Prof. Fr. Saveri served God and man through Arts

Rev. Fr. Prof. N.M. Saveri was born to an average middle class family in the small remote village of Illavalai, north of the Jaffna Peninsula.

He first joined the St. Martin Seminary at the tender age of 12 in 1952, with an undeterred passion to serve God. On July 1, 1962 Rev. Saveri went on to received his priestly ordination and later his doctorate in theological studies. Since then he has gone on to serve conscientiously; ministering to his families, friends and community as Parish Priest in Mannar, Narandanai, Killinorchchi, Urumpirai, Gurunagar and Atchuveli.

Very early in his vocation, Fr. Saveri demonstrated his ability to positively influence others by living out his spiritual leadership at home, as well as learnt how to provide it to his community. It was through his guidance, servitude and compassion that his grand nice and two nephews made a decision to follow his pathway to become clergies.

Over the next 17 years, between 1971 and 1988 Prof. Fr. Saveri embarked on a comprehensive academic journey, which took him to India, Germany and London, where he earned his Masters and PhD.

It was during this time that he wrote about the relationship between Roman Catholicism and Hinduism in Jaffna, as part of his dissertation. With a strong desire to deepen his religious and spiritual practices.

Prof. Fr. Saveri sought a way to bring understanding and reconciliation to his community; giving birth to the classic, "Siddharthe tradition's philosopher-sage." In this masterpiece Fr. Saveri offers a telling and profound translation on the intimate knowledge of the Hindu religious and philosophical tradition.

The work, service and tenacity of Prof. Saveri has not gone unnoticed; Since 1960, he has received honours and titles including: the Catholic Media Award World Communication Day, the title of Kalai Thoothu conferred by Catholic Spiritual Institution, Germany and most recently in 2006 he was bestowed with the title Kalai Sudar" by Valigamam North Cultural Forum.

While most priests confine their service and ministry to mainstream activities, Fr. Saveri's passion took him to the margins of different societies; places where sorrow, joy, pain and immense poverty often meet. Propelled by the reality of suffering coupled with the zeal to serve God, as well as his people; Prof. Fr. Saveri entered a life-long journey to preserve his cultural heritage through the arts. This was the vision that secured the foundation of "Thirumarai Kala Mantram" in 1965, now known as Centre for Performance Arts.

It has always been his firm conviction, that to serve God means to serve the people created by God. It was that confidence, which led him to create a channel through arts where he reached people from every race, colour, caste and creed. Motivated and challenged by years of ethnic frictions and disaster, which ravished his beloved Sri Lanka, Rev. Prof. Saveri spent the last 40 years working to capture the hearts of God's people through traditional arts and culture; A concept that has proven not only to entertain, but also brought stability, hope and peace during a time of volatility, war and chaos.

The Centre for Performing Arts' model of securing understanding and peace through arts is not only prominent in the Sri Lankan contest, but has found its way to countries like: France, England, Germany, Norway, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, Canada and India. Today, Rev. Prof. Saveri remains the founding Director of CP Arts with over 5,000 members worldwide. Over the past 500 years, only a few Tamil priests and/or scholars have authentically earned their places of cultural icons; indeed, it is both fitting and appropriate to hold Rev. Fr. N. M. Saveri's work in the context of his vocation and to also position him on the same platform with scholars like Ven. Veerama Munivar, Rev. Fr. Swamy Gnanapragasr, Rev. Fr. Thaninayagam Adikal and Rev. Fr. Thaveethu Adikal.

Today on July 1, Fr. Saveri will celebrate another milestone, not only in his career but also in his unflinching courage to move graciously among the currants of race, ethnicity, colour, creed and class. He is undeniably one of Sri Lanka's symbols of human rights, psycho-economic justice, a peaceful activist, confident ambassador and a soul destine to inspire others for many generations to come!

Debbie Robb, York University, Toronto, Canada.