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Iyal Awards
Iyal award is a Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually to a writer, scholar, critic or editor, who, over a period of time, has made a very significant contribution to the growth or study of Tamil literature. Every year, the Tamil Literary Garden sends out a call for nominations internationally.
The nominations are reviewed by an international panel of judges who determine the winner for the year. The recipient is invited to the annual awards ceremony in Toronto where he or she is given the award that includes a cash prize of C$2,500. The Lifetime Achievement Award in Tamil is the only one of its kind anywhere in the world and is similar to other prestigious awards given in Canada, USA and U.K. It is open to all, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, or gender.
| Year | Winner | Profession | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Sundara Ramaswami | Writer | India |
| 2002 | K.Ganesh | Writer | Sri Lanka |
| 2003 | Venkat Swaminathan | Writer/ Critic | India |
| 2004 | Pathmanaba Iyer | Writer/ Publisher | U.K |
| 2005 | George L. Hart | Professor of Tamil, University of California, Berkeley | U.S.A |
| 2006 | A.C.Tarcisius | Playwright/ Director | U.K |
| 2007 | Lakshmi Holmstrom | Writer/ Translator | U.K |
| 2008 | Ambai (C.S.Lakshmi) | Writer | India |
| 2009 | Kovai Gnani | Writer | India |
| 2009 | Iravatham Mahadevan[2] | Research Scholar | India |
| 2010 | S.Ponnuthurai | Writer | Australia |
| 2011 | S.Ramakrishnan | Writer | India |
| 2012 | Nanjil Nadan[3] | Writer | India |
| 2013 | S.Theodore Baskaran | Writer | India |
| 2013 | Dominic Jeeva | Writer | Sri Lanka |
| 2014 | Jeyamohan | Writer | India |
| 2015 | R.Mayooranathan | Architect | Sri Lanka |
| 2016 | N.Sukumaran | Writer/Poet | India |
| 2017 | Kalyana Sundaram Sivasankaran (Vannadasan) | Writer | India |
| 2018 | Imayam | Writer | India |
| 2019 | S.Venkatesan | Writer/Poet/Politician | India |
| 2021 | Dr A.R. Venkatachalapathy | Writer | India |
| 2022 | Paavannan | Writer | India |
| 2022 | L.Murugapoopathy | Writer | Australia |
| 2023 | R.Balakrishnan | Researcher | India |
| 2024 | Satchithananthan Sugirtharajah | Writer | UK |
| 2024 | Yuvan Chandrasekar | Writer | India |
Fiction Awards
| Year | Winner | Book |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | So. Tharman | Kookai |
| 2006 | Joe D Cruz | Aazhi Soozh Ulagu |
| 2007 | S.Ramakrishnan | Yamam |
| 2008 | Thamizhavan | Vaaravil Oru Kadavul |
| 2009 | Jeyamohan | Kotravai |
| 2010 | P.Karunakaramoorthy | Pathungu Kuzhi |
| 2010 | S.Venkatesan | Kaaval Kottam |
| 2011 | Yuvan Chandrasekar | Payanak Kathai |
| 2012 | Kanmani Gunasekaran | Anjalai |
| 2013 | Keeranur Jakir Raja | Jinnavin Diary |
| 2013 | Subramania Sritharan | Sritharan Kathaikal |
| 2014 | B.Devakanthan | Kanavuchirai |
| 2015 | Shoba Sakthi | Kandy Veeran |
| 2016 | Sayanthan | Athirai |
| 2017 | Tamilmagan | Vengai Nangoorathin Jeen Kurippukal |
| 2018 | Deebachelvan | Nadukal |
| 2020 | B.Kanmani | Novel Idabam |
| 2021 | P.A.Jayakaran | P.A.Jayakaran Kathaikal (Book) |
| 2022 | Velmurugan Elango | Mannar Poluthugal |
| 2023 | A.M.Rashmy | சற்றே பெரிய கதைகளின் புத்தகம் |
| 2024 | Ravi Arunachalam | பம்பாய் சைக்கிள் |
Non-Fiction Awards
| Year | Winner | Book |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Crea Ramakrishnan | Tharkaalath Thamizakaraathi |
| 2006 | A. Revathy | Unarvum Uruvamum |
| 2007 | Nanjil Nadan | Nathiyin Pizhaiyandru Narumpunal Inmai |
| 2008 | Dr.Murugar Gunasingam | Ilangayil Thamizhar |
| 2009 | Dr.N.Subramanian | Eelathu Tamizh Novel Ilakkiyam |
| 2009 | Aa.Sivasubramanian | Ash Kolaiyum Inthiya Puradchi Iyakkamum |
| 2010 | R.S.Sugirtharajah | Panpaattu Porkanikal |
| 2010 | S.Theodore Baskaran | Innum Pirakkaatha Thalaimuraikkaaka |
| 2011 | Perumal Murugan | Ketta Varththai Pesuvom |
| 2012 | Prapanchan | Thazhap Parakkum Paraththayar Kodi |
| 2012 | Appu | Vanni Yuththam |
| 2013 | M.Pushparajan | Nambikkaikalukku Appaal |
| 2014 | M.Nithiyananthan | Kooliththamil |
| 2014 | M.Jeyarani | Jathiyarravalin Kural |
| 2015 | Ashokamitran | Kurukku Veddukal |
| 2016 | Mysskin | Onayum Aaddukkuddiyum |
| 2017 | Professor E.Balasundaram | Canadavil Ilangai Thamizarin Vaazvum Valamum |
| 2018 | Umajee | Kaaka Kothiya Kayam |
| 2021 | K.Chandru | நானும் நீதிபதி ஆனேன் |
| 2022 | Samraj | மூவந்தியில் சூலுறும் மர்மம் |
| 2023 | P.Wikneswaran | நினைவு நல்லது |
| 2024 | T. Pitchandi | எனக்குள் மணக்கும் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். நினைவுகள் |
Poetry Awards
| Year | Winner | Book |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Dr. U. Cheran | Meendum Kadalukku |
| 2007 | K.Vesudean | Tholaivil |
| 2008 | Leena Manimekalai | Ulagin Azhagiya Muthal Pen |
| 2009 | Sukumaaran | Poomiyai Vaasikkum Sirumi |
| 2010 | Thirumavalavan | Irul Yaazhi |
| 2010 | Manushya Puthiran | Adheethathin Rusi |
| 2011 | Devadhachan | Irandu Sooriyan |
| 2011 | Anar | Enakkuk Kavithai Mukam |
| 2012 | Theva Abira | Irul Thinra Eelam |
| 2012 | Nillanthan | Yugapuraanam |
| 2013 | Isai | Sivaji Ganesanin Muththangal |
| 2014 | Kathirbharathi | Mesiyavukku Moonru Machangal |
| 2015 | Kumaragurubaran | Marupadiyum muthalil irunthu arampikka mudiyaathu |
| 2016 | P.Sankara Rama Subramanian | Ayiram Santhosha Ilaikal |
| 2017 | Packiyanathan Ahilan | Ammai |
| 2018 | Bogan Sankar | Siriya EnkaL Thungum Arai |
| 2020 | S.Perundevi | |
| 2021 | Aazhiyaal | Nedumarangkalaay vaazthal (Book) |
| 2022 | Sukirtharani | சுகிர்தராணி கவிதைகள் |
| 2023 | Ilavalai Wijayendran | எந்தக் கங்கையில் கைகளைக் கழுவுவது? |
| 2024 | Ravi Subramaniyan | அருகிருக்கும் தனியன் |
| 2024 | Riyaza M.Zawahir | நிலங்களின் வாசம் |
Vision of Indian Literature Award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Sivasankari |
Translation Awards
| Year | Translator | Translation Title | Original Title | Author |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | G.Kuppuswamy | En Peyar Sivappu | My Name is Red | Orhan Pamuk |
| 2012 | M.A.Susila | Asadan | The Idiot | Fyodor Dostoyevsky |
| 2012 | Vaidehi Herbert [4] | ‘Mullaippaattu’ and ‘Nedunalvaadai’ | ‘Mullaippāṭṭu‘ and ‘Neṭunalvāṭai‘ | |
| 2013 | C.Mohan and Aniruddhan Vasudevan | Onaai Kulachchinnam | One Part Woman | Perumal Murugan |
| 2014 | Swarnavel Eswaran Pillai | Madras Studios – Narrative Genre and Ideology in Tamil Cinema | ||
| 2014 | K.V.Shylaja | Yaarukkum Vendaatha Kan | ||
| 2015 | N. Kalyan Raman (Tamil to English) | Farewell, Mahatma | ||
| 2015 | Puviyarasu (English to Tamil) | Mirthathin Puththakam | ||
| 2016 | Rishan Shareef (Sinhalese to Tamil) | Iruthi Maniththiyalam | ||
| 2016 | Eveline Masilamani Meyer (Tamil to German) | Bananenblatter und StraBenstaub | ||
| 2017 | D.I.Aravindan | Balasaraswathi: Her Life and Art | ||
| 2018 | Era Murukan | Peerangi Paadalkal | ||
| 2018 | Dr. R.Karthigesu | Beyond the Sea | ||
| 2021 | Dr. Matha Ann Selby (Tamil Author Dilip Kumar) | Cat in the Agraharam and other stories | ||
| 2023 | Jegadeesh Kumar Kesavan | A Journey Through Words | ||
| 2024 | Nedra Rodrigo | Prison of Dreams (5 parts) |
Informaton Technology In Tamil Awards
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Dr K.Srinivasan[5] |
| 2007 | Dr.K.Kalyanasundaram |
| 2008 | Suratha Yarlvanan |
| 2009 | Tamil Linux KDE Group |
| 2010 | Muthu Nedumaaran |
| 2011 | Vasu Renganathan |
| 2012 | Mugunthraj Subramanian |
| 2013 | Mani Manivannan |
| 2014 | Muthiah Annamalai |
| 2015 | S.Raja Raman (Neechalkaran) |
| 2016 | T.Shrinivasan |
| 2017 | Sasiharan Pathmanathan |
| 2018 | Ramasamy Duraipandi |
Foreign Language Award
| Year | Winner | Book |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Logathasan Tharmathurai | The Sadness of Geography |
Special Recognition Awards
Apart from the yearly awards, Special Recognition Awards are given on ad-hoc basis for outstanding contributions to Tamil Literature. So far three such awards were given.
Dec 2006: A.J.Canagaratne, born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka is a great intellect and his most important contribution to Tamil literature is literary criticism. He gave new direction to the growth of literature in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.
July 2010: Sascha Ebeling, Asst Professor, University of Chicago, U.S.A is a researcher in Tamil language and literature of all periods, in particular 19th century culture and Tamil epigraphy. His work on 19th century Tamil literature has won two awards.
July 2013: Mr.& Mrs.Aseervatham, This award is given for the commitment to Tamil and the sponsorship of Tamil Literary Garden.
July 2015: So.Pathmanathan and Brenda Beck
July 2016: Dr.David Shulman in honour of All Teachers of the World
July 2016: Ira Ilangkumaran
July 2017: Sivakumaran Subramaniam (Chezhian), T.Gnanasekaran, Dr.Nicholapillai Marier Xavier
July 2018: M.Navin, Thiru S. Thiruchelvam
July 2020: P.J.Dilipkumar, Veerakathy Suthershan
June 2022: V.N.Giritharan
2023: Parvathy Kanthasamy
Scholarship Awards
The scholarship award was established in 2008 in order to encourage and promote Tamil Studies in the diaspora, particularly among the second generation.
| Year | Winner | Essay Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Angela Britto | Naan Poitu Varan: The Importance of Tamil Studies in a Diasporic Context |
| 2009 | Kirubhalani Giruparajah | Canadian Multiculturalism – A Tamil Perspective |
| 2010 | Serothy Ramachandran | Media and Politics in Tamil Studies |
| 2011 | Ram Adrian | The Private and the Public: A Canadian Tamil Perspective |
| 2012 | Mira Ragunathan | Building Bridges: Constructing a Tamil Community in Canada |
| 2013 | Elina Toporos and Arundathy Nedra Rodrigo | New Technologies: Refashioning a Tamil Identity |
| 2014 | Vasugi Kailasam and Yugendra Ragunathan | Renegotiating New Meanings of Self in Tamil Canadian Diasporaa |
| 2015 | Renuka Murthi | Innovative Forms of Tamil Expression Today |
| 2016 | Sopika Sathiyaseelan | You Have Already Set Yourself on Fire |
| 2017 | Shangari Vijenthira | |
| 2018 | Kalyani Rathakrishnan | Essay – ‘What Symbolizes Tamilness for me?’ |
| 2019 | Sruthy Sriharan | Essay ‘ Traditions that bring my family closertogether.’ |