Mr.KUMAR OF BATTICALOA, SRILANKA: TRADITIONAL DOCTOR AND PAINTER

"SANKILI" A HISTORICAL PLAY OF THE 50s BY PROF. K.KANAPATHIPILLAI

PROCESSION OF GOD AND GODDESSES: NALLUR TEMPLE

THE ('PAJANAI KOSTI' )SINGERS OF DEVOTIONAL SONGS FOLLOWED THE PROCESSIONS OF GODS AND GODDESSES OF HINDU TEMPLES

ONCE UPON A TIME THIS BUILDING IS ALSO A PALACE

LAYER OF ROCK

Layer of Rock
by
R Murugaiyan


All art is for the joy of people!
If dreams shall make us happy
We are willing to pay to dream.
It’s no wonder.
The sculptor who makes a sculpture
Accumulates within stone all his dreams.
The moviemaker presents his dream
In actions, scenes, words and song.
The theatre artist displays his dream
By acting, speech and dance
To make wonder within the confines of stage.
We watch and praise.
We praise his skill of expressing
A fine idea so very subtly –
Wondering at the novelty emerging out of
Gestures, body movement, looks
And the sound of anklets.
We are amazed how one could
Demonstrate such a wonder.
Our words and feelings melt
To blend into the thought of
How such an incomparable idea
Comes to one’s mind and found expression.
Imagination should have at its base –
Reality – the layer of rock.
We should realise that too.
1969

Translated By S. Sivasekaram

KOOTHTHU (TRADITIONAL THEATRE) PERFORMANCE 2009 AT KANNANKUDA, BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA

GREAT SCHOLAR AND TRANSLATER: K. GANESH OF UP-COUNTRY, SRI LANKA

PAINTINGS OF DANIEL OF BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA

PHOTOS BY NIRMALAVASAN

THREE PLAYS OF KULANTHAI M. SHANMUHALINGAM OF JAFFNA, SRI LANKA

THEERTHA INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS CAMP 2001

International Artists Workshop 2001 was held in September 2001 at the Lunuganga Estate of the eminent architect Geofry Bawa. A beautiful location with sprawling gardens situated near the lake ‘Lunuganga’ in Bentota, this country estate offered number of interesting sites for the artists to work on.

Fourteen artists from Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Pakistan, and Singapore participated in the Theertha International Artists Workshop 2001

Pradeep Chandrasiri (Sri Lanka), G. R. Constantine (Sri Lanka), Santiphap Inkong-ngam (Thailand), S. Jeyashankar (Sri Lanka), Tripura Kashyap (India), Bandu Manamperi (Sri Lanka), Anoli Perera (Sri Lanka), Jamal Shah (Pakistan), Chandraguptha Thenuwara ((Sri Lanka), Ravibandu Vidyapathi (Sri Lanka), Jagath Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka), Lee Wen (Singapore), Anura Krishantha (Sri Lanka), Pushpakumara Koralegedara (Sri Lanka), and two Sri Lankan ritual dance groups participated in the 2001 Workshop.

FROM THEERTHA REPORT
S. Jeyashankar’s work titled ‘Suicide by Consent’ gave a critical commentary on the contemporary consumer culture where Coke bottles and plastic waste becomes the marker of its overconsumption. He used throw-away plastic water bottles installed on top of an abandoned well and a large replica of a Coke bottle which he burned at the end of the performance relating to the work.

Theertha workshop was sponsored by Prince Klaus Foundation and Lunuganga Trust

It is Amusement to God

It is Amusement to God
R Murugaiyan

The wind that endlessly blew and whirled
The rain that poured without a lull
The damage they did was far too great.
They wandered all over by jeep and truck
Bullock cart, boat, and bicycle
They ploughed through ditches and mud
To carry out flood relief tasks–
At the end of duty
The head of administration
Descending from his car, bemoans–
“It is amusement to God
But the government is choking to death”
In his role as an organ of the state
Perhaps he has the right!
The officer bemoans.

Translated into English by poet S.Sivasekaram

IN THE NAME OF CULTURE

In the Name of Culture
R Murugaiyan

We keep on creeping under our burden
Twenty centuries old
We have packed up everything in a jute sack
And heaved the load on our backs.
Our baggage is full of rags,
Broken pieces, decayed refuse–
Rotten, putrid, wasted, worn out–
We have collected odds and ends
And carry them on our backs
Started on a long, long journey
Along the jungle path,
Our eyeballs protrude under the heavy load.
We keep on creeping under our burden
Twenty centuries old
Those without any luggage
Stride on empty handed.
Others–
Clutching powerful tools
Strive and struggle
To ensure a foe-less prosperity;
Before venturing into outer space
They insist on creating heavenly splendour
On this dingy earth.
To enjoy equally the fruits of labour
To banish intrigue
To establish lasting peace is their firm intention.
Their gait is smoother, easier,
Their luggage light. They have achieved a lot
And determined to do more.
But we,
Have no mind to pause,
Put down the load
Relax
Refresh ourselves
And then proceed.
Nor are we wise enough
To unpack the sack
Throw out the trash,
All the unwanted stuff,
Pick up only precious pearls and gems
For the rest of the way.
Bored, dejected
We creep along.
While other citizens of the world
Compress their luggage into minipacks,
Work wonders with their bare hands,
Reap success after success,
Exercise critical acumen,
Craftsmanship, technical excellence,
We, poor lot,
A god-forsaken people
Keep on creeping–
Never stop.
We are not smart enough
To throw out the unwanted,
Preserve our pearls and gems
Our heavy burden
Is twenty centuries old!
In the name of culture we carry
A burden twenty centuries old
(Translation by author of Tamil original circa 1960)

POEM OF LATE MURUGAIAN IN TRANSLATION BY S. SIVASEKARAM

Layer of Rock

by
R Murugaiyan

All art is for the joy of people!
If dreams shall make us happy
We are willing to pay to dream.
It’s no wonder.
The sculptor who makes a sculpture
Accumulates within stone all his dreams.
The moviemaker presents his dream
In actions, scenes, words and song.
The theatre artist displays his dream
By acting, speech and dance
To make wonder within the confines of stage.
We watch and praise.
We praise his skill of expressing
A fine idea so very subtly –
Wondering at the novelty emerging out of
Gestures, body movement, looks
And the sound of anklets.
We are amazed how one could
Demonstrate such a wonder.
Our words and feelings melt
To blend into the thought of
How such an incomparable idea
Comes to one’s mind and found expression.
Imagination should have at its base –
Reality – the layer of rock.
We should realise that too.
1969

POEMS OF LATE MURUHAIYAN IN TRANSLATION BY S. SIVASEKARAM

Charity

by

R Murugaiyan


Come hither, people of the world.

Let us carry out tasks to make the land fertile.

Let us throw seed into the furrows

Dug by the plough as moved by the hand

Along the path trod by the bull

So that green plants may surge.

Let us extract the juice of fruit and

Consume it to heart’s rejoice.

Let us bore the earth to bring out in plenty

Gold, silver, iron and gemstone.

We will build all kinds of machine that

Whiz away with a spin and a swing

Spit fire with vigour and fury

To carry out countless tasks.

We will make a thousand elegant goods

That make the possession of eyes a true blessing.

We who produced fruit and goods

Will share and set up a new code.

Let us make it a rule

That there shall be none here

To cry and to groan in pain.

No more is any to worship or command.

No more is a fate to weaken and wear down.

Arise ye world that is aware of truth

Achieve for yourself

A path of joyful goodness.

1975

POEM OF LATE MURUGAIYAN IN TRANSLATION BY S. SIVASEKARAM

Charity

by

R Murugaiyan


Come hither, people of the world.

Let us carry out tasks to make the land fertile.

Let us throw seed into the furrows

Dug by the plough as moved by the hand

Along the path trod by the bull

So that green plants may surge.

Let us extract the juice of fruit and

Consume it to heart’s rejoice.

Let us bore the earth to bring out in plenty

Gold, silver, iron and gemstone.

We will build all kinds of machine that

Whiz away with a spin and a swing

Spit fire with vigour and fury

To carry out countless tasks.

We will make a thousand elegant goods

That make the possession of eyes a true blessing.

We who produced fruit and goods

Will share and set up a new code.

Let us make it a rule

That there shall be none here

To cry and to groan in pain.

No more is any to worship or command.

No more is a fate to weaken and wear down.

Arise ye world that is aware of truth

Achieve for yourself

A path of joyful goodness.

1975

PUBLICATION OF GNANASOUNTHARI, THENMODI KOOTHTHU AND 'SILAIYOOR' SELVARAJAN

KIRIJA: CHILDREN STORY IN THAMIL

KIRIJA WAS TRANSLATED INTO THAMIL FROM A SHORT FILM OF KANNADA AND PUBLISHED BY THIRDEYE.

IT WAS TRANSLATED BY S. JEYASANKAR AND DESIGNED BY S. NIRMALAVASAN OF THIRDEYE AND HAD DISTRIBUTED AMONG CHILDREN IN VILLAGES AND SCHOOLS FOR FREE OF CHARGE.

IT WAS PRODUCED AS PLAY IN DIFFERENT SPACES BY AFFILIATES OF THE THIRDEYE AND WORKING ON IT NOW TO PERFORM IN TRADITIONAL THEATRE SPACE.

A BILINGUAL BOOK OF SONGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF KAMALA VASUKI FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS TOO

AZIZ MASTER OF BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA: ONE OF THE MODERN PAINTER OF EASTERN SRI LANKA

AZIZ MASTER WITH HIS LATEST WORKS

UNENDING TALKS: POETRY COLLECTION IN THAMIL

POETRY COLLECTION IN THAMIL BY K. KALAIMAHAL OF BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA. SHE IS ALSO A DRAMATIST AND AFFILIATE OF THE THIRDEYE.

POET MURIHAIYAN: ONE OF THE GREAT POET OF MODERN THAMIL SRI LANKAN POETRY

THIRD EYE ENGLISH FORUM PAYS TRIBUTE TO POET R.MURUHAIYAN ON HIS DEMISE.

POET MURUHAIYAN WAS ONE OF THE ADVISERY MEMBER OF THE THIRDEYE LITTLE MAGAZINE WITH LATE Mr. A.J.CANAGARATNA.

THIRDEYE STALL OF HAND MADE CREATIONS AT BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA

PAINTING OF KAMALA VASUKI

ENGLISH SCHOLAR AND TRANSLATOR Mr. S. RAJASINGHAM