Bookworms spin lit forum to promote Tamil writing

Coimbatore: M Ramamoorthy and T Ponnusamy, both 49, are executive servants. While the previous works as an workplace assistant, the latter is a driving force. But what drives them primarily is their passion for the written word. The two friends, who have been schoolmates at Irugur, had a taste for literature from their scholar days itself. In 2011, they based a literary forum named Kovai Ilakkiya Sandhippu and since then they've been accomplishing per 30 days literary conferences in the town underneath its banner.
According to Ramamoorthy, the forum was launched with an function to promote trendy Tamil writing. “We used to behavior literary conferences at Irugur in the 1990s. Friends requested us to behavior the similar in the town as there was a paucity of such conferences in the town,” he added. The first meeting of Kovai Ilakkiya Sandhippu was held in the town on January 1, 2011.

Though the conferences happen in modest settings, steadily one of the crucial known names in the Tamil literary world adorn its occasions by way of either being present physically or via their works. “Writer S Ramakrishnan attended our 7th meeting. We have additionally held full-day occasions solely to discuss the works of writers corresponding to Ki Rajanarayanan, M V Venkatram, Sundara Ramaswamy and Kovai Gnani,” Ramamoorthy mentioned. The seven-year-old forum’s 92nd meeting was held in the town on Sunday.

Pointing out that there have been nearly no boards in the town to discuss and advertise trendy Tamil writing with a neutral outlook before 2011, Ponnusamy mentioned, “All the prevailing boards have been sponsored by way of political actions they usually mentioned best those works which fitted their ideology. So, from the start we wanted to be unbiased in our work regarding trendy Tamil writing,” he added. This is a fascinating side of the forum, considering the fact that both Ramamoorthy and Ponunusamy have achieved years of field work for leftist organisations.

So a ways, 350-odd books were mentioned at the forum’s conferences. “We have taken up works of outdated writers, who had virtually slipped into oblivion, and in addition presented new writers to our contributors,” Ramamoorthy mentioned. The forum additionally provides a platform for feminist and dalit writing. “At times, we face threats from positive organisations for taking on politically charged or arguable works for discussion. We had such issues once we took up works of Perumal Murugan, Leena Manimekalai and Aadhavan Deetchanya,” Ramamoorthy added.

The forum’s founders additionally double as writers. Ramamoothy has revealed his fiction, non-fiction and poetry underneath the pseudonym Ilancheral, whilst Ponnusamy has revealed his poetry underneath the pseudonym Pon Ilavenil.

Recalling the initial days of the forum, Ramamoorthy mentioned they used to collect other folks via telephone calls and letters. “Today, it is more straightforward as we will submit our occasions on social media platforms,” he mentioned. The duo, then again, feel that the forum wanted a correct position for accomplishing its occasions. “Ours is a modest forum and now we have approached a number of instructional establishments asking for a venue to hold our occasions. But none has agreed to this point. If we get strengthen with regards to a place to hold our conferences, lets work more successfully,” Ramamorthy mentioned.

Ponnusamy was fast to add that “even supposing we don’t get a correct venue, we can continue with our work”.