K. Indrapala

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.

Professor K. Indrapala
Born	(1938-10-22)22 October 1938
Education	Jaffna College University of Ceylon
Occupation	Academic
Title	Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna
Term	December 1982 – July 1984
Predecessor	S. Kailasapathy
Successor	N. Balakrishnan

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]

References

1. 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 2013-05-05.