, but he couldn't get one.
He approached his friend Subramaniam who was clever in such matters. The latter thought for a while." Name it "People's Interest Lending Shop!" he said."
Here's another story: Podian
"When Amarasingham returned home, his Mrs. told him the news: The Podian (servant boy) who went the CWE at 1.30 p.m has not returned home. It's 5.00 P.M. now.
"What is to be done now? he asked
"Why don't you put an entry in the Police Station and come?"
He thought for two minutes.
Amarasingham rose up from his chair and asked "What is his name?" "Oh! Podian...Podian's name..."muttered Mrs Amarasingham. Even after thinking hard, she could only remember that even the Podian must be having a name; "Wait, let Baby come, I'll ask her and let you know.
Awaiting the arrival of Baby, Amarasingham sat on the chair again.
Sardonic comments
So witty are all his stories, long and short, they are subtle sardonic comments on people, society and life at large. But he also writes in short, pithy sentences that are unusual in customary Thamil writing.
I wish that I analyze all his stories for the benefit of non-Thamil speaking readers; but I cannot do that in a column like this. Hence I ventured to translate the very short pieces. Here is another one- Koalangal (Designs)
There was a great man in one place. He had three shawls with him.
One was Shawl with gold thread work.
One was a Kadar (Gray Cloth) shawl
One was a Red coloured shawl.
If you want to read his stories in English, please read his works already published. This columnist has translated one of his stories under the title "Thanks". It is included in the collection bridging connections - An anthology of Sri Lankan short Stories edited by Rajiva Wijesinha.
Saanthan is a Lankan writer in Thamil that has now started writing in English and had received laurels from people who matter, including Professor emeritus D C R A Goonathilaka. That's a positive sign.
