Fifth International Tamil Research Conference, Madurai – Jan 1981 by Sachi Sri Kantha, June 17, 2026 Prelude: Since 1981, I have written my experiences as a Sri Lankan delegate to this Fifth International Tamil Research Conference held at Madurai between Jan 4 and 10, 1981 in print and digital media. Cited sources section below, provides… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Sri Kantha
‘Satyagraha – The Freedom Movement of Tamils in Ceylon, 2nd ed.’
Book review Suppiah Ratneswaren and Malavarayan Vijayapalan (editors) – Satyagraha – The Freedom Movement of Tamils in Ceylon, 2nd ed., Agaram Publishers, Carshalton, UK, 2026, 546 pp. ISBN 978-1-3999-6676-4. by Sachi Sri Kantha, June4, 2026 Among the books I have read in the past 60 years or so in Tamil and English, Jawaharlal Nehru’s The… Read more »
Rajiv Gandhi’s Puppet Show Legacy
After 35 Years by Sachi Sri Kantha, May 15, 2026 ‘Rajiv Puppet Show’ Prior to Death Party hopping chameleonic politician Chandra Shekhar (1927-2007) was selected to form a minority government with only 64 MPs, who split to form Janata Dal (Socialist) Party, with outside support from Indian National Congress Party, then led by Rajiv Gandhi…. Read more »
David Jeyaraj (1954-2026) – A Critical Perspective
by Sachi Sri Kantha, May 21, 2026 David Jeyaraj was born on May 21, 1954 in Colombo. After completing his primary and secondary schooling at St. Thomas Preparatory school, Colombo and Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai respectively, Jeyaraj failed to enter any of the then four universities in Sri Lanka. He was first an apprentice journalist at… Read more »
Chelliah Rajadurai: The Rajah of Batticaloa – Part 3
by Sachi Sri Kantha, May 3, 2026 A Trend setter In comparison to his Federal Party colleagues of 1960s (excluding Pundit K.P. Ratnam), Rajadurai was blessed with Tamil literary mind. Majority of his Federal Party colleagues were advocates and lawyers, with E.M.V. Naganathan being the solitary medical doctor. Even those who began their career as… Read more »
Mahavamsa Mis-readings and Misconceptions – Part 1
by Sachi Sri Kantha Prelude In 2023, I was engaged in a double-handed correspondence duel (debate) in the ‘Tuppahi’s blog site, maintained by Prof. Michael Roberts. My two opponents were Sinhalese – namely Prof. Chandre Dharmawardena and Mr. Edward T. Upali. Their premise was ‘Mahavamsa is a reliable historical document’. I was opposed to this… Read more »
Notes on Reaching 70 Not Out – Part 11
An Auto-Obituary ahead in Time by Sachi Sri Kantha, April 12, 2026 Front Note by Sachi In Japan, during the past decade or so, the word ‘shu-katsu’ (終活Planning for the End), has become a popular one in mass media. Businesses have bloomed on this concept for the geriatric folks to prepare for their final… Read more »
From Sachi’s Files – Chapter 29
A tongue-in cheek appreciation to Lalith Athulathmudali (1936-1993) by Sachi Sri Kantha, April 2, 2026 Front Note by Sachi Early this year, I presented my compilation of ‘Sinhalese Intelligentsia and Dimwits I admire and Resent’ [the link is https://sangam.org/sinhalese-intelligentsia-and-dimwits-i-admire-and-resent/]. One missed individual was attorney-turned politician Lalith Athulathmudali (1936-1993). I would place him in the ‘Definite… Read more »
MGR Remembered – Part 86
Beginning his Second Tenure as the Chief Minister by Sachi Sri Kantha, March 24, 2026 Comments from R. Kannan MGR biographer Kannan’s comments for Part 85 was received on Jan 31, 2026. These were as follows: “I read your Part 85 with interest, and as always, it excels in its research. I had met Pandian… Read more »
Notes on Reaching 70 Not Out – Part 10
Life and Learning with Six Muses by Sachi Sri Kantha, March 13, 2026 In the previous installment (Part 9), I wrote about the influence of two of my teachers (the link is https://sangam.org/notes-on-reaching-70-not-out-part-9/ But my creativity story will be incomplete, if I fail to acknowledge the sparks thrown by my six muses. Not to be… Read more »
Chelliah Rajadurai: The Rajah of Batticaloa – Part 2
by Sachi Sri Kantha, March 7, 2026 In Part 1, I presented the post-Independence electoral details of Batticaloa constituency, from 1947 to 1989. To provide context to the Tamil and Muslim ethnic distribution, what has been recorded about the Batticaloa region by pre-Independence scholars deserves notice as well. Then, I provide details about Rajadurai’s first… Read more »
From Sachi’s Files – Chapter 28
A 1985 commentary in the Nation (New York) weekly and my Unpublished Letter by Sachi Sri Kantha, March 4, 2026 Prelude In the previous posting of Chapter 27, I had inferred that the beginning of civil war in Sri Lanka should be dated to Jan 9, 1985, which resulted in the killing of LTTE’s… Read more »
Hoole Brothers Exposed in the Notorious Epstein Files
by Sachi Sri Kantha, February 9, 2026 Well! Well! Decades of moral integrity exhibited by the Hoole Brothers (Rajan and Ratnajeevan) had burst like a pricked balloon, in a recent exposure. Will you be surprised now to hear the news, where the nit-picking and nasty Hoole Brothers had landed in their quest for international recognition… Read more »
MGR Remembered – Part 85
Eye Health Notes from Elite Film Stars by Sachi Sri Kantha Comments from R. Kannan For Part 84, Kannan’s comments, received on Dec 9, 2025, were as follows: “Except for a few, those close to MGR hold him in very high regard as a person. Countless individuals have noted his exceptional hospitality and helpful nature…. Read more »
Prof. Robert Sidharthan Perinbanayagam (1934-2025) – An Appreciation
by Sachi Sri Kantha, January 19, 2026 Robert Perinbanayagam was the eldest son of Handy Perinbanayagam (1899-1977), a much respected social activist, educator and journalist of the 20th century from Jaffna. I met Perinbanayagam in New York, only once, when I was a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. My diary notes of… Read more »
Sinhalese Intelligentsia and Dimwits I Admire and Resent
by Sachi Sri Kantha, January 6, 2026 This year marks the 25th anniversary of my current status as the honorary resident columnist of Ilankai Tamil Sangam website. For awarding this opportunity to me and giving me a free hand to write what is in my mind (which is not libel inducing), I thank the late… Read more »
Chelliah Rajadurai: The Rajah of Batticaloa – Part 1
by Sachi Sri Kantha, January 2, 2026 Chelliah Rajadurai (1927-2025), the ‘charmer’ among Eelam Tamil politicians, bid adieu on Dec 7, 2025, after a lengthy mortal life of 98 years and 5 months. He was garlanded with quite a few sobriquets, like ‘sollin chelvar’ (Wealthy in Words) and ‘Ezhil Thamil Aalar’ (The ruler of elegant… Read more »
Nobel Peace Prize Nominees and Wannabes from Sri Lanka
by Sachi Sri Kantha, February 2, 2026 In the past 125 years of its existence, unlike other countries, Sri Lanka (or it’s previous incarnation, Ceylon, until 1971) was never represented in any of the original five Nobel Prizes. But, according to the Nobel Prize nomination archives, only the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Physiology/Medicine… Read more »
M.S. Subbulakshmi in the ‘Meera’ Movie‘s 80th Anniversary
by Sachi Sri Kantha, December 9, 2025 Introduction This year marks the 80th anniversary of the release of the Tamil version of the Meera movie on November 3rd 1945 in Chennai. Also, December 11th marks the 21th death anniversary of Carnatic Music diva Madurai Shanmugavadivu (M.S.) Subbulakshmi (1916-2004). It also happens to be the birthday… Read more »
MGR Remembered – Part 84
Health status – A Decisive Factor by Sachi Sri Kantha, November 22, 2025 Comments from R. Kannan After nearly 12 years of email correspondence, Kannan and I met face to face on Oct 17, 2025 in Tokyo. It was a pleasurable meeting for us, and to our spouses. Kannan’s son, residing in Tokyo, was the… Read more »