An annotated bibliography of Lankan Tamils
Compiled
by N Selvarajah of U K, this book should be helpful to scholars like Dr
Michael Roberts, Prof Nalin de Silva, Kamalika Pieris and others who
write about Lankan ancient history as well; because it gives the sources
of books they could benefit reading the other side of the picture. The
source books, we hope, would take them a little more to form an
enlightened view. An enlightened view is essential in assessing the role
of the Lankan Thamilians in building up the present nation.
In the first place I should give the names of at least some of the
books so that researchers and historians of recorded history of Lanka
could read them if they have not read them already. Then perhaps they
could form an impartial understanding of Lankan history and maybe they
record in their future books of the contributions that the Lankans
belonging to the Tamil and Muslim communities have made. These books are
in English. I have selected only a few from the list compiled by N
Selvarajah.
1. Batticalonia’ a bibliography of Batticaloa by S J Selvarajah
N. Selvarajah |
2. The media and the Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka by Thiru Kandiah
3. Sri Lanka: Witness to History: A journalist’s Memoirs by
Subramaniam Sivanayagam
4 Scarred Minds: The psychological impact of war on Sri Lankan Tamils
by Daya Somasundaram
5 Destruction of Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka by M Neminathan
6 Hindu temples of Sri Lanka by S Pathmanathan
7 Remembering Hindu Traditions by Sivanandini Duraiswamy
8 Islam in Independent Sri Lanka by S H M Jameel
9 Home from Home: From immigrant boy to English man by George Alagiah
10. Tamil Social Formation in Sri Lanka: a historical outline by P
Ragupathy
11 Ethnic Attachments in Sri Lanka: Social Change and Cultural
Continuity by Lakshmanan Sabaratnam
12. History and Imagination: Tamil Culture in the Global Context by
Cheran, Darshan Ambalavanar, Chelva Kanaganayakam
13 National Language Policy in Sri Lanka: 1956 tip 1996: three
studies in its implementation by R G G Olcott Gunasekera, S G
Samarasinghe, V Vamadevan, K N O Dharmadasa
14. Tamil element in Ceylon culture by K Navaratnam
15 The Cultural contribution of the Tamils by C Rajasingham
16. A History of the upcountry Tamil people by Sithamparam Nadesan
17. Being a Tamil and Sri Lankan by Karthigesu Sivathamby
18. History of Ceylon Tamils by Vasantha Nadarajan
19. Primary sources for History of the Sri Lankan Tamils; worldwide
search by Murugar Gunasingam
20. Sri Lankan Tamil society and Politics by Karthigesu Sivathamby
21. Tamils and cultural pluralism in ancient Sri Lanka by the Rev D J
Kanagaratnam
22. Tamils in Sri Lanka: A Comprehensive History c 300 BC –c 2000 A D
by Murugesar Gunasingam
23. The evolution of an ethnic identity: The Tamils in Sri Lanka:
c300—Bce to 1200 Ce by K Indrapala
24. The Sinhalese of Ceylon and the Aryan Theory: Letters of a Tamil
father to his son Samuel Livingstone
25. The Sri Lankan Tamils: Ethnicity and Identity by Chelvadurai
Manogaran and Bryan Pfafferberger
26. The untold story of Ancient Tamils in Sri Lanka by Chelvaduuai
Manogaran
27. We Tamils: A short history of the Tamils up to British period by
P Sangarapillai
There are many more source books listed in this publication in
English titled Nool Thettam. The listings are classified under the
following main heads: in the 204 page book:
General Knowledge,
Bibliographies, media
Philosophy
Religion
Social Sciences,
Sociology and
Anthropology
Language
Science
Technology
Arts
History
Other items included are Acknowledgments, An Archive for Sri Lankan
Tamils in Expatriate countries, Introduction, Country Profile: Sri Lanka
Bibliography, Reources, Title index, author index, annexe: Further Books
and about the author
The book as published by the ETDRC. (European Tamil Documentation &
Research Centre at 48 Hallwicks Road, Luton LU2 9BH, UK.Pprice:15.00
Sterling Pounds. The ISBN is 978 0 9549440 9 4.
The compiler in his Introduction says:
“Both Sinhalese and Tamil scholars have engaged themselves in
research and studies and have reached heights of distinction in their
chosen areas of academic subjects. The major universities in Sri Lanka
continue to produce works of high standard in various subjects based on
scientific and systematic researches. Intellectuals and creative writers
not within the academic institutions of the country also continue to
publish works, each according to their skills and knowledge “ Another
reality the compiler points out needs to be noted by impartial readers.
He adds:
“The Sinhala language enjoys privileged positions in Sri Lanka due to
social place attributed to it by the state. Most of the works of Sinhala
authors and scholars are willingly accepted by popular publishers in Sri
Lanka who afford them regular sales and distribution both locally and
internationally.”
This is important:
“This benefit does not exist as far as far as the Sri Lankan Tamil
authors are concerned. Most of them could be categorized as
author-publishers. On the contrary they need to have their works printed
with their own funds and have them released in self-organized events,
selling them amongst friends and well wishers.”
This columnist for instance has written 20 books in Tamil and two in
English all at his own expense.
Continuing N Selvarajah adds: “Consequently their works are denied a
wider readership. They do not reach the universities involved in related
studies or international libraries, seldom the libraries in Tamil
regions.”
The author of this annotated bibliography of Sri Lankan Tamils should
be congratulated for this noble effort.
Selvarajah is known as a librarian and bibliographer of Lankan Tamil
books. He has five volumes to his credit. These books in Tamil were also
titled “Nool Thettam”. He has written 27 books in Tamil and English.
It must be remembered that it is due to his pioneer work in compiling
bibliographies of books in Tamil and English of Lankan Tamils and
Muslims that we have some kind of document to show the world there is
what is known Lankan Tamil Literature.
[email protected]
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