'Lankan women surprise us all'
Originally we wanted this column to focus on arts beyond our shores.
Although "Arts from Afar' might be misleading as we may have to write
about Colombo based cultural activities as well, However, even our
provinces are far from Colombo and readers there too would like to know
what's happening in this part of the country. So, that's it.
Now recalling something that happened in the early part of this
month.
I was awe-struck a couple of Sundays ago (March 11) listening to two
distinguished women mesmerizing the houseful audience at the Kolumbu
Thamil Sangam when a group of concerned people of varied talents from
Colombo organized a function to commemorate the International Women's
Day, 2012, under the aegis of the literary magazine "Kolunthu" (Tea Bud)
under the initiative of the editor Anthony Jeeva, a playwright, actor,
producer on stage and screen, a writer, critic, orator and social
service enthusiast.
Ladies of difference
Before I go further I must mention the names of the two ladies who
astonished me. One was from Kilinochchi entering politics while running
a school there and the other was from Colombo, an artiste. Their names:
Geethanjali Naguleswaran (a very convincing speaker with intellectual
perspectives and fluency in speech with the right modulation of voice,
although it was justifiably emotionally-charged), an aspiring politician
in the making.
She spoke in her mother tongue with a choice of words. The other was
Prathiba Dharmadasa (her stage name), wife of minister Dulles
Alahapperuma. Her voice was melodic and sober. She sang the opening of
one of her numbers 'Yaal Devi' and addressed the gathering in her mother
tongue.
Other attributes
It was significant because men had organized this function in
celebrating and talent spotting Lankan women from different communities
in the Island Nation struggling to evolve a Lankan consciousness instead
of parochial dominance with different labels.
Mention should be made of the organizing committee which included
Kalai Chelvan(dramatist, actor on stage and film, producer, writer,
speaker among many other attributes, Thambu Siva (writer, critic,
columnist and moderator), A K Vijaya Balan (press photographer),
K.Ponnuthurai (photo-journalist) and of course, indomitable Anthony
Jeeva.
It was not the two women who were feted, but there were other
achievers who remained unsung and unheard because the vast majority of
people did not care to understand and recognize the Tamil-speaking
writers and artistes. Fortunately a Thamil-speaking organization came
forward to honour them.
At the same time a few elite Tamil and Muslim women had been honoured
at national level because the English media propagated them.The other
ladies seated on the dais included the most senior working journalist in
Thamil, Annaladchumy Rasadurai who has worked for the Thamil newspaper,
Virakeasri for the last 50 years or so.
She edits an elite journal on the arts and culture called "Kalai
Kesari" and also the" Sangamam" (on arts) for the daily Virakesari- both
published by the Express Newspapers Limited. An unassuming and
experienced editor Annaladchumy is also a fiction writer and poet. She
deserves the award given to her, although belatedly came to her.
The other ladies included an educationist from the hill country,
Navam Vellaichaamy, who is also a very fine speaker in Thamil, another
young lady from the hill country, Suryakala Chandrika Jeevanandam who is
a Delhi trained Bhratha Natyam dancer, Rimza Muhammed, editor of a
'little magazine' called "Poongavanam", Mirunaalini Sithamparanathan, an
achiever in cricket at national level and also Kala Amirthalingam, a
successful entrepreneur in export market.The function was chaired by M
Thevagowri, a former journalist and presently the senior lecturer at the
College of Journalism. The evening's programme was worked out in the
presence of social worker, Kaushalya Devi Govintha Pillai. The programme
also included two selections of a repertoire of Bharatha Natyam for
libretto in Sanskrit.
Ladies from the hills
The young dancing girls were marvelously perfect in the abhinaya,
footwork, and quick footed mutras. They were trained by Suryakala
Chandrika Jeevanandam.The highlight of the evening as far as I was
concerned was the speech made by Prof. Saba Jeyarasa who vividly
explained the origin and spreading of different approaches to the ideal
of 'Feminism'. It was the first time I heard somebody speaking on the
subject clearly and understandably.Also on the occasion two publications
were lunched: The 36th number (March 2012) of"Kolunthu', a special issue
in the International Women's Day and a booklet titled "Penn Poraalikal"
(Women Liberators) written by V. Sinnathamby.
Women liberators
The magazine features the pictures of celebrities Prathiba
Dharmadasa, Annaladchumy Rasadurai, Vivienne Goonewardene, Meenakshi
Iyer, and Vethavalli Kanthiah- pioneer women liberators in Lanka. And in
the booklet in addition brief notes on Thangarathinam, Parameswari,
Vaalambikai and Philominamma appear. The writer of the notes the late V.
Sinnathamby had worked for Beijing Radio and the newspaper Eelanadu in
Yaalpaanam, besides having been a young Marxist influenced by the
legendary communist N Shanmugathaasan.
At a time I wanted to take a break without writing columns, it was my
friend, (who is also a well known politician), A H M Azwer who was
present at the celebration persuaded me to report and comment on the
event in the interest of the many. Hence I am back. Hopefully we shall
connect every week through Artscope.
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