S. Sivanayagam — The Journalist

by S.Ratnapragasam
Kokuvil

File Photo

(January 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Subramaniam Sivanayagam passed away in Colombo on 29th of November 2010 in his eightieth (80) year. They were two in the family and his only sister Thaiyalnayagi predeceased him in October 1995 during the exodus of people from Jaffna. Born in 1930, he has had a chequered writing career spanning nearly half a century. Students of his time enjoyed the best of both worlds with English as the medium of instruction and equal emphasis being given for the study of Tamil language and literature. But for two years 1950 and 1951 spent at Jaffna College, Vaddukkoddai in the H.S.C. class, at the instance of S. Handy Perinpanayagam, Sivanayagam had his entire schooling at Kokuvil Hindu College. When he missed University admission, his father wanted him to do Law. He was at Law College for two years, then abandoned it and opted for Journalism.

Sivanayagam worked on the editorial staff of the Ceylon Daily News (1953 - 1955) and the Ceylon Daily Mirror (1961 - 1969) which then carried a very popular feature called "FORUM" which was compiled and edited by him. He worked as an English Language copy writer at J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency and was Editor (Publications) at Ceylon Tourist Board. He made the process of writing a journey of revelation and discovery not just for the reader but for the writer too.

Sivanayagam believed a mass media must reinforce and not undermine national ethos, the cultural values and social attitudes. It should create a mood in which people become keen to acquire knowledge, skills and disciplines of advanced countries which are ‘sine qua non’ for development. It must emphasise the importance of education, the need for stability, the work ethic and sense of commitment. Science and technology and widespread IT literacy should be at the core of education. What is wanted is responsible reporting and factual statement of facts.

As an active member of the Colombo Old Students Association of K.H.C. in the 1960’s he edited the valedictory tributes to Principals S.Handy Perinpanayagam and C.K.Kanthaswamy (1971) and the booklet "Homage to a Guru " to Handy Perinpanayagam when he died in December 1977. He used to gratefully recall his indebtedness to teachers like P.B.Bhargaviamma, and K.Pathmanathan for having initiated him into the majesty, magic and the beauty of the English Language. He was the founder editor of the Jaffna based ‘Saturday Review’ which was banned by the government in July 1983; fleeing to India as a refugee he soon headed the Madras branch of the Tamil Information Centre and became an advocate of the Tamil cause through his writings. He suffered torture and detention in India; was incarcerated for an year jail term, under the National Security Act there and left that country in 1993.

A collection of his writings entitled "The Pen and the Gun" was published in England in 2001 and another book titled "Sri Lanka — Witness to History — A Journalist’s Memoirs" was published in 2005. He compared the authorship of a book to the agonies in the delivery of a baby that has to be carefully nursed from conception to child birth.

Sivanayagam has moved on beyond sight and sound and touch for ever. It is a gentle reminder that time waits for no man, that life is temporal and that God gives us but a few years in which to make our lives meaningful. For after all we are judged and remembered by the contents of our characters! May his soul attain "Sivapatham" which he richly deserves.