 |
 |
Recipient of Gnanapeedam Award for Literature
award, Jnanpith – Gnanapeedam, the first being Akilan. While Akilan, who got the
award way back in 1975, was an epitome of Tamil orthodoxy, Jayakanthan is its
very antithesis, for he shot into fame by writing about the slum culture in Chennai in
a way that shocked middle class values.
Though Jayakanthan’s maiden short story was probably Vazhkai Azhaikkirathu
(Life is calling-1957) and Kaivilangu (Handcuff-1961), it was Yarukkaka Azhuthan
(For whom did he cry - 1962) and Unnaipol Oruvan (Someone like you -1962)
which brought him to limelight. Written in earthy prose, they highlighted the life of
the downtrodden in Chennai slums. His writings had an authentic touch, for he lived
among the slum dwellers in his early years of struggle when he worked as a
compositor in a printing press.
He spoke to BBC’s Thamilosai after the Gnanapeedam Award was
announced last week:
Q: Typical question....Why you have almost stopped writing?
A: I didn't stop writing. There seem to be a larger interval between writing thats all.
Q: For approximately twenty years you didn't write any new creations..When you
look at that is this is a "1st Gnanpeeda award" without any controversy?
A: Only for the last 10 years I didn't do big creations...so its not correct to say that I
didn't write anything for 20 years. So (award) is considered for writings within 20
years. I have made only an impression that I am not writing but I am continuing to
write.
Q: What do you think of this award?
A: This is a supreme award. Indian literatures are written in many languages. This
award enables us to see and feel the advancement and superior quality of Indian
literatures. Tamils should be proud that Tamil has received this year's award on
behalf of Indian languages. I express my gratitude.
Q: When reading your essays or listen to your speeches you come across as a
proud - that is such as Bharathiyar, I haven't seen Bharathiyar but what I have read
about him - you could even say a sort of "vidhya garwam" literary superiority, when
reading them - a superior feeling..but there is an opinion that you strongly instill
your thoughts and views through the characters in the stories…?
A: There will be many opinions about my stories. Not everything is right nor
everything is wrong.
Q: Your writing style was considered new in those times and deeply followed or
being followed later. What do you think was special about your style?
A: It was special in the sense it that affected Tamil language and those who
became writers in the future.
Q: About 30-35 years ago when the anti Hindi language movements were widely
prevalent, I have listened to your speeches. You courageously spoke against anti
Hindi language struggles. I even recall you even being attacked for this…?
A: I was never attached, and I never attacked anyone. There was an opposition to
Hindi language those days. Tamils did fear about this matter then. After the
attempts to make feel that opposition is unnecessary, that fear also has diminished
today and also opposition to Hindi is not in those heightened levels today.
Q: In the days of your earlier times, once when you were speaking about the movie
industry, you leveled heavy criticisms and attacked two of the popular directors of
those times but then you also gave two films "For Whom did he cry?" and
"Someone like you". Your criticisms were because you didn't like the movie industry
and/or why you did not continue in the movie industry?
A: I was saying only because of my concern about the movie industry's well being.
There is no hatred.
Q: During the days of your active writing times, short stories, even in popular-mass
media outlets such as Ananda Vikatan seemed to be having a seriousness in tone,
but nowadays you see them -the weekly magazines and monthly magazines -
whether stories and short stories itself are on their path to extinction. Do you regret
about this?
A: Don't make calculations like that. There will be many changes. The changes
themselves will keep changing.
Q: There seem to be many mini-literature creations nowadays. Do you feel that
there are creative work being done in this line?
A: Many of them are coming out. This also being reflected in larger publications
and bigger media outlets.
be many
opinions
about my
stories. Not
everything
is right nor
everything
is wrong."
be many
changes.
The
changes
themselves
will keep
changing."
Short Stories
in English
From
Berkeley
Tamil
 |
 |