Indira’s Chikmagalur and Thanjavur Imbroglio by Sachi Sri Kantha, November 4, 2024 Chronological record of political activities by Indira Gandhi MGR Karunanadhi 1977-1979 Fellow MGR biographer R. Kannan’s thoughts about the contents in Part 77 of this series (received on Sept 14), were as follows: “ I enjoyed reading part 77 of the MGR series,… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Sri Kantha
Marco Polo and the Puzzle of a Point Pedro Port Landing
by Sachi Sri Kantha, October 30, 2024 Prelude Previously I had presented my view on Venician explorer Marco Polo’s (1254-1324) visit to medieval Eelam. [https://sangam.org/marco-polos-visit-to-medieval-eelam/]. This is a first sequel, to commemorate Marco Polo’s 700th death anniversary, which passed by on January 9th this year. Where did Marco Polo and his party land in ‘Seilan’? First… Read more »
From Sachi’s File – Chapter 24
A Published Note on Ptolemy’s Taprobana Map by C. Suntharalingam by Sachi Sri Kantha, October 4, 2024 Front Note by Sachi Due to my protracted literature foraging activities on missed items by eminent bibliographer Henry Ian Goonetilleke (1922-2003), on Ceyloniana, recently I was able to locate a research note by mathematician Chellappah Suntharalingam (1895-1985) that… Read more »
Notes on Reaching 70 Not Out – Part 6
Decades of Romance with Dictionaries by Sachi Sri Kantha, September 17, 2024 Half a century ago I learned that, vocabulary enhancement is an essential requirement to become a good writer. Towards achieving this goal of being an interesting writer, one needs to be blessed by Muses and also possess amulet(s). My amulet(s) have been dictionaries;… Read more »
MGR Remembered – Part 77
Learning the Ropes in Governance during Morarji’s Tenure by Sachi Sri Kantha, September 13, 2024 Comments received from fellow MGR biographer R. Kannan about the contents in Part 76 of this series, were as follows: “Hearty congratulations on completing seventy-five chapters. I am touched by your most generous thank-you. It wasn’t required, and the sentiments are… Read more »
‘The DMK Years – Ascent, Descent, Survival’ by R. Kannan
Book Review by Sachi Sri Kantha, August 21, 2024 The DMK Years – Ascent, Descent, Survival by R. Kannan, Penguin Random House India, Gurugram, Haryana, 2024, 748 pp, 1,299 rupees. Year 2024 marks the 75th birth anniversary year of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party of Tamil Nadu AND the birth centenary year of Muthuvel Karunanidhi… Read more »
Forensic Aspects of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Attempts in 1987 & 1991
by Sachi Sri Kantha, July 27, 2024 Front Note This research study was submitted two medical journals (one in Japan, one in Sri Lanka) previously and were rejected for what I consider spurious reasons. As such, I have posted a pre-print of this study in the Research Gate site in Apr. 2024. The link is,… Read more »
‘Malai Kallan’ (Mountain Dacoit) Movie and its Five Variants
After 70 Years by Sachi Sri Kantha, July 7, 2024 70 years ago, on July 22, 1954, the trend-setting Malai Kallan (Mountain Dacoit) Tamil movie, with M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and P. Bhanumathi in the lead roles was released in Tamil Nadu to great acclaim by the public. Its political and social relevance was realized 23… Read more »
Notes on Reaching 70 Not Out – Part 5
A Zest for Writing by Sachi Sri Kantha, June 25, 2024 Generativity in Three Countries The word ‘generativity’ is defined as ‘the desire to care for and contribute to further generations; desire to leave a legacy’. [International Encyclopedia of Psychology, vol.1, Frank Magill (ed), 1996]. Normal humans, of both sexes, possess this desire. That’s why… Read more »
M.K. Eelaventhan (1932-2024) – An Appreciation
Part 1 by Sachi Sri Kantha, June 14, 2024 I was saddened to hear the death of M.K. Eelaventhan, at the age of 91 on April 28, 2024 in Canada. Born on Sept 14, 1932, he was 20 years older than me. I became acquainted with him in 1976 (see below, my diary entries, from… Read more »
On the Tamil National Army (TNA)
RAW’s malformed Baby that lived for 9 months by Sachi Sri Kantha, June 10, 2024 As a chronicler of Eelam history of the 20th century, I had been highlighting issues and items that demands a record and focus. One such item was the brief existence of Tamil National Army (TNA), a malformed baby of India’s… Read more »
MGR Remembered – Part 76
On M.K. Muthu; from a Fan to promoted Cinema Rival and Fall by Sachi Sri Kantha, May 14, 2024 Comments received from fellow MGR biographer R. Kannan on Mar 26th about the contents in Part 75 of this series, were as follows: “The Economic and Political Weekly articles [cited] appropriately show the pressures on MGR… Read more »
Prabhakaran and LTTE: A Chronological Bibliography
Compiled by Sachi Sri Kantha, May 23, 2024 Front Note This is a revised version of my previous compilation, in three parts. Part I appeared on Nov 16, 2009. Part 2 was posted on Nov 24, 2010, and Part 3 appeared on Nov 27, 2011. Cumulatively, there were 189 items in the three parts. After… Read more »
Notes on Reaching 70 Not Out – Part 4
My Initial Steps in Sexuality Research by Sachi Sri Kantha, April 13, 2024 Front Note 21 years had passed since the late Dr Rajan Sriskandarajah posted my essay item ‘Alfred Kinsey as an Apparent Guru: My Sri Lankan experience in Sex Research’ in this site (April 23, 2003. This link is still survives, despite… Read more »
The Hindu Religious Heritage in Sri Lanka
Revived and Remembered by Prof. A. Sathasivam [source: Religiousness in Sri Lanka, edited by John Ross Carter, Marga Institute, Colombo, 1979, pp. 161-173.] Front Note by Sachi Sri Kantha When I was a 3rd year undergraduate at the University of Colombo, in 1974, I had the opportunity to associate with Prof. A. Sathasivam, then… Read more »
MGR Remembered – Part 75
Chief Minister – Tangling with the Cerberus dog of the Center by Sachi Sri Kantha, March 25, 2024 Kannan’s critical comments and my response I provide MGR scholar and my pal Kannan’s critical comments on the content of Part 74 (received on Jan 20, 2024) below: “Many thanks indeed for part 74 and the three… Read more »
Eulogy to My Mother
by Sachi Sri Kantha, March 14, 2024 Front Note Puvaneswary Sachithanantham, my mother, died on March 2, 2024. Born in April 10, 1936, she had lived for 87 years and welcomed four great grandsons. For her memory, I provide excerpts of a 1995 essay I wrote in English. This was the title essay of my… Read more »
Ponnusamy Venugopal Master
Pirabhakaran’s First Mentor by Sachi Sri Kantha, February 28, 2024 Front Note After my visit to Kilinochchi in March 2004, I posted the following profile of Ponnusamy Venugopal Master in this site. Then, he was 60. Now after a passage of 20 years, I’m not sure whether he is still among the living, or he… Read more »
Notes on Reaching 70 Not Out – Part 3
Silent Awards of Recognition by Sachi Sri Kantha, February 15, 2024 I consider that my intellect (not the physical frame) was conceived in Sri Lanka, born in USA and bloomed in Japan. As such, my contributions to research, writing and teaching are filled with tri-partite influences. In this part, I provide snippets of my thoughts… Read more »
In Memoriam: Dr Rajan Sriskandarajah
(1943 – 2023) by Sachi Sri Kantha, February 3, 2024 When I heard the news of death of Dr Rajan Sriskandarajah last November, I felt so sad as if I had lost one of my family members. Though I came to be acquainted with him only in 2001, when I was 48, he was like… Read more »