Professor

K. Indrapala
Born (1938-10-22) 22 October 1938
EducationJaffna College
University of Ceylon
OccupationAcademic
TitleDean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna
TermDecember 1982 – July 1984
PredecessorS. Kailasapathy
SuccessorN. Balakrishnan

Professor Karthigesu Indrapala (born 22 October 1938) is a Sri Lankan academic, historian, archaeologist, author and former dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna.

Early life and family

Indrapala was born on 22 October 1938.[1] He was the son of K. Karthigesu and Kanakambikai Ambal from Vaddukoddai in northern Ceylon.[1] He was educated at Jaffna College.[1] After school he joined the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya in 1956, graduating with a first class honours degree in ancient history.[1]

Indrapala married Priyadarshani, daughter of C. Somasundeeram from Navaly.[1] They have two daughters (Harini and Dharini).[1]

Career

Indrapala was interested in epigraphy and studied Tamil and other language inscriptions. He joined the faculty at the Department of History, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya in 1960.[1] He started researching the history of Tamils on the island, paying particular attention to Tamil inscriptions. He continued his studies in London, receiving a PhD after producing a thesis titled Dravidian Settlements in Ceylon and the Beginnings of the Jaffna Kingdom.[1]

Indrapala then returned to Peradeniya to continue his research into Tamil inscriptions.[1] He underwent epigraphy training in Mysore.[1] Between 1966 and 1974 Indrapala explored the jungles of Northern, North Central and Eastern provinces, discovering new Tamil inscriptions and Hindu temples.[1]

Indrapala was appointed dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Jaffna campus of the University of Sri Lanka in 1974.[1] He was a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo in 1976.[1] Later he became Foundation Professor of History at the newly created University of Jaffna.[1] He established courses in archaeology and epigraphy and the archaeological museum at the university.[1] He then carried out various archaeological excavations on the Jaffna peninsula, discovering the ancient burial site at Anaikoddai.[1] He was dean of the Faculty of Arts at the university from December 1982 to July 1984.[1][2]

Indrapala joined the new Tamil University in Thanjavur in 1984.[1] Later he moved to Australia.[1]

Published Books

  • K Indrapala The Evolution of an Ethnic Identity: The Tamils of Sri Lanka C. 300 BCE to C. 1200 CE (Ohm Books Publishing, 2015 - ISBN 978-1511674126)
  • K Indrapala Ancient Tamil Nadu: Glimpses of the Past (Ohm Books Publishing, 2021 - ISBN 979-8590567386)
  • K Indrapala Ancient Sri Lanka: Glimpses of the Past (Ohm Books Publishing, 2022 - ISBN 979-8436812137)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. p. 61.
  2. ↑ "Former Deans". Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
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