THADAM

October THADAM is important for more  than one reason. Foremost of all, the article by Manushyaputhiran on Tamil poetry is succinct and attempts to give an analytical perspective on the intimate connection the Tamilians enjoy with the poetic form. From Thirukkural to the dirges one listens to at funeral events vouchsafe why poetry is thickly interwoven into day-to-day fabric of the Tamil society. Manushyaputhiran is successful, within the limited ambit of a magazine column, in encapsulating evolution and divergence of Tamil poetic aesthetics. Besides, the tone of his article is neutral and brings various schools of thoughts and their contributions to the body of Tamil poetry in its present shape and content.

Also, the interview given by SV Rajadurai is  seminal for different reasons. He is the one intellectual the entire Tamil society could easily be proud of. An activist with left leanings, translator par excellence, voracious reader of world literature, human rights Pleader - his is the personality with endless possibilities. Even with deficient and depleting eyesight and help, he has been doing yeoman's service to the intellectual body of Tamil society. This interview is a must read.

Article on Konangi is also important in the sense that it presents an alternate point of view about how to deal with our lives and governing philosophy. Most of us are security conscious and are unduly bothered about our future and even in our fiscal management, savings is the prime most concern. But here is a man who resigned a government job, resolute celibate, a perpetual wanderer and a drunkard of unfathomable depth goes about his life as if nothing happened while enriching the body of contemporary diaspora letters as none has done before.  By the way of his lifestyle, he makes a powerful statement at those of us who keep saving for our next, second and third generations. Yet, within the gamut of contemporary litterateurs, he is a voice that commands an unparalleled respect. For he has introduced nonlinear writing of an unusual kind and merit.  He is a harbinger of magical realism in Tamil. Tamil modern literary body is truly indebted to him and it would be much poorer but for his contribution.

Next, a special mention about Azhagiyasingar. He has come out with a terse but impregnate memoir of his association with Asokamithran. K.Rajasekaran's portrait of the writer is unbelievably true to its subject.

Pa.Thirumavelan has come out with an interesting bibliography on Tamil political history. All the 120 books recommended under 12 subheadings are worth examining and, as I have gone through several volumes in the list, it is a list an interested novice in the sphere of academic politics should have with him  to plan further course of reading.

A memoir by Sujatha Rangarajan on her husband cum famous writer of yesteryears Sujatha is overwhelming.

THADAM is, if the passion shown so far is persisted, going to be a name in the domain of literary publications of recent times in the Tamil world.