Mr R. Kanagaratnam (Kurumbasiddy Era Kanagaratnam) (1 August 1934 -22 June 2016) tirelessly collected Tamil and English newspaper clippings and manuscripts related to political and cultural affairs of Eelam Tamils for almost six decades. Mr Kanagaratnam was respected for his contributions to the modern archival history of Eelam Tamils as well as his continued focus on the historiography of Tamils living across the larger region, from Fiji Islands to South Africa. His unique contribution to the nation of Eelam Tamils was collecting, archiving, microfilming and at the same time ensuring secure storage of the Tamil and English documents outside the island – all achieved through his focused and relentless efforts.
Kanagaratnam held an exhibition at the 4th International Tamil Conference in Jaffna in 1974. He has also exhibited a section of his collections in Canada (1996) and in Norway (1997).
Apart from his archival work, Mr. Kanagratnam also published a number of small pamphlets highlighting the situation of Tamils in Singapore, Malaysia, Burma, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Fiji Islands, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, Indonesia, and South Africa.
He was painfully watching the unfolding genocidal onslaught targeting Vanni while he was exiled in Tamil Nadu since 2008.
Kanagaratnam had returned to the island 10 months before his death as his health conditions began to deteriorate due to diabetes and blood pressure. Kanagaratnam leaves behind his wife, Pavalarany, who has been assisting him in his work and two daughters who are living outside the island.
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The Kurumbasiddy Era Kanagaratnam collection consists of the lifework of Mr. R. Kanagaratnam who collected Tamil and English newspaper clippings and manuscripts related to political and cultural affairs of Eelam Tamils for almost six decades under the institutional name of the International Tamil Archives.
Kanagratnam’s collections document more than a hundred years of Tamil polity, starting from 1889 to December 2013. Although the main part of his collections is newspaper clippings, there are also published and unpublished articles related to social and cultural heritage of the nation of Eelam Tamils.
Newspaper clippings from Morning Star, The Hindu Organ, Eezhakeasari (1930 to 1957), Veerakeasari, Chuthanthiran (since 1952), The Daily News, Sun, Saturday Review (full volume), Eezha-Naadu, Chari-nikar (full volume), Tribune (full volume), Thisai (full volume), Thina-murasu (from 1st issue to 2002), Dhiniapathi, Sunday Times, Sunday Observer, Thinakkural, Chinthaa-ma’ni, Island, Chudar-o’li and Hotspring are some of the collections in the International Tamil Archives. His collections also include 10,000 published and unpublished articles, manuscripts, and around 10,000 cartoons.
The collection is divided into two series:
1. Microfilm reels
2. History of the Eelam Tamils' Struggle for Freedom : clipping collection
Original order has been maintained.
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279 reels are unique while the rest are copies; in most cases both a negative and a positive microfilm exist. The second number in the file number refers to the original reel number.
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Series contains newspapers and textual records such as Ceylon Patriot, Hindu Organ, Sansoni Commission Evidence, Sutantiran, Thainadu, Congress, Eelakesari, Kesari, The Independent, Thina Murasu, Sari Negar, Viduthalai, Tribune, Elath Thamilar Varalalu (or Waralaru), and Tamil Culture. Some reels contain miscellaneous articles or articles that have been organized by theme.
Microfilms were arranged by the creator and are numbered by their original listing. Original titles are also used.
Reel numbers 190 to 200 were skipped and there are two different reels numbered 204; these have since been renumbered 204a and 204b.
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Hindu Organ is dated 1921-1929.
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The second number in the file number refers to the original ‘bundle’ number. Each section or bundle was wrapped in paper and tied with string, which has since been removed for preservation.
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Series is comprised of newspaper clippings related to Tamils from Tamil and English newspapers. Kurumbasiddy Ira. Kanagaratnam and Pavalarani Kanagaratnam began collecting and compiling the clippings in 1956.
Original order and original numbering has been preserved.
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Contains a brief introduction for the collection, The History of the Eelam Tamils' Struggle for Freedom: Historical Records; compiled by Kurumbasiddy Ira. Kanagaratnam and Pavalarani Kanagaratnam.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, images, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, images, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, images, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and images from Nantaṉ, a sociopolitical bi-monthly publication.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, images, book reviews, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, interviews, and images from Nantaṉ, a sociopolitical bi-monthly publication and Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles and images from Nantaṉ, a sociopolitical bi-monthly publication and Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, poetry, and images from Nantaṉ, a sociopolitical bi-monthly publication and Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, poetry, and images from Nantaṉ, a sociopolitical bi-monthly publication, Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai, Periyar Era, and Tamiliḻt Tēcam, a special publication from the Tamilil Nationalist Front Conference.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), Uḻaikkum Makkaḷ Tamiḻakam, and Tamiḻar Kaṇṇōṭṭam.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), Tamiḻar Kaṇṇōṭṭam, Valliṉam. Tāymaṇ, and Cemparutti (Malaysia).
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), Tamiḻar Kaṇṇōṭṭam, Cemparutti (Malaysia), āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, and Periyar Era.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, political cartoons, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), Tamiḻar Kaṇṇōṭṭam, Cemparutti (Malaysia), āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, Periyar Era, Uḻaikkum Makkaḷ Tamiḻakam, Maṇmoḻi, Kumutam. Uṇmai, and Tiṉattanti.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), Tamiḻar Kaṇṇōṭṭam, Cemparutti (Malaysia), āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, Periyar Era, Uḻaikkum Makkaḷ Tamiḻakam, Maṇmoḻi, Kumutam. Uṇmai, Tiṉattanti, Pukaḻccelvi, Tamiḻttēcam, Uyirmai, and Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, images, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), Tamiḻar Kaṇṇōṭṭam, āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, Periyar Era, Kumutam, Tiṉattanti, Pukaḻccelvi, Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Frontline, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Tiṉakaraṉ, and Kalki.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, political cartoons, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, Kumutam, Tiṉattanti, Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Kalki, Kumutam Rippōṭṭar, Intiyā ṭuṭē, Tiṉappulari, Amrutā, and Annajāt.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, poetry, and images from Tamiliḻ ōcai, Kuṅkumam, Tiṉappulari, Jaṉa Cakti, Rippōrṭṭar, Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ, KumuTamil, āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Periyar Era and TamililWin.com.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles and essays from Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Kumutam Rippōṭṭar, Puraṭcip Periyār Muḻakkam, and Tiṉappulari.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, poetry, and images from Tamiliḻ ōcai, Tiṉappulari, Jaṉa Cakti, KumuTamil, Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Tiṉakkural, Cuṭar Oḷi, Vīrakēcari, Tiṉattanti, Mālai Muracu, Pukaḻccelvi, Yātum ūrē, Aruṇaṉ, Vaḷarum Tamiliḻ Ulakam, Tamiliḻt Tēciya Tamiliḻar Kaṇṇōṭṭam, and Periyar Era.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, poetry, and images from Tārāmati, Jaṉacakti, Tamiliḻ ōcai, IcaitTamiliḻ, Taṉmāṉam, Pukaḻccelvi, Mukam, Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Tiṉappulari, Nakkīraṉ, Vaḷarum Tamiliḻ Ulakam, KumuTamil Rippōrṭṭar, Yātum ūrē, Iṉiyā, ēḻaitācaṉ, and Periyar Era.
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[Removed for preservation]
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, political cartoons, and poetry from Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Tiṉappulari, Express News Service, The New Indian Express, Aruṇaṉ, Naṟṟamiḻ, Vaṇṇappūṅkā, Mīṭci, and Pukaḻccelvi.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and poetry from Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Tiṉappulari, Vaṇṇappūṅkā, Pukaḻccelvi, and Payaṇam.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and political cartoons from Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Pukaḻccelvi, and Naṟṟamiḻ.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles and essays from Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Pukaḻccelvi, Tiṉamaṇi, Aruṇaṉ, Taṉmāṉam, The Hindu, and Tamilwin.com.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles and essays from Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Tiṉamaṇi, Periyar Era, Tamiḻaka Araciyal, Neṟṟikkaṇ, tamiḻaka araciyal, neṟṟikkaṇ, and Nāḷai Viṭiyum.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles, essays, and poetry from Cintaṉaiyāḷaṉ (a monthly publication by the Marxist Periyarist Communist Party in Chennai), āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Tiṉamaṇi, Teṉṉāciyac Ceyti, Cauntara Cukaṉ, Neṟṟikkaṇ, Taṉmāṉam, and Tamilwin.com.
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Contains a mix of original and photocopied clippings of news articles and essays from āṉanta vikaṭaṉ, Kumutam, Tiṉattanti, Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, Nakkīraṉ, Jaṉa Cakti, Tamiḻ ōcai, Kalki, Kumutam Rippōṭṭar, Amrutā, Mīṭci, Pukaḻccelvi, Cūriyar Katir, Tiṉamaṇi, Teṉ āciyac ceyti, and Varudal.com.
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Contains a collection of special essays and politically significant events related to the freedom struggle of Eelam Tamils.
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Contains an essay series titled, Mukavari Alla Mukam, written by Kaṇmaṇi and published in Tiṉappulari, a daily newspaper from Tamilil Nadu. The series stopped with the 25th essay as they stopped publishing the newspaper; could not obtain a few essays.
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Contains an essay series titled, īḻatTamiliḻarkaḷ ilaṅkaiyiṉ maintarkaḷē written by Irāvaṇaṉ and published in Tamiliḻ ōcai from Tamilil Nadu. The series stopped with the 64th essay; could not obtain 3 essays (23, 31, 50).
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Contains an essay series titled, YutTamil Caraṇam written by Pā. Irākavaṉ and published in KumuTamil Rippōṭṭar, a weekly from Tamilil Nadu. Irā. Mayūtaraṉ from Mayiliṭṭi helped to collect this essay series.
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Contains an essay series titled, Taṅkatturai, Kuṭṭimaṇi, Jekaṉ written by Karikālaṉ and published in Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, a weekly from Tamilil Nadu. Irā. Mayūtaraṉ from Mayiliṭṭi helped to collect this essay series.
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Contains an essay series titled, īḻatTamiliḻar pōrāṭṭa varalāṟu written by Pāvai Cantiraṉ and published in Tiṉamaṇi, a daily newspaper from Tamilil Nadu. Irā. Mayūtaraṉ from Mayiliṭṭi provided a significant amount of these essays.
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Contains original and photocopied clippings of an essay series titled, Ilaṅkait Tamiliḻar Varalāṟṟuc Cuvaṭukaḷ and published in Tiṉattanti, a daily newspaper from Tamilil Nadu.
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Contains an essay series titled, Muḷvali: Tirumāvaḷavaṉiṉ Irattap Pativu and published in Jūṉiyar Vikaṭaṉ, a weekly from Tamilil Nadu.