Prof.Subramaniyam Vithiyananthan

Prof. S.Vithiyanthan connected Kooththu (Traditional Theatre of the Tamils of Sri Lanka) with the urban environment and followed the initiatives of Prof.K.Kanapathipillai and Socio-cultural activist C.V.Velupillai in the field of local arts and culture of the Tamils of Sri Lanka. This practice was continued by Thamilaruvi K.Shanmuhasundaram and Mu.Ramalingam in a way that kept the urban people aware of the importance of the local Arts and Culture of the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

Because of his tireless engagement with the traditional art and its people  he had created an awareness among the people and particularly among the intellectual community. In order to achieve this environment he traveled a lot and interact with traditional artists all over Sri Lanka.

Prof. S.Vithyananthan will be remembered for ever for his tireless effort to create an awareness on Traditional Arts of the Sri Lankan Tamils. But its sad that his works are distorted and re- introduced into the public knowledge and to the educational curriculum too.

Prof. S.Vithyananthan  used the terms "Modification" and "Modernization" and he never uses the term "Reformulation". "Reformulation" of Kooththu is entirely different concept and it was clearly defined matter too. It was conceptualized and practically put forwarded from year 2000.

But, Prof. S.Mounaguru is mixing up these terms without any clarifications or definitions in his writings which is aAcademical. It damage the charisma of Prof.S. Viththiyananthan too.

Works of Prof.S.Vithiyananthan on 'Kooththu' is also in jeopardy but his colleagues and students are making loud hush and mumble than an academic engagement.

S.Jeyasankar