Cultural Medallion recipient J.M. Sali, pillar of Tamil literature, dies aged 87

SINGAPORE – J.M. Sali, a towering figure in the Singapore Tamil literary scene and a Cultural Medallion recipient whose career spanned six decades across newspapers and broadcasting, died of natural causes on May 15. He was 87.

Sali, whose full name was Jamaludeen Mohamed Sali, died in Needur in Tamil Nadu, India, according to reports in Tamil Murasu.

He leaves behind a legacy of more than 50 books, including novels, short story collections and plays that documented the evolving landscape of the Singaporean Tamil identity.

Born in Erawanchery, India, Sali was invited to Singapore in 1964 by the late Tamil Murasu founder G. Sarangapany to serve as an assistant editor.

Sali worked in the role until 1971, when he returned to Tamil Nadu to join the weekly magazine Ananda Vikatan as an assistant editor. He then became editor-in-chief of a youth magazine called Mayan for a brief period.

He returned to Singapore in 1983 and joined the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now Mediacorp). He spent 17 years as a senior broadcast journalist and news editor, mentoring generations of Tamil media professionals before retiring in 2000.

He later served as a part-time translation teacher in the Civil Service College and a part-time interpreter in the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau until 2012, according to the Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils.

He was a renowned translator and news writer, said veteran journalist and fellow novelist S.P. Panneerselvam, 78, who worked with Sali for about five decades in the radio and television news broadcasting fraternity.

“He exemplified what religious harmony truly meant,” added Panneerselvam, noting that Sali’s work displayed a deep understanding of Islam, Hinduism and other faiths.

Sali’s literary output was prolific. His stories often explored the struggles and triumphs of common people, weaving contemporary social issues with a deep sense of cultural heritage.

Cultural Medallion recipient and fellow writer Rama Kannabiran, 83, said: “His writings attracted many across the two countries, and he was recognised for his works both in Singapore and in India.”

His contributions were recognised at the highest levels. In 2012, he was conferred the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s highest artistic honour. Three years later, he received the Southeast Asian Write Award in Bangkok.

In 2025, he received the Tamil Chudar Lifetime Achiever Award, presented by Mediacorp’s Tamil News and Current Affairs division in collaboration with the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee, for his enduring influence on the language.

Colleagues and members of the literary community remembered him as a humble yet formidable intellectual.

Naa. Aandeappan, 78, the former president of the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers, who had been Sali’s colleague in news broadcasting since 1983, said: “He was a good friend, soft-spoken and a fine journalist. I am deeply saddened by the loss of a close friend.”

In his later years, Sali remained a familiar face at literary festivals, encouraging young writers to find their own voice while staying rooted in their mother tongue.

Sali is survived by his wife and son. He was buried in Needur on the evening of May 15.