Sri Lankan Tamil writer Thelivathai Joseph, whose writings captured the life and culture of the plantation Tamils, has been selected for this year’s Vishnupuram Elakkiya Vattam award.
The award, instituted by the readers of writer Jeyamohan’s masterpiece Vishnupuram, carries Rs 1 lakh cash and a memento.
Tamil writer Indira Parthasarathy will confer the award at a function in Coimbatore on November 22.
A book on Joesph and his works will be released on the occasion.
According to Vishnupuram Elakkiya Vattam, Santhanasami Joseph’s ancestors went to Sri Lanka from Kumbakonam in the 1880s.
Born in Thelivathai estate near Nuvaralea in 1934, Joseph worked as an elementary school teacher before becoming an accountant at a chocolate factory.
He shot to fame with the publication of his first novel Kalangal Savathillai in 1974. His other works are Namirukkum Nade, Palayi and Kudai nizhal. He has also authored a detailed history of literature of plantation area, besides publishing anthologies of the writers.
In the past Vishnupuram Awards were given to writers A. Madhavan, Poomani and poet Devadevan.
