Splendid contributions of Anthony Jeeva

LITERATURE: In these column s why I write about books in Thamil and other cultural activities in that language as well, is for the single purpose that all Lankans should know each other’s cultural contributions if we were to understand each other and not move far away to be clustered as mono-racial, mono-cultural, and mono- linguistic species.

Culture is an integrated sum of human experience. Just as much as I read and benefit from reading columns of Henry Jayasena or Sunanda Mahendra or Gwen Herat (the regular columnists for the Artscope), I sincerely hope that the few English-knowing Sinhalas (some of them are extreme nationalists in the same way as some Thamilians are subscribing to an exclusive nationalism) would read and come out of their closed boxes and seek to find commonalities amongst us instead of segregating and continuing enmity. We have to live together as the future is uncertain.

Whether we like it or not globalization has come to stay and people are getting together in what is described as a global village conglomeration. Of course, we should try to desist accepting damaging influences, but yet there are many aspects of culture that we can accept to be universal humans. It’s happening anyway. So, let’s move away from splendid isolation and move together as we did many decades ago.

With that sincere plea, let me bring to your kind notice the contribution of a hillcountry writer, dramatist, actor, orator, publisher and social worker who had had association with the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) in his formative years. Majority of our people at present do not know a universal language like English and remain exclusive Sinhala or exclusive Thamil. This is part of the problem we are trying to overcome.

Anthony Jeeva

In Lankan contemporary Thamil literary scene, there are two Jeevas: Dominic Jeeva and Anthony Jeeva. Here, I am talking about the latter. His latest book is called Sirahu Vitintha Kaalam (Time when the Wings Spread). This 68 page book has an imposing photo in colour of a typical nature scene in the hillcountry.

The writer is a promoter of writing from the hills of Lanka.

The book is really a bibliography making us know about the writer at a glance. It’s published by two institutions that focus on preparation of bibliographies of Lankan Writing in Thamil. The publishers are: Ayodhi Library Services in the U.K. and Cinthana Vattam in Udathalavnna Madige.

Anthony Jeeva has written the following books: Agni Pookal (Fire Flowers), Eelaththil Thamil Nadagam (Thamil Drama in Lanka), Annai Indra (Mother Indra), Gandhi Natesa Iyer, Malaiahamum Ilakkiyamum (The Hillcountry and Literature), Malyaha Thamil Ilakkiyathitku Muslim Eluthalarhalin Pangalippu (The Contributions by Muslim Writers to Hillcountry Thamil Literature), Malayaham Valartha Thamil (The Thamil nurtured by the Hillcountry), Malayaham Valartha Kavithai (The Poetry nurtured by the Hillcountry), Kandy Maavatta Thamilarhalin Varalattu Pathivuhal (Historical Records of Kandy District Thamilians), Amma (Mother), Malayaha Maanickkangal (The Diamonds of the Hillcountry), Muhamum Muhavariyum (The Faces and Addresses), Thirunthia Asokan (The Reformed Asokan), Nenjil Pathintha Iropia Payanam (The Memorable European Journey), Malayaha Tholit Sanga Varalaaru (The History of Trade Unionism in the Hillcountry).

Literary columnist

Since 1970 Anthony Jeeva has staged plays .The late Dayananda Gunawardena was one of his gurus in his training in the field of drama. Henry Jayasena was another inspirer for him.

He was the pioneer in street drama in the hillcountry. Some of his plays were Velichcham (Light), Saaththan Veatham Oathukirathu (Satan quotes the Bible), Agni Pookkal (Fire Flowers), Veenai Aluhintrathu (The Veena Bemoans), and Alaihal (the Waves).

Anthony Jeeva also had been a literary columnist in the newspapers and magazines. Some of his columns were Ninaithu Paarkintraen (Reflections), Padiththum Paarthatum Keattathum (What I Read, Saw and Heard). He continues to edit a few little magazines chief amongst them is Kolunthu (Tender Leaves).

Thus we see that this enterprising and social-conscious writer and dramatist (he has acted in minor roles in early Sinhala films) has contributed immensely for the uplift of the Thamilian population of late immigrants in the hillcountry still living as the wretched of the earth.

Anthony Jeeva born in 1944 contributes to Lankan writing and stage in the Thamil language for the past 45 years. Some of his pen names had been Kandiyoor Kannan, Mathalai Gauthaman and Kavitha.

Profile

In this book under review N. Selvarajah a reputed bibliographer of Thamil works living in London and Kalabooshanam P.M. Punniyameen have profiled the contributions of Anthony Jeeva and I learned more about the latter through their articles.

For instance, he has contributed to the Samasamaja Party’s paper Janashakthi; he is an orator, winner of prizes for his writing; attended a theatre workshop of Baadal Sarkar - famous theatre personality in India in Chennai in 1980; he has associated himself with Thamil theatre people the late Ladis Weramani and the late Zuhair Hameed; his experimental plays Paravaihal (Birds) and Kavitha; his association with the late A.N.Kandasamy, a Lankan Thamil intellectual; his short stories are not yet available in book form; he was the secretary of the Hillcountry Arts and Literature Forum; he has published several books of others under the auspices of his Malayaha Velyeetaham (Hillcountry Publishing House); some of his compilations have also been published by Lankan and Indian publishers: he has also written a book on the late C.V. Velupillai (Lankan poet and novelist n English, who was also an M.P. in the first Parliament); he published a collection of 12 short stories in Thamil by women writers of the Hillcountry; titled Kurunchi Malarhal; and many more achievements of Anthony Jeeva are recorded in this book. The first 18 pages of the book are worthy recordings of the focused writer Anthony Jeeva.

The other pages are the writing of Anthony Jeeva for this book. His Postal address is P.O.Box 32, Kandy.

Anthony Jeeva is not traditionally or formally educated, but he has acquired a lot of knowledge through experience and reading. Coming from proletarian surroundings, he has reached a position of respect and admiration.

Such people are sincere in their efforts in promoting others in the field of arts and literature. And their own talents and productive efforts are another side of their picture.

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