Background
M. Balakrishnan (b. 18 September 1938, Singapore–), or Mayandiambalam Balakrishnan, is a prominent author popularly known by his pen name – Ma Ilangkannan.1 He was the first Tamil writer to receive the South East Asian Writers Award in 1982, and was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2005.2
Early life and career
Balakrishnan was born in Singapore and moved with his family to Tamil Nadu, India when he was two years old. In India, he learned to read and write Tamil from his grandmother and a teacher, Arumuga Velar.3
After World War II, Balakrishnan returned to Singapore and continued his studies at Kalaimagal Tamil School. His family’s frequent moves from one rental accommodation to another disrupted his schooling. Balakrishnan studied up to the eighth standard in school. From a young age, he was an avid reader of magazines such as Kalki, Ananta Vikatan and Tenral, and the Tamil Murasu newspaper. Although he was unable to further his education, Balakrishnan continued to acquire knowledge and hone his literary skills.4
From 1957 to 1967, Balakrishnan worked as a storeman with the British military forces stationed in Singapore. He then went on to become a typist in the translation department of the Ministry of Culture, where he worked until 1997.5
Literary career
Balakrishnan became editor of Thondan, a literary magazine in 1964, and his first short story “Thi Vali” (Pain of Fire) was published in 1966.6 His stories also appeared in Tamil Murasu, Tamil Malar, Ananda Vikatan (a weekly magazine from India), Malaysia’s Tamil Nesan and literary journals such as SINGA.7
A prolific writer, Balakrishnan has published more than 60 short stories, five collections of short stories, three novels and three novellas. His short stories have been broadcast over the radio, included in a number of anthologies, and translated into English and Malay.8
Awards
In 1971, Balakrishnan won a short story competition organised by Indian magazine Ananta Vikatan for “Vazhi Piranthathu”.9 In 1977, his “Ennangal Nilaiyaanavai Alla” was selected as the Best Short Story in Singapore and Malaysia by the Singapore Ilakkiya Kalam (Literary Critics' Circle). He received the South East Asian Writers Award in 1982, and won short story competitions organised by the Ministry of Culture in 1983 and 1984, the National Book Development Council of Singapore in 1988 and the Ministry of Community Development in 1989.10
For his extensive body of literary work, the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers presented Balakrishnan with the Tamizhavel Award in 1999.11 He won the Singapore Literature Prize in the Tamil category in 2004 for his novel Thoondil Meen (Hooked Fish),12 and received the Cultural Medallion the following year.13
Literary style and themes
Balakrishnan’s works explore the daily life, pain, pleasures, conflicts and tension experienced by Singapore Tamils in a multiethnic, multicultural and socio-political context. Exploring a range of social topics, his writings often employ metaphor and imagery as literary tools in a quest for truth and humanity in a materialistic world.14
Balakrishnan has examined the evolution of the Tamil cultural identity after contact with Malay and Chinese cultures in cosmopolitan Singapore. He also writes on experiences of an impoverished underdog in Singaporean society, interracial relationships, the effects of the Japanese Occupation, the Indian National Army, and historical and vanishing aspects of Singaporean life such as the cattlemen and cowherds of Bukit Timah and opium addicts.15
Notably, Balakrishnan is one of the few Tamil writers in Singapore who have explored the existential toils and displacement of the disenfranchised community with empathy. Beyond describing the experiences of characters such as that of an Indian contract worker forced by circumstances to find work in Singapore (in Paathai Maaria Payanam (Misdirected Journey), he has sought to articulate the aspirations, emotions and mental states of migrant workers. His narratives give voice to these otherwise unheard groups and have been described as a conduit for the emancipation of these groups.16
Awards17
1982: South East Asian Writers Award (Singapore Book Council)
1999: Tamizhavel Award[Association of Singapore Tamil Writers)
2004: Singapore Literature Prize (National Book Development Council of Singapore with the support of the National Arts Council and The National Library Board)
2005: Cultural Medallion (National Arts Council)
2013: Karikalan Award (given by Mustafa Trust)18
Selected works19
1975: வழி பிறநà¯à®¤à®¤à¯ [The Solution]
1976: à®
லà¯à®à®³à¯ [Waves]
1977: à®à¯à®à¯à®à¯à®®à®à¯à®à®©à¯à®©à®¤à¯à®¤à®¿à®²à¯ [On the Rosy Cheeks]
1977: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯ à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®à¯à®à®³à®®à¯ à®à®¿à®±à¯à®à®¤à¯à®à®³à¯ [Singapore Literary Short Stories]
1977: à®
லà¯à®à®³à¯ (à®à¯à®°à¯à®à¯à®à®®à¯) [Waves (Summary)]
1978: à®à¯à®à¯à®à®³à¯ à®à®µà®¿à®¯à®à¯à®à®³à¯ à®à®à®¿à®©à¯à®±à®©. [The Portraits]
1983: à®à®±à®µà¯à®à®³à¯ à®à®à¯à®à®²à¯ à®à®à¯à®à®¿à®©à¯à®±à®© [Unsteady Relationships]
1986: à®à®©à®¨à¯à®¤à®à¯ à®à®£à¯à®£à¯à®°à¯ [Tears of Joy]
1989: à®à®£à¯à®£à®à¯à®à®³à¯ நிலà¯à®¯à®¾à®©à®µà¯ à®
லà¯à®² [Thoughts Are Never Stable]
1990: வà¯à®à®±à¯à®ªà¯ பà¯à®à¯à®à®³à¯ [Morning Flowers]
1993: à®à®£à®°à¯à®µà®¿à®©à¯ à®®à¯à®à®¿à®à¯à®à¯à®à®³à¯ [The Entangled Feelings]
1999: நினà¯à®µà¯à®à®³à®¿à®©à¯ à®à¯à®²à®à¯à®à®³à¯ [Meandering Thoughts]
2001: தà¯à®£à¯à®à®¿à®²à¯ à®®à¯à®©à¯ [Hooking a Fish]
2001: à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®à¯à®à®³à®¿à®©à¯ à®à®©à®à¯à®à®³à¯ (in People on the Bridge: An Anthology of ASEAN Short Stories; translated into Malay as Harapan Sapuna)20
2006: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à¯ மா. à®à®³à®à¯à®à®£à¯à®£à®©à®¿à®©à¯ à®à®¿à®±à¯à®à®¤à¯à®à®³à¯ [Cinkai Ma Ilangkannan’s Short Stories]
2006: பà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®®à¯, à®à®©à¯à®©à®¿à®à®¾à®¤à®¾à®©à®®à¯, à®à®à¯à®à¯ பà¯à®¯à¯à®µà®¿à®à¯à®®à¯ à®à®¾à®²à®®à¯? [Match, Giving the bride away, Where Has Time Gone?]
2011: à®à¯à®°à¯à®µà®¿à®à¯ à®à¯à®à¯à®à®®à¯ [Bird Sanctum]
Author
M. S. Shri Lakshmi
References
1. “Hard Habit to Break,” Straits Times, 22 October 2005, 7. (From NewspaperSG)
2. Muriel I Speeden, “Winner in His Own Write,” Straits Times, 20 October 1982, 1 (From NewspaperSG); “Cultural Medallion,” National Arts Council, 2015.
(From NLB’s Web Archive Singapore)
3. M. Balakrishnan, interview by Shri Lakshmi, National Library Board Singapore, 3 December 2009, 19:14.
4. M. Balakrishnan, interview by Shri Lakshmi.
5. Speeden, “Winner in His Own Write.”
6. Speeden, “Winner in His Own Write”; Cinkai Ma Ilangkannan à®à®¿à®à¯à®à¯ மா à®à®³à®à¯à®à®£à¯à®£à®©à¯, “TÄ« vali” த௠வலி [Pain of fire], தமிழ௠மà¯à®°à®à¯ Tamil Murasu, 10 December 1967, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
7. à®à®¿à®à¯à®à¯ மா à®à®³à®à¯à®à®£à¯à®£à®©à¯ CinÌkai MaÌ IlÌ£anÌkanÌ£nÌ£an̲, MÅ«á¹á¹u nÄvalkaḷ: poruttam, kaá¹á¹ikÄtÄá¹am, eá¹
gÄ pÅyviá¹um kÄlam? à®®à¯à®©à¯à®±à¯ நாவலà¯à®à®³à¯: பà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®®à¯, à®à®©à¯à®©à®¿à®à®¾à®¤à®¾à®©à®®à¯, à®à®à¯à®à¯ பà¯à®¯à¯à®µà®¿à®à¯à®®à¯ à®à®¾à®²à®®à¯? [Three novels: Match, Giving the bride away, Where did time go? (Singapore CinÌkai MaÌ IlÌ£anÌkanÌ£nÌ£an̲ and National Arts Council, 2006), 3. (From National Library Online)
8.IlÌ£anÌkanÌ£nÌ£an̲, à®®à¯à®©à¯à®±à¯ நாவலà¯à®à®³à¯: பà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®®à¯, à®à®©à¯à®©à®¿à®à®¾à®¤à®¾à®©à®®à¯, à®à®à¯à®à¯ பà¯à®¯à¯à®µà®¿à®à¯à®®à¯ à®à®¾à®²à®®à¯?, 3.
9. “About Cultural Medallion: 2005,” National Arts Council, last updated 13 April 2023. (From NLB’s Web Archive Singapore)
10. “M. Balakrishnan (Ma Ilangkannan),” The Esplanade, published 23 November 2021, https://www.esplanade.com/offstage/arts/m-balakrishnan-ma-ilangkannan.
11. “Namatu eḻuttÄḷarkaḷ” நமத௠à®à®´à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®³à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Our writers], Association of Singapore Tamil Writers, accessed 9 May 2024, https://singaporetamilwriters.com/6/.
12. “Singapore Literature Prize: 2004 Winners & Shortlists, Tamil category,” Singapore Book Council, accessed 3 May 2024, https://www.bookcouncil.sg/slp-2022/slp-previous-editions.
13. The Esplanade, “M. Balakrishnan (Ma Ilangkannan).”
14. National Arts Council, “About Cultural Medallion: 2005.”
15. A. R. Anjappan à®
à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà®©à¯ à®. à®à®°à¯,“ Ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiya varalÄá¹á¹il peyar patitta mukkiya aindu ilakkiyavÄtikaḷ” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯ வரலாறà¯à®±à®¿à®²à¯ பà¯à®¯à®°à¯ பதிதà¯à®¤ à®®à¯à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯ à®à®¨à¯à®¤à¯ à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®µà®¾à®¤à®¿à®à®³à¯ [The 5 prominent personalities of Singapore Tamil literature], in MalÄciya ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiyam (2005) mÄnÄá¹á¹uk kaá¹á¹uraikaḷ மலà¯à®à®¿à®¯ à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯ (2005) மாநாà®à¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à®à¯à®à¯à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Malaysia Singapore Tamil literature (2005) conference papers] (Kuala Lumpur: மலà¯à®à®¿à®¯ à®à®´à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®³à®°à¯ à®à®à¯à®à®®à¯, 2005), 225–44. (Call no. Tamil RSEA 894.81109 MAL)
16. M. Balakrishnan, “M. Balakrishnan, Cultural Medallion Recipient, 2005, Literature,” National Library Board Singapore in collaboration with National Arts Council, 2009.
17. IlÌ£anÌkanÌ£nÌ£an̲, à®®à¯à®©à¯à®±à¯ நாவலà¯à®à®³à¯: பà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®®à¯, à®à®©à¯à®©à®¿à®à®¾à®¤à®¾à®©à®®à¯, à®à®à¯à®à¯ பà¯à®¯à¯à®µà®¿à®à¯à®®à¯ à®à®¾à®²à®®à¯?, 3.
18. வலà¯à®²à®®à¯ [Vallamai], “ciá¹
gappÅ«r eḻuttÄḷarkaḷ iruvarukku ‘karikÄlaá¹ virutu’” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯ à®à®´à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®³à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ à®à®°à¯à®µà®°à¯à®à¯à®à¯à®à®°à®¿à®à®¾à®²à®©à¯ விரà¯à®¤à¯ [Two Singaporean writers receive the Karikalan award], Vallamai Media Services, 4 February 2013, http://www.vallamai.com/?p=31655.
19. Speeden, “Winner in His Own Write.”
20. M. Balakrishnan, “Shattered Hopes,” In People on the Bridge: An Anthology of ASEAN Short Stories (Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2001), 532–38 (Call no. RSING 823.01 PEO); M Balakrishnan, “Shattered Hopes,” in The Fiction of Singapore, ed. Edwin Thumboo, et al. (Singapore: Unipress, 1993), 180–86. (Call no. RSING 823.008 ILA)
Further resources
K. Ilangovan à®. à®à®³à®à¯à®à¯à®µà®©à¯, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻp paá¹aippukaḷiá¹ (1965–1981) pÅkku” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®ªà¯ பà®à¯à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®à®³à®¿à®©à¯ (1965–1981) பà¯à®à¯à®à¯, in Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻum tamiḻilakkiyamum: Äyvaraá¹
g mÄnÄá¹á¹uk kaá¹á¹uraikaḷ à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®®à¯ தமிழிலà®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯à®®à¯: à®à®¯à¯à®µà®°à®à¯à® மாநாà®à¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à®à¯à®à¯à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Tamil language and literature in Singapore: Seminar conference proceedings] (Singapore: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தà¯à®à®¿à®¯à®ªà¯ பலà¯à®à®²à¯à®à¯ à®à®´à®à®¤à¯ தமிழà¯à®ªà¯ பà¯à®°à®µà¯, 1981). (Call no. Tamil RSING 494.811095957 SIN)
N. Kadikasalam ந. à®à®à®¿à®à®¾à®à®²à®®à¯ and S. Sivasamy à®. à®à®¿à®µà®à®¾à®®à®¿ eds., “Ayalakat tamiḻkkalai, ilakkiyam: camakÄlac celneá¹ikaḷ” à®
யலà®à®¤à¯ தமிழà¯à®à¯à®à®²à¯, à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯: à®à®®à®à®¾à®²à®à¯ à®à¯à®²à¯à®¨à¯à®±à®¿à®à®³à¯ [Contemporary Tamil literature] (Chennai: à®à®²à®à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®°à®¾à®¯à¯à®à¯à®à®¿ நிறà¯à®µà®©à®®à¯, 2001). (Call no. Tamil RSING 894.81109 AYA)
I. Kannabiran, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻc ciá¹ukatai,” à®. à®à®£à¯à®£à®ªà®¿à®°à®¾à®©à¯ à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®à¯ à®à®¿à®±à¯à®à®¤à¯ [I. Kannabiran’s short stories Singapore], in “Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻum tamiḻilakkiyamum: Äyvaraá¹
g mÄnÄá¹á¹uk kaá¹á¹uraikaḷ” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®®à¯ தமிழிலà®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯à®®à¯: à®à®¯à¯à®µà®°à®à¯à® மாநாà®à¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à®à¯à®à¯à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Tamil language and literature in Singapore: Seminar conference proceedings] (Singapore: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தà¯à®à®¿à®¯à®ªà¯ பலà¯à®à®²à¯à®à¯à®à®´à®à®¤à¯ தமிழà¯à®ªà¯ பà¯à®°à®µà¯: 1978). (Call no. Tamil RSING 494.811095957 TAM)
Na. Govindasamy, “Introduction to Singapore Tamil short story,” in The Fiction of Singapore, ed. Edwin Thumboo et al. (Singapore: Unipress, 1990), 616–37. (Call no. RSING 823.008 FIC)
Na. Govindasamy நா, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiya vaḷarcci: camÅ«kaviyaá¹ kaá¹á¹Åá¹á¹am” à®à¯à®µà®¿à®¨à¯à®¤à®à®¾à®®à®¿, à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯ வளரà¯à®à¯à®à®¿: à®à®®à¯à®à®µà®¿à®¯à®±à¯ à®à®£à¯à®£à¯à®à¯à®à®®à¯ [Tamil literature growth in Singapore: Sociological perspective], in ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻum tamiḻilakkiyamum: Äyvaraá¹
g mÄnÄá¹á¹uk kaá¹á¹uraikaḷ à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®®à¯ தமிழிலà®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯à®®à¯: à®à®¯à¯à®µà®°à®à¯à® மாநாà®à¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à®à¯à®à¯à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Tamil language and literature in Singapore: seminar conference proceedings] (Singapore: தà¯à®à®¿à®¯à®ªà¯ பலà¯à®à®²à¯à®à¯à®à®´à®à®¤à¯ தமிழà¯à®ªà¯ பà¯à®°à®µà¯, 1978). (Call no. Tamil RSING 494.811095957 SIN)
Na. Govindasamy நா, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril ciá¹ukatai vaḷarcci,” à®à¯à®µà®¿à®¨à¯à®¤à®à®¾à®®à®¿, à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ à®à®¿à®±à¯à®à®¤à¯ வளரà¯à®à¯à®à®¿ [Growth of Singapore short stories], in “Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻmoḻi tamiḻ ilakkiya vaḷarcci” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®®à¯à®´à®¿ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯ வளரà¯à®à¯à®à®¿: 1965–1990 [Tamil language and literature in Singapore: 1965–1990] (Singapore: The Journal, 1994), 129–48. (Call no. Tamil RSING 494.811 SIN)
Na. Govindasamy நா. à®à¯à®µà®¿à®¨à¯à®¤à®à®¾à®®à®¿ and Ilangovan à®à®³à®à¯à®à¯à®µà®©à¯, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻc ciá¹ukataikaḷ: År aá¹imukam” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழà¯à®à¯ à®à®¿à®±à¯à®à®¤à¯à®à®³à¯: à®à®°à¯ à®
றிமà¯à®à®®à¯ [An introduction to Singapore short stories] (Chennai: தமிழà¯à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®à®¾à®²à®¯à®®à¯, 1992). (Call no. Tamil RSING 894.811371 SIN)
J. M. Sali à®à¯. à®à®®à¯. à®à®¾à®²à®¿, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«r tamiḻ nÄval vaḷarcci” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯ தமிழ௠நாவல௠வளரà¯à®à¯à®à®¿ [The growth of Tamil novels in Singapore], in à®à®¯à¯à®µà®°à®à¯à®à®®à¯: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯ à®à®°à¯ நà¯à®±à¯à®±à®¾à®£à¯à®à¯ [100 years of Singapore Tamil literature] (Singapore: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®´à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®³à®°à¯ à®à®´à®à®®à¯, 1997). (Call no. Tamil RSING 894.81171 SIN)
A. R. A. Sivakumaran à®. à®à®°à¯. à®. à®à®¿à®µà®à¯à®®à®¾à®°à®©à¯, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻp paá¹aippukaḷil camÅ«kam” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழà¯à®ªà¯ பà®à¯à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®à®³à®¿à®²à¯ à®à®®à¯à®à®®à¯ [The community of Singapore Tamil publications], in Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻum tamiḻilakkiyamum: Äyvaraá¹
g mÄnÄá¹á¹uk kaá¹á¹uraikaḷ à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®®à¯ தமிழிலà®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯à®®à¯: à®à®¯à¯à®µà®°à®à¯à® மாநாà®à¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à®à¯à®à¯à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Tamil language and literature in Singapore: seminar conference proceedings] (Singapore: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தà¯à®à®¿à®¯à®ªà¯ பலà¯à®à®²à¯à®à¯ à®à®´à®à®¤à¯ தமிழà¯à®ªà¯ பà¯à®°à®µà¯, 1982). (Call no. Tamil RSING 494.811095957 SIN)
Pon. Sundararasu பà¯à®©à¯. à®à¯à®¨à¯à®¤à®°à®°à®¾à®à¯, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril nÄvalkaḷ vaḷarcci,” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ நாவலà¯à®à®³à¯ வளரà¯à®à¯à®à®¿ [The growth of novel genre in Singapore], in Ciá¹
gappÅ«ril tamiḻmoḻi tamiḻ ilakkiya vaḷarcci: 1965–1990 à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®²à¯ தமிழà¯à®®à¯à®´à®¿ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯ வளரà¯à®à¯à®à®¿: 1965–1990 [Tamil language and literature in Singapore: 1965–1990] (Singapore: The Journal, 1990). (Call no. Tamil RSING 494.811 SIN)
Suba. Thinnappan à®à¯à®ª. திணà¯à®£à®ªà¯à®ªà®©à¯, Ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiya varalÄá¹u: oru kaá¹á¹Åá¹á¹am à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯ வரலாறà¯: à®à®°à¯ à®à®£à¯à®£à¯à®à¯à®à®®à¯ [Singapore Tamil literature: A Perspective] (Singapore: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯ à®à®²à¯à®®à®à®³à¯ மனà¯à®±à®®à¯, 2002). (Call no. Tamil RSING 894.8113 THI)
N. Baskaran ந. பாஸà¯à®à®°à®©à¯, “ciá¹
gappÅ«riá¹ Äḻu tamiḻc ciá¹ukatai eḻuttÄḷarkaḷ,” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à®¿à®©à¯ à®à®´à¯ தமிழà¯à®à¯ à®à®¿à®±à¯à®à®¤à¯ à®à®´à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®³à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Singapore’s seven Tamil short story writers], in Äyvaraá¹
gam: ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiyam: oru nÅ«á¹á¹Äá¹á¸u à®à®¯à¯à®µà®°à®à¯à®à®®à¯: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯: à®à®°à¯ நà¯à®±à¯à®±à®¾à®£à¯à®à¯ [100 years of Singapore Tamil literature]. Singapore: à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®´à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®³à®°à¯ à®à®´à®à®®à¯, 1997).
(Call no. Tamil RSING 894.81171 SIN)
S. Mathivanan à®à¯. மதிவாணனà¯, “Ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiyam: kaá¹and 20 Äá¹á¸ukaḷum mÄá¹á¹aá¹
gaḷum,” à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯: à®à®à®¨à¯à®¤ 20 à®à®£à¯à®à¯à®à®³à¯à®®à¯ மாறà¯à®±à®à¯à®à®³à¯à®®à¯ [Singapore Tamil literature: Past 20 years and the progression], in MalÄciya ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiyam (2005) mÄnÄá¹á¹uk kaá¹á¹uraikaḷ மலà¯à®à®¿à®¯ à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯ (2005) மாநாà®à¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à®à¯à®à¯à®°à¯à®à®³à¯ [Malaysia Singapore Tamil literature (2005) conference papers] (Chennai: மிதà¯à®° à®à®°à¯à®à¯à®¸à¯ & à®à®¿à®°à®¿à®¯à¯à®·à®©à¯à®¸à¯, 2007). (Call no. Tamil RSING 894.81109 MAL)
Venkat Swaminathan வà¯à®à¯à®à®à¯ à®à¯à®µà®¾à®®à®¿à®¨à®¾à®¤à®©à¯, Kaá¹al kaá¹andum à®à®à®²à¯ à®à®à®¨à¯à®¤à¯à®®à¯ [Diasporas] (Chennai: விரà¯à®à¯à®à®®à¯, 2006). (Call no. Tamil RSING 894.8114 VEN)
M.S. Srilakshmi à®à®®à¯. à®à®¸à¯. ஸà¯à®°à¯à®²à®à¯à®·à¯à®®à®¿, Ciá¹
gappÅ«rt tamiḻ ilakkiyam : Äḻamum akalamum à®à®¿à®à¯à®à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®°à¯à®¤à¯ தமிழ௠à®à®²à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®®à¯: à®à®´à®®à¯à®®à¯ à®
à®à®²à®®à¯à®®à¯ [Singapore literature in depth] (Chennai: மரà¯à®¤à®¾, 2005). (Call no. Tamil RSING 894.811109 SRI)
The information in this article is valid as of December 2023 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
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