The Hindu : National : Tributes to Madhavan Kutty

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Thursday, Nov 02, 2006
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Tributes to Madhavan Kutty

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Glowing tributes were paid to journalist V.K. Madhavan Kutty on Wednesday on his first death anniversary. Delivering the commemorative lecture, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said Madhavan Kutty was not just a Malayalee in the parochial sense. "He served a seminal purpose,'' straddling the linguistic and cultural diversities of India.

Describing Madhavan Kutty as a "vital link" between Kerala and Delhi, Mr. Karat used the occasion — which coincided with the golden jubilee of the formation of Kerala and several other States along linguistic lines — to dwell upon the formation of linguistic States.

Referring to the debate that took place in the country more than half-a-century ago, the CPI(M) general secretary said all those who looked askance at the formation of linguistic States had been proved wrong. While some feared that it would lead to the balkanisation of India, others were confident that it would help the democratic process, he noted.

On a lighter note, Mr. Karat said Madhavan Kutty was one of the few people who could get him to go to the Delhi Malayalee Association Onam celebrations. About his writings, Mr. Karat said he read most of his short stories as they were rooted in his native place Palghat.

Others who recalled their association with Madhavan Kutty at the function — organised by Keraleeyam — included Meghalaya Governor M.M. Jacob, Supreme Court judge Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Rajya Sabha member P.V. Abdul Wahab, hotelier C.P. Krishnan Nair and playwright Omcheri N.N. Pillai.

At the function, the first V.K. Madhavan Kutty Puraskaram was presented for the best exclusive reporting in electronic and print media to B.S. Joy of Manorama News and M.P. Suryadas of Mathrubhumi respectively.

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