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Gleanings:
A Marxist Literary Journal and Contemporary Thamil Literature
K S Sivakumaran
Contemporary Lankan Thamil Literature is basically and largely
oriented with different shades of Marxist ideologies. This is primarily
because of at least two Marxist academics- the late K. Kailasapathy and
K. Sivathamby who consciously directed and guided young writers in the
late 1960s and the 70s through mainly the Progressive Writers
Association.
At the same time there were other dissenting voices representing the
aesthetes. But for our purpose at present let’s confine ourselves to one
of the Marxist literary journals that are being published in Lanka.
The name of the journal is Thaayaham meaning Homeland. Quite
blatantly the journal has a stance towards Maoist writing. Most
contributions are written with pseudonyms. And one could easily discern
the manner and style of poet and critic that is academic.
The current issue (January-March 2009) announces the names in the
editorial board: Chief editor M. Thanikasalam lives in Yaalpaanam. The
others are R. Murugaiyan, S. Sivasegeram, Kulanthai M. Shanmugalingam,
Kalvayal V. Kumarasamy, S. Thevarajah, Ala. Pahirathan, J. Satkunanathan
and Maavai Varothayan.
This quarterly also accommodates writers who may not necessarily be
Marxists, but ‘progressive’ in outlook. Published by Deshiya Kalai
Illakiya Peravai (National Art & Literary Assembly) has its official
address: Aadiyapatham Veethi, Kokuvil.
Poetry
Most of the items included are in the form of ‘poetry’ and some of
them are attempts at translations. There are four or five by Langston
Hughes. The translator’s name is not given.
Nilakeetan in his rhetoric ‘poem’ titled “Wick and Fire” has this
idea of ‘let the fire and the wig get closer and allow and pour the oil
only in the lamp” H F Rizna writes in colloquial Muslim Thamil spoken in
the hillcountry. It’s written from the angle of a woman kept indoors. T.
Jeyaseelan points out the price hike of consumer goods and questions who
would be the redeemer.
P. Latha titles her poem “A ballad of a volunteer or a slave”
-rhythmical and satiric of the reality in the soil of Yaalpaanam. S.
Satheeshkumar recounts the constant deceit encountered by affected
people.
Ala Baheerathan in his poem on social paradoxes ends it with the
maxim - only when you plant there is a harvest. Similarly the poems of
S. Kingsley Gomez and Shrileka, Easewari, Puvana, Chenpakan, Chandraeka
Kingsley, Ramu Manoharan are noteworthy.
Two poems of Ho Chi Min (translator’s name not given) are also
included. Translations of a poem by Sterling A Brown by So.Po,
translation of a poem by Jaime Suarez Quemain, a poem by Faiz Ahamed
Faiz also fill the pages. The poetry is relatively readable for its
content and form than what is churned out in the newspapers in the name
of poetry.
Prose
There are four fine short stories by MoliVarathan, Abiramui,
Teliwatte Joseph and Sivanu Manoharan. There is also a translation of a
Chinese short story given without the translator’s name S. Sivasgeram
and Jegathalprathapan and Aswathaama provide essays to think about.
Letters to the editor, Remembrance and two on peculiar people are
other features in this journal.
Due to exigencies of space I could only give the items that you could
read from the current issue (No 73) of Thaayaham. For better analysis of
each item one could fetch the magazine and have one’s own evaluation.
The magazine could be obtained from 152 1/6 Hulftsdorp Road, Colombo
12.
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