It would be interesting to note that between 1945 and 1955 the Tamil journals inculcated an awareness of understanding that Lankan Modern literature is different from what was produced in Tamil Naadu. A Sri Lankan consciousness became prominent. It took nearly 08 years after the Independence of our country to realize this fact. And Lankan Tamil-speaking people took 10 years to accept this reality.
Hitherto most of the Sinhala people thought that the Tamil people in the Island depended only on what was produced across the Straits. A young generation interested in the literature of local writing and some of the leftist inclined writers created an atmosphere of understanding local writing.
The Tamil newspapers Virakesari (1930) and Thinakaran (1932) were publishing only writing by Tamil Nadu writers at this time. But two journals- Marumalarchi and Bharathi – both started publishing local writers in 1946.
Marumalarchi (Renaissance) was published in Yaalpaanam and had only 24 issues and Bharathi only 6 issues. The art of short writing by Lankan Tamil writers was known in the 1930s, but only in 1940s, it got its form. Some of the then writers were AS Murugananthan, Varathar and K Periyathamby. In the 1940s, poets and fiction writers began to rise. Some of them were Mahakavi, Naavatkuli Nadarasan, Vidwan Saravanamutu (Saaratha).
Bharathi (named after the Indian Great Poet) was the first Lankan Marxist journal to be published from Colombo. Prominent writers were K Ganesh and A N Kandasamy. It also published translations of Marxist writers like Maxim Gorky and Mulkraj Anand.
There was another Bharathi published from Maddakkalapu. Only 10 issues are believed to have been published. This journal encourages literary criticism. This journal not only catered to Yaalpaanam and Colombo readers and writers but also those from the Maddakkalappu regions.
It is learnt that during this era Erimalai from Thirukonamalai and Uthayan form Maddakkalapu were published.
Then after 1956 and till 1975, many literary journals came into the scene. Kalaichelvi (Lass of the Arts) from Yaalpaanan existed from 1958 till 1965. It remained the only organ for writers. It patronized the newly evolved consciousness of Lankan consciousness. It encouraged new writers who were to become leading writers later: M. Ponnambalam, Sengai Aaliyaan (K Kunarasa), S Yoganathan, Pa. Sathiyseelan, T. Gnanasekeran, Sembian Selvan (Rajagopal), Theniyaan, Saanthan, Muniyappa Daasan, Yo Benedict Balan. The journal also encouraged women writers. It embraced University researchers, traditional Pundits, progressive writers and others.
During this period progressive writers of Marxist leanings wrote in depth.
Such writers began to publish new journals like Puthumai Ilakkiyam (1955), Maragatham 1956), Vasantham (1965), Mallikai (168), Kumaran (1710, Kalani (1973), Thaayaham (1974), Samar (1979).
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