Tamil Nadu life convict Selvam’s book Oru Thooku Kaithiyin Vaakumoolam wins Iyal Award of Canada
Life convict C. Selvam has been awarded the Iyal Award for his memoir, 'Oru Thooku Kaithiyin Vaakumoolam,' which details his experiences and reading habits while incarcerated. The book, which advocates for prison reform, was written during his 32-year imprisonment and has received critical acclaim.
Why it matters
The recognition of a prisoner's literary work highlights the role of literature in rehabilitation and brings attention to the conditions and realities of the prison system.
Oru Thooku Kaithiyin Vaakumoolam (Testimony of a Death Warrant Prisoner), penned by life convict C. Selvam, has been selected for the Iyal Award for non-fiction by the Canada-based Tamil Literary Garden. This is probably the first time that the award has gone to a writer who has been living in prison for 32 years.
“I consider it an award for my reading. I could not study beyond Class 9, and reading sustained me in prison all these years,” said Selvam, who is now lodged in Vellore prison, currently out on parole. Selvam, a native of Thenthamaraikulam in Kanniyakumari district, said his favourite authors include Sundara Ramasamy, S. Ramakrishnan, Nanjil Nadan and Jayamohan.
Selvam also received a message from noted Sri Lankan writer A. Muthulingam, who lives in Canada, congratulating him on the book award. The award carries 1000 Canada Dollars.
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