A researcher on inscriptions

K S Sivakumaran

Seldom are people in the Tamil-speaking communities engaged in arts, literature and culture interviewed by the English and Sinhala media. But politicians belonging to minority communities are spasmodically profiled and interviewed, it should be admitted. But it the artistes, writers and intellectuals too matter because it is those that build bridges between communities.

Even by chance there is a write-up on a celebrity in English invariably only a Tamil or Muslim person writes about them but never a Sinhala person who could write in English. On the other hand one or two Tamil-speaking writers like yours truly write about the cultural personalities belonging to the majority community. This lopsidedness is generally overlooked by editors and electronic media heads.

Prof. Vallipuram Maheswaran

So, this week I wish to feature a Tamil scholar and academic for the information of non-Tamil speaking people in the island abroad. He is Prof. Vallipuram Maheswaran. Presently he is the Head of the Department of Tamil in the University of Peradeniya. He hails from a village in the north called Inuvil. He obtained first a fist class degree in Tamil Honours from that University and later received his doctorate from Thanjavoor University in Tamilnadu. He did research on inscriptions and sat at the feat of eminent scholars in the field, Prof. Subbarajulu and Prof. Rajan, an eminent teacher of archaeology. Under the latter’s supervision he wrote his thesis on “The Temple and Society during the Chola period in South Indian History.

During his stay in India, Maheswaran obtained a post-graduate Diploma in Temple Art at the Kaaraikudi Alagappa University. He also taught the Masters Degree students who followed a course in Tamiloogy in neighbouring countries. They were from Thanjavoor University. He also lectured for the University Colleges teachers during the in-service training program that was held at the Thanjavoor University sponsored by the Indian University Grants Commission.

Returning to Lanka he associated himself with Peradeniya University professors in the Tamil Department like Nuhman, Arunachalam and Thurai Manoharan in developing the studies at this University.

His method of teaching was to encourage the Tamil Special Degree students to think afresh on various levels of learning and shared his wide knowledge and experience with the students. This paid dividends as some of his students are doing well passing out from the University. He reintroduced the study of inscriptions as part of the studies in degree levels.

He directs, supervises and evaluates students’ submissions of research and thesis papers. He is also a member of the Higher Degree Committee in the Arts Faculties in different streams. He is also a member of the Educational Committee of the Translation Teaching Unit and the Humanities Educational Distance Education. He is also a trainer for non-academic staff in learning Tamil as a second language.

This young professor guides students in understanding the Tamil society, its cultural history, Inscriptions, Hindu Civilization, ancient and modern Tamil Literature through his knowledge of Archaeology and Humanities.

Prof V. Makeswaran is a member of the Advisory Board on Tamil and Hinduism of the syllabus for students from Grade 1 to 13 devised by the Educational Publications Department. He also serves as an advisor Curriculum Development Text Writers Group. Besides he contributes the compilation and review of dictionaries - glossaries of technical terms and other glossaries. For more than 20 years, Prof Makeswaran served the National Institute of Education on its request in writing Tamil text books, and guides for teachers.

He has also prepared Guides and also lectured for students following Bachelor of Education, Post Graduate Diploma, and Course Direction for Distance Education examinations conducted by the National Institute of Education.

His services were extended to being chief examiner and controller for exams conducted b the Department of Examination.

If these were Prof V. Makeswaran’s contribution as an academic, his range of activities outside the campus are numerous particularly in the field of contemporary Tamil literature as an evaluator and as a member of the Arts Council and other literary organizations like Kolumbu Thamil Ssangam, and other institutions.

I came to know V Makeswaran as a new recruit in the News Division of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation as an assistant editor of Tamil News, while I was also working as the Duty News Editor there. He was then fresh from the University and impressed me as a person of good nature and behavior. He was humble and willing to learn the process of news editing for broadcasting purposes.

I knew then he would shine as an outstanding academic and so has he proved. He deserves to be noticed and honored.

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