Colombo Tamil Sangam felicitates literary figure
Kalabhoshanam Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar
FELICITATION: Kavignar Dr. Jinnah Sherifdeen receiving the prize
from Mrs. Suganthy (Attorney-at-Law) while Mrs. Jinnah Sherifdeen
and President of the Colombo Tamil Sangam E. Suntheralingam look on.
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ART: The vice president of the Colombo Tamil Sangam Dr. Jinnah
Sherifdeen was honoured and felicitated by the Colombo Tamil Sangam for
having won the prestigious award for his literary work on ‘Pandara
Vanniyan Kaviyam 2005’, National Sahitiya Award and Yarl Literary Circle
Award.
The felicitation ceremony which was held at the Colombo Tamil Sangam
was presided over by the former president of the Sangam E.
Suntheralingam. The vice presidents of the Sangam P. Wijeratnam,
Balasritharan, Kathirgamanathan and Assistant Secretary A. Kandasamy
participated in the function.
Miss Satsorupavathy Nathan, a well-known radio broadcaster and
vice-president of the Colombo Tamil Sangam compered the programme while
Mrs. Suganthy, distributed the prize to Dr. Jinnah Sherifdeen.
The Tamil language and literature have a long history and they have
been enriched by the literary works of great poets like Subramaniya
Bharathy, Avaiyar and Thiruvalluvar. Even the great epics like
‘Ramayanam’ and ‘Maha Bharatham’ are of timeless and spaceless in
quality. All these great epics have observed India’s cultural heritage,
made it their own, enriched and given universal dimension and
significance.
Even when Sri Lanka underwent a terrible time in the early part of
18th and 19th centuries on account of western conqueror multi-faceted in
its manifestations and consequences - political, economical, cultural
and religious, people like Sri La Sri Arumuga Navalar, Sir Ponnambalam
Ramanathan, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, Sir Vaitilingam Duraisamy and
several others sacrificed their lives for the revival of Tamil language,
Tamil literature, culture and religion.
Further, in regard to poetry, the modern poetry in Sri Lanka begins
only in the 1940s with the emergence of Maru Malarchi (Renaissance)
writers such as Mahakavi A. Kandasamy and Uaradar. In poetry, the chief
figures were Murugaiyan, Neelavanam and few others. Mr. Murugaiyam wrote
highly intellectual poems. There was Sillaiyoor Selvarajan, a master
rhetorician whose instant verses were very attractive comments on
politics as well.
By the early 1970s some of the writers who had graduated to
full-fledged novel writings were Ganeshalingam, Daniel, Ilankeeran,
Nanthi, Senkai Azhian and C. Yoganathan.
Dominic Jeeva’s ‘Mallikai’ was the chief forum for the publication of
progressive writing. Dr. Jinnah Sherifdeen was very much involved in
journalism from his young age and was under the benign influence of the
great writer and editor-in-chief of ‘Thinapathy’ S. D. Sivanayagam.
It was Sivanayagam who created an interest in writing which has
resulted in making Dr. Sherifdeen as author of several books which have
brought name and fame for him nationally and internationally.
Further, he has written several poems for the children. Since 1989 he
has published a number of books pertaining to varied subjects. His short
story ‘Petra Manam’ is now used as a school text book. The Pandara
Vanniyan Kaviyam contains thousand 500 poems. Further, the ‘Punitha
Poomiyil’
Kaviyam comprises 1,000 poems. Besides, his books on Maha Kavi Iqbal,
Theddam (Short Story), Kaviyatanga Kavithaigal are still in print.
In recognition and appreciation of his literary works Dr. Sherifdeen
was presented with several awards and prizes on an all island basis.
Furthermore, he was honoured an felicitated by several literary
organisations in Sri Lanka and abroad.
The Colombo Tamil Sangam felicitated him when he got the
Kalabhooshanam award and the national Sahitya Award. Besides, he held
several positions such as Literary Secretary of the Colombo Tamil Sangam,
Administrative members of the Colombo Kamban Kalagam, Advisory Board
members of the Thirumarai Kala Mandram and Vice-President of the Colombo
Tamil Sangam.
Dr. Sherifdeen is a multifaceted and multi-dimensional personality
who has greatly contributed to the development of Tamil literature and
poetry. His unparalleled enthusiasm total dedication and humanitarian
gesture towards literary, cultural, social and religious activities are
highly commendable and an inspiration to everyone around him.
He is a remarkable writer, author and poet who translates thoughts
and intentions into action, passion into reality, every minute into
valuable moments.
He is an exceptional human-being with exemplary character and high
degree of discipline with humble and simple manners. |