Imprint
The Vanniyas: Maapaana and the Madapalli Clans
K S Sivakumaran
Aruna Sellathurai's fourth in the series of books recounting the
history of the Adankaapattu (Vanni) covering period 1625 - 1800 is also
interesting as his previous books.
The book is published by Aruna Velyeetu Aham - A 15, 1 / 1, Manning
Town Housing Complex, Mangala Road, Colombo 08 and priced at Rs 350/-
This 116 page book has nine chapters. The author has written 10 books in
Thamil, two of which won the North East Provincial council Literary
award in 1997 (Television in Lanka) and Nandhi Udayaar - a historical
play based on the tradition of the Vanniyars which received the 1996
State Literary Award and the Unda Abhinandana Golden Award In 1994 he
brought out a collection of light music songs.
His teleplay "Veedu" (Home) and a few radio plays were elected the
best book on drama in 1993 by the Yaalpaanam Literary Assembly.
In audio CDs two on Oli Thentral and a historical play depicting the
historical tradition of the Vanniyars titled :Nandhi Udayar" were
released. Again the latter was launched in a video format. In 1994 he
produced another CD recording the Mullai Mode of Folk play.
Aruna Sellathurai is an experienced broadcaster and telecaster having
served at the SLBC, Rupavahini and presently he works for the Shakthi
radio and TV channels.
A self-made man and an ardent lover of his region of birth the Vanni
region he tries his best to record the forgotten historical past of the
region by his own research.
Though not written in an academic fashion applying scientific
modalities, his books including this give valuable and interesting facts
and incidents of the Vanniyars of the past.
What the present book says can be noted at a glance if we could name
the chapters of the book. Introduction and Sources Vineyards, Boundaries
and Vineyards, Malabar in Adankapattu, the Portuguese Period, the
Portuguese and Maapana Vanniyars, the Dutch Period, Madapalliyar in
History, Maapanar and Madapaliiyar in Panankamam, The Dutch in Mannar,
Christain Names, the honour for the Vanniyars and finally Clarification
of Researched Materials.
The writer says that the history of Vanniyars is entwined with the
history of Yaalpaanam, Adankapattu, Nuwarakalawala, Thirukoanamalai and
Mahanuwara regions.
What this book gives is a collection of observations and notes
gleaned from various sources.
It does not present a codified history of the Vanniars. The author
leaves it to the historians to construct the history of the Vanni region
based on further research.
Nevertheless from what the earlier writers have written on Vanni, one
could gather a lot of information on the Vanniyars.
We learn that the author in his final volume would give a
comprehensive account as perceived by him.
[email protected]
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The writer gives the following
sources for his compilation:
Manual of the Vanni Districts by J.P.Lewis (1895)
Manual of the North Central Province by R.E. Ivers (1899)
Yaalpaana Charithram by A. Muththuthambipillai (1915)
Yaalpaana Vaipava Kaumuthi by Mes.K.Velippilai! (1918)
Notes on Jaffna by John H Martyn (1923)
The Dutch in Ceylon by R.G. Anthonisz I.S.O (1929)
Yaalpaana Charithiram by S.Rasanayagam (1933)
The chieftains of Ceylon by J.C. Van Sanden (1936)
RAS Journal by Rev. Fr. S. Gnanaparakasar (1936)
Vanniyar by Prof. S. Pathmanathan (2003)
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