Ananda Coomaraswamy: An Introduction by K.R. Satchidanandam

TAMIL HERITAGE GROUP
A Movement for Preservation, Documentation and Sensitisation of our Heritage
This month’s programme will feature a talk on
Ananda Coomaraswamy: An Introduction
by K.R.Satchidanandam
on 4th April (Saturday) 2009 at 05.00 pm

Ananda K Coomaraswamy
Ananda K Coomaraswamy was born in Ceylon (now Srilanka) on August 22nd of 1877 as the only son of Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy and an English lady Elizabeth Clay and grew up in England. He was a multi-facetted researcher, scientist, linguist, expert on culture and art, philosopher, museum curator and author.
“Study of the traditional arts of the Orient and the Occident to the philosophia perennis is the personal history of this man.”

A prolific writer, who has authored 95 books, contributed 1815 articles to anthologies and periodicals on arts, architecture, sculpture, metaphysics etc.

AKC can be studied from various perspectives, namely, as art historian and philosopher during the formative period of first forty years and as metaphysician and social critic in the later part of his life.

K. R. Satchidanandam
A writer and speaker he specialises in the cultural history of India as outlined by Ananda K Coomaraswamy in his writings. He has been visiting places of cultural importance, museums and monuments of archaeological importance in India to have a firsthand knowledge and experience. He has presented papers in seminars and lectured in small groups in London, Paris and Halle. He has built a personal library of AKC books and articles.
He has ten books to his credit and has been intimately connected with Tamil magazines of importance.
‘The Wit and Wisdom of Ananda Coomaraswamy’, a book of quotations of one thousand pages taken from more than ten thousand pages of AKC’s writings is awaiting publication for want of financial help. The book is arranged subject-wise and in chronological order giving sources.