Coimbatore :
In a bid to popularise Tamil literature among the youth, a writers’ group here is set to launch a bi-monthly on Sunday. On the occasion, three important writers from the region will be honoured at the function to be held at Hindustan College in the presence of actor Kamal Haasan.
Ilaya Thalamurai, an organisation of writers and literature lovers, founded a year ago by P Jeyachandran, better known as ‘Paalai Nilavan’, will host the event and Kamal will honour the writers on behalf of Thalamurai at Hindustan College on Sunday. The writers to be honoured are Puviarasu, poet and translator, Kovai Gnani, a critic and editor with Marxist leanings, and Tho Paramasivam, a folklorist.
Puviarasu, who lives in the city, is best known for translating Shakespeare and Dostoevsky into Tamil. “Puviarasu wanted the Tamil masses, who do not know any another language, to enjoy world classics. The new generation must understand the value of such persons,” said Paalai Nilavan.
Gnani, a retired school teacher, used to edit and publish a quarterly magazine that provided a platform for many upcoming writers who later became well-known. Tho Paramasivam’s work is largely on traditions and beliefs of different communities.
Nilavan said the function will also help introduce the work of these writers to the youth. “Today, many of us are not aware of their contribution to Tamil literature. The presence of an actor like Kamal Haasan, we hope, will help us to reach a huge number of young people,” he said.
S Shankar, who writes under the pen name ‘Sudesamithran’ and an active member of the group, said Thalamurai will launch a bi-monthly literary magazine ‘Niche’ during the function. “There are many talented writers in the state, but they lack a proper platform to showcase their talents,” he said.
The bi-monthly will run excerpts from world classics, translations, poems and short stories. Paalai said that the response to the magazine has been overwhelming. “We already have got enough contributions for three editions. We will also include contributions from Tamil writers in Sri Lanka,” he said.
source: http://www.m.timesofindia.com / The Times of India – Mobile / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / April 28th, 2013