The Tamil Literary Garden
The Tamil Literary Garden, is a Canadian literary organization and charity founded in 2001. The focus of this organization is on supporting translations of Tamil literature, sponsoring lecture series, commissioning publications, launching books and recognizing annually significant achievements in Tamil in a number of genres and fields.
Over a span of a few years, the activities grew to include a number of awards, such as the best work of fiction, non-fiction and poetry for the year. Translation award and Information technology in Tamil award were added on subsequently. A scholarship for a student essay submitted in English by an undergraduate or graduate student in Ontario was also introduced. In order to make the process both rigorous and transparent, a number of advisors and an international panel of judges were included.
On 3 March 2010, the Tamil Literary Garden was accepted as a charitable organization. Currently 22 volunteers take part in its activities on a regular basis assisted by the board members and none receives any financial compensations. The financial statements are being audited by a firm of Chartered Accountants.
Its founding members include Chelva Kanaganayakam, Appadurai Muttulingam, Kandiah Mahalingam, Selvam Arulanandam, and Sivakumaran Subramaniyam.
Awards
Iyal award
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 | Research Scholar | India |
| 2010 | S.Ponnuthurai | Writer | Australia |
| 2011 | S.Ramakrishnan | Writer | India |
| 2012 | Nanjil Nadan | 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 | Writer/Poet | India |
| 2018 | V. Annamalai | Writer | India |
| 2019 | Su. Venkatesan | Writer | India |
| 2021 | Dr. A. R. Venkatachalapathy | Researcher and write | India |
| 2022 | Paavannan | Writer | India |
| 2022 | Letchumanan Murugapoopathy | Writer | Sri Lanka |
| 2023 | R. Balakrishnan | Writer | India |
| 2024 | Satchithananthan Sugirtharajah | Writer | England |
| 2024 | Writer | India |
Fiction Award
| 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 | Idabam | - |
| 2021 | P. A. Jayakaran | Collection of Short Stories. ‘P. A. Jayakaran stories | Canada |
| 2022 | Velmurugan Elango | Mannar pozhuthukaL | India |
| 2023 | A.M.Rashmy | 'sattE periya kathaikalin puththakam' | Sri Lanka |
| 2024 | Ravi Arunachalam | 'Bombay Cycle' | Sri Lanka |
Non-Fiction Award
| 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 | Umaji | Kaakkaa koththiya kaayam | - |
| 2021 | K. Chandru | ‘Naanum Neethipathi Aanen’ | India |
| 2022 | Samraj | ‘Moovanthiyil soolurum marmam’ | India |
| 2023 | P.Wikneswaran | ‘ninaivu nallathu’ | Canada |
| 2024 | T. Pitchandi | ‘enakkuL maNakkum MGR ninaivukaL’ | India |
Poetry Award
| 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 Shankar | SiRiya eNkaL thoongkum aRai | - |
| 2020 | S.Perundevi | - | |
| 2021 | Aazhiyaal | ‘NedumarangkaLaai Vaazthal’ | Australia |
| 2022 | Sukirtharani | ‘Sukirtharani kavithaikaL’ | India |
| 2023 | Ilavalai Wijayendran | ‘enthak kangkaiyil inthak kaikalaik kazhuvuvathu?’ | Norway |
| 2024 | Ravi Subramaniyan | ‘atukitukkum thaniyan’ | India |
| 2024 | Riyaza M.Zawahir | ‘nilankaLin vaasam’ | Sri Lanka |
Translation Award
| 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 | '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 | Farewell, Mahatma | - | ||
| 2015 | Puviyarasu | Mirthathin Puththakam | - | ||
| 2016 | Rishan Shareef | Iruthi Maniththiyalam | - | ||
| 2016 | Eveline Masilamani Meyer | Bananenblatter und StraBenstaub | - | ||
| 2017 | D.I.Aravindanr | Balasaraswathi: Her Life and Art | - | ||
| 2018 | Dr, R. Karthigesu | Kadalukku appaal | Beyond Sea | P. Singaram | |
| 2018 | Era Murugan | Peeranki PaadalkaL | Lanthan paththEriyile luththiniyakaL | N.S. Maathavan | |
| 2021 | Dr. Martha Ann Selby. Professor Harvard Tamil Chair | Cat in the Agraharam and other stories | Kadavu | Dilip Kumar | |
| 2023 | Jegadeesh Kumar Kesavan | A Journey Through Words | sol vazhip payanam | Bava Chelladurai | |
| 2024 | Nedra Rodrigo | Prison of Dreams | kanavuch chiRai | Devakanthan |
Information Technology in Tamil Award
| Year | Winner |
| 2006 | Dr K.Srinivasan |
| 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 |
| 2016 | T.Shrinivasan |
| 2017 | Sasiharan Pathmanathan |
| 2018 | Ramasamy Duraipandi |
Foreign Language Award
| Year | Winner | - |
| 2017 | Anuk Arudpragasam | - |
| 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
June 2017: Sivakumaran Subramaniam
June 2017: T. Gnanasekaran in honour of All Teachers of the World
June 2017: Dr. Nicholapillai Marier Xavier
June 2018: Navin Manogaran
June 2018: S. Thiruchelvam
2020: P.J.Dilipkumar
2020: Veerakathy Suthershan
2022: V. N. Giritharan
2023:
Scholarship Award
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 | Social Media and the Making of Tamil Identities. |
| 2018 | Kalayani Rathakrishnan | What symbolizes Tamilness for me?. |
| 2020 | Sruthy Sriharan | Essay ‘ Traditions that bring my family closer together.’ |