An interview with writer Indira Parthasarathy

[Oldposts]

I like IP's commment on thi.jA's style of writing. Comparing his writing to "good music"

[Oldposts]

Kanchana,
Thanks a lot for a nice interview that stimulated
IP to state certain very interesting things.

Balaji, I also was struck by the powerful but sadly true assertion that we seem to have become immune to almost everything that purports to stimulate the society.
While that makes one feel that there is no hope for change, further thought reveals to *me* that it is all owing to cynicism that has taken root in people's psyche after witnessing the corruption of the society at all levels in most respects ...that is to say that the people are not mute witnesses but they themselves have finally in one way or other have contributed to the events. I feel that the way out is to start *acting*...which requires sacrifice however small it may be.

It was interesting to hear his call for making classical Tamil corpus part of the national literary heritage.
The central government is to blame for not recognizing Tamil as one of the official classical languages of India. While Arabic and Persian are recognized as classical languages of India alongwith Sanskrit, what is their problem with Tamil? I would have loved to see the DMK alliance to extract frm the BJP alliance a promise to recognize Tamil as a classical language as part of their electoral agreement.

I especially liked reading his comments about women's equality.

Overall he possesses clarity of thought and not affected with, to use a cliche, various -isms.

Good Show Kanchana!

[Oldposts]

Gokul,
I have read 2 books by sivakAmi (pazhayana kazhidhalum) & AnandhAyi. Both books can be termed as dalit literature.

Will write more in a detailed thread.

[Oldposts]

PG, u can do that here: http://www.forumhub.com/tlit/24367.15.46.59.html

[Oldposts]

list of books by IP in TAMBHI:
* vEdhapuraththu viyaapaarigaL
* vErp paRRu
* agni
* aagaasath thaamarai
* vendhu thaNindhadhu kAdugaL
* kurudhip punal
* sudhandhira bhoomi
* oru cup kaapi
* avaL en manaivi
* uchchi veyil
* thamizh ilakkiyangaLil vaiNavam
* aRRadhu paRRenil
* Aurangazeb

[Oldposts]

a full list of IP's books:
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[Oldposts]

kAnchanA,

thanks for the good interview.

[Oldposts]

Thanks to all of you for your enthusiastic responses here and through personal e-mail.

One piece of additional information: Dr.Parthasarathy has written the script for a documentary titled "Subramanya Bharathi", to be released in the US within the next two months. Will keep you posted if more information becomes available on that.

Like Ravi Sundaram here, many readers have observed through e-mails that this is a very comprehensive and thought-provoking interview by itself, and that each section of this interview could be a separate in-depth discussion too. Very true. This interview is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of capturing the full scope of Dr. Parthasarathy's thinking on diverse issues related to literature. As a practicing expert in both Classical and Modern Thamizh literature, Dr. Parthasarathy definitely has a lot more to offer here and elsewhere.

I hope our group will continue its detailed discussion on 'dhalith' literature in maruthavANan's thread started for that purpose....a trend to watch for any student of modern thamizh literature.

PG is right about B.S.Ramaiyyah being the editor of 'maNikkodi'. In fact, he dedicated that magazine exclusively for short stories during a particular period of time, and played an important role in the growth of thamizh short stories. Some writer-critics like si.su.chellappA consider him to be one of the best short story writers in thamizh.

I am quite fascinated by the fact thi.jA. was i.pA.'s teacher and Athavan was i.pA.'s student. What an incredibly noteworthy literary chain!

PG raises a valid question as to whether i.pA. has been awarded the recognition he deserves. I tend to echo the question too, especially as I read i.pA.'s essay compilations alongside the novels. i.pA., sundhara rAmasAmy, asOkamiththiran, ku.azhakirisAmi, thi.jAnakirAman, g.nAgarAjan, jeyakAnthan, neela. padmanAban, nakulan are all contemporaries, and each is a literary giant in his own different way. Can't help but ask this general question: how many of them have received the recognition they rightfully deserve, formally or informally?

Like Chandra, I am intrigued by i.pA.'s vision of thamizh literature as part of the national literary tradition. Such a pragmatic view! While I'm not naive about political realities, I can't help wondering (wishing?) if there is something we can do to make this come true in time.

Dr. Parthasarathy named Mr. Jayamohan as one of his favorite younger generation writers in this interview. Mr. Jayamohan has made a solid impact in the field through his novels 'Rubber' and 'Vishnupuram' and short story collections 'thisaikaLin naduvE' and 'maN'. A summary excerpt on Dr. Parthasarathy from Mr. Jayamohan's book 'naveenath thamizhilakkiya aRimukam' (1997):

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We are happy to have had Dr.Parthasarathy share his thinking with us and wish him continued success in future endeavors.

Regards,
Kanchana Dhamodharan.

[Oldposts]

Thanks to IP for giving us a thought provoking interview..

Kanchana: The full credit goes to you.

He has put forth his views on State of communism, women liberation
movement, the state of Tamil theatre and Thamizh isolation very succintly.

His view that we have become immune to everything as a society is very
disconcerting. Can we[the people] not do anything about it ?

-JR [aka] Ramanan

[Oldposts]

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