Dominic Jeeva Tamil: டொமினிக் ஜீவா; 27 June 1927 – 28 January 2021) was a Sri Lankan Tamil author. Jeeva was for a period of time forgotten as a writer. He first became known to non-Tamil speaking readers after a review of his short story collection Pathukai.

Dominic Jeeva
Born(1927-06-27)27 June 1927
Ceylon
Died28 January 2021(2021-01-28) (aged 93)
OccupationAuthor
NationalitySri Lankan
GenreShort Story

Early life

edit

His career began as a beautician in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. At that time, he was fascinated by Mahatma Gandhi, and the policies of Indian Congress Party. During this period he became acquainted with Tampo Rajagopal, who inspired him to read books, taught him to write and introduced him to other writers such as S. Ponnumdurai (author of the novel Sadangu). Later, Jeeva leaned towards leftist political movements and spoke in trade union meetings. He wrote his first story while working at the beauty parlour. He stated that the "beauty parlour is his university" and often praised Rajagopal as his mentor.

Career

edit

Though without an academic background, Jeeva became one of the most prominent writers in the Tamil world. He was the editor of Mallikai, a monthly journal on literature for more than four decades.[1] The term 'progressive writing' was a euphemism for those with Communist leaning in the 1960s and 1970s. In their writings, these progressive writers attacked vehemently the linguistic jingoism of writers belonging to the Dravidian school. Mallikai promoted Moscow-based Communist writers during the Soviet era. In the 1960s Jeeva received a Sri Lanka Sahithya Academy Award. [citation needed]

Jeeva was the author and publisher of many books and short stories. Jeeva established a publishing center called Mallikai Panthal.[2]

He died on 28 January 2021, aged 93.[3]

Bibliography

edit
Books
1 Thanneerum Kanneerum [2]
2 Pathukai [4]
3 Saalayin Thiruppam
4 Vazhvin Tharisanangal
5 Dominic Jeeva Sirukathaikal

Essays

edit
Books
1 Anubava Muththiraigal
2 Thalaippookkal
3 Eazhalaththilirunthu Oru Illakkiyakural
4 Thoondil
5 Munnuraigal
6 Mupperim Thalainagarangalil 30 Natkal

Biography

edit
Books
1 Ezhuthappadatha Kavithaikku Varaiyappadatha Siththiram

Other books

edit
Books
1 Emathu Ninaivugalil Kailasapathy
2 Malligai Mugangal
3 Attaippada Oviyangal
4 Tamil translation of 15 sinhala stories

Awards

edit
Year Award For/From
1961 Sri Lanka Sahithya Academy Award Thaneerum Kanneerum
1963 Sri Lanka Sahitiya Academy Award Pathukai
2001 M.A.(Hons) By University of Jaffna

See also

edit

References

edit
  • Artscope, Daily News, 14 July 2004
  • Sivakumaran, K.S. (15 September 2004). "Artscope: Tradition and modernity in E. Rathinam's works". Daily News. Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  • Sivakumaran, K S (7 March 2018). "Many forms of love and death". Daily News. Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  • Anubava Muththiraigal by Dominic Jeeva


Notes

edit
edit