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A compendium of valuable articles in Thamil and English

Prof. S. Sandarasegeram Felicitation Volume 2004 has 284 pages. This volume is worth possessing as it includes very valuable articles. The book is available from 24/3-/1, Frankfort Place, Colombo 04.

The book is divided into three Sections: Prof. S. Sandarasegeram: an overview; Studies; Articles in English. The articles in English cover the following:

(1) Experience of School Education Long Ago in Provincial Schools: A Critical Outlook by B. Bastiampillai.

(2) Class Domination of education in Society: A Historical Analysis by S. Rupasinghe

(3) Nallur - A Historical Memoir by S.K. Sittapalam

(4) Globalisation and its Challenges to Schools of the 21st Century by Anthony Gnanarajah

(5) Computers in teaching and learning of Geography by S.Anthony Norbert,

(6) The Need for Merging of Context and methodology in the Teaching of English in Sri Lanka by Marie Perera,

(7) Problems and Issues in Primary and secondary Education in the Plantations by T. Thanaraj,

(8) Multigrade Teaching in Rural Sri Lanka: Prevalance, Invisibility and Necessity by Manjula Vibhashini Vithanapathirana.

Excerpts chosen at random from the above: S. Rupesinghe: Education then in most societies has become an inheritance of the elitist class, which enables them to remain in power both economically and politically. The school system has sustained the interests of only a minority while the majority has been left in darkness or ignorance.

S.A. Norbert: Computers are the most faithful and the fastest of the tools that we have ever intended. We have - not yet fully utilized the capacities this versatile tool. In geography teaching computers can be used as a teaching tool, a learner tool and an administrative tool.

Marie Perera: The challenge facing ELT in Sri Lanka is to provide the teachers with the tools necessary to reflect upon their own practices in relation to the context they teach - the merging of methodology and context.

There are 24 essays in Thamil as studies written mainly by academics: A.Shanmugadas, M.S. Mookiah, C. Maunaguru, A. Sivarajah, V.K. Ganeshalingam, K. Guhabalan, V.T. Thamilmaaran, P.K. Bakir Jaffar, M.S.M. Annes, M. Karunanidhi, S. Yogarasa, U. Navaratnam and M. Sinnathamby A.S. Chandrabose, A. Sarveswaran, M. Selvarajah, Manonmani Shanmugathas, K. Somasundaram, S. Anushya, S. Muralidharan, V. Thiyagarajah, K. Bernard, S. Amirthalingam and S. Yogarani. An excerpt in translation for your information and analysis: C. Maunaguru: The History of the Thamils could be classified under the following heads for easy understanding: (01) 200 A.D., (2) 200-600 A.D., (3) 600-900 A.D., (4) 900-1200 A.D., (5) 1200-1800 A.D., (6) 1800-2000 A.D., (7) 2000-After.

The writer says, as many historians say, that "in ancient Thamilnadu, there were Mongoloid, Austroloid and Negroid races. They spoke a proto- Dravidian language. Then came the Dravidians to Thamilnadu...Then the ancient Thamilians and the Dravidian Thamilians mixed together... Those who couldn't mix together became jungle dwellers and nomads.

And some others were segregated as low-caste people. Those still living in Thamilnadu as Irrular and Thoadar and backward Dalits are really ancient Thamilians." In this volume a CV of Prof. S. Sandarasegeram, an account of his contribution in the field of education by M. Karunanidhi, a note on the scholar's writing by K.K. Uthayakumar and the designations of the contributors to this volume are also added.

Emeritus Professor K. Sivathamby has written an article with longish title - "Towards Democratising knowledge: A note on the achievements and of the social Standing of Prof. S.S". What Prof. K.S. describes might be interesting to non-Thamilian readers: "The celebration of the sixtieth birthday has a deep significance specially for a Hindu Tamil. The Hindu Tamil calendar is a cycle one with sixty solar years constituting it. So sixty first year means to a Hindu Tamil the completion of one cycle of life and the beginning of another..."

"The Art, Cultural and Literary Traditions of the Muslims of the Sabragamuwa Province". This is the title of a booklet that covers only some aspects of the subject chosen. However it gives unknown details to readers. The book is written in Thamil but it includes a note in English as well.

The author is M.Y.M. Meeadhu, a well-known figure as a teacher and writer in Dumbuluwawa, Hemmathagama. His publications could be obtained from this address adding A13/3, "Mahir Manzil" Excerpt from his summary in English: "The contributions of Muslim artists, writers, poets and others for promotion of social values, culture and education have been presented in brief with the available evidences obtained from the sources of oral tradition and a few writings left by the ancestors."

"In order to enlighten the Muslim public on the distinct role played by Muslim artists in production of Islamic arts like calligraphy, architecture, music and designing, I have dealt with the considerable contributions made by such artists."

"Reciting "Qaseeda", "Playing Raban" and singing Islamic songs with background music within the limits of "Islamic Shareeah have been brought to the notice of general readers." "In modern literature, Muslim writers of Sabragamuwa province have contributed immensely by publishing books, magazines etc in Thamil, English and Sinhala.

There is great enthusiasm among the budding writers in writing modern poetry and short story.

Books deserving notice

Although most readers of my columns usually associate me with writing only about the Thamil cultural scene in this country, there are a few who had noticed that I write about other cultures too. But this number is few.

I write about the Thamil cultural scene because I am a Lankan Thamilian and seldom have others written about Thamil books, plays and films. Further I have the right to assert that the cultural activities of the Thamil - speaking people should be made known to our Sinhala and other communities.

Sri Lanka is still multi-cultural unless the country is forcibly converted to a mono-racial, mono-religious and mono cultural unitary state. So among the non - Thamil writers that have expressed a willingness to know what I think about their books are the following whose books are yet to be reviewed by me want of time.

But I shall try to read them as earlier as possible.

01. Selected Writings of Regi Siriwardena - Volume 01: Literature and The Arts - edited by A.J. Canagaratna,

02. Daisey Abey - Like the Wind,

03. Sudha by Maurice Perera,

04. Fire in the Village by Jean Arasanayagam,

05. On Horse Shoe Street by Tissa Devendra,

06. Chamelon by Sunethra Rajakarunanayake-Translated by Vijita Fernando,

07. Sambol by Sunethra Rajakarunanayake,

08. At the Water' Edge by Pradeep Jeganathan,

09. Distant warriors by Channa Wickremasekera,

10. Creative expressions -14 Short Stories Edited by Nimal Sanderatne,

11. Dancing with the Dogs by Anthea Senaratna,