The Hindu : Kerala News : Vallathol poems remain vibrant: Azhikode

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Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
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Kerala

Vallathol poems remain vibrant: Azhikode

Special Correspondent

— Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Honour: Education Minister M.A. Baby, second from right, presenting the Vallathol Award of the Vallathol Sahithya Samithi to Sukumar Azhikode, critic, in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. R. Ramachandran Nair, left, former Chief Secretary, and D. Babu Paul, former Additional Chief Secretary, are seen.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The poetry and memories of Vallathol will remain vibrant as long as the poor and the underprivileged continue to be a reality in society, Sukumar Azhikode, critic, said here on Tuesday.

Replying to felicitations after receiving the Vallathol literary award instituted by the Vallathol Sahitya Samithi, Prof. Azhikode said that Kerala needed young poets like Vallathol who could sense the power of literature and stand like a beacon light to overcome the darkness encompassing society. Prof. Azhikode described Vallathol as nostalgia. It was quite gladdening to reminisce that once there lived a poet who created a world like the one which Gandhiji had in his dreams.

A great poet would have a great heart too. This was obvious in the case of Vallathol too. For, after completing B.Com. when Prof. Azhikode sought the help of Ulloor and Vallathol to secure a job in a newspaper office, both promptly offered a helping hand. It was doubtful whether a stranger could expect similar magnanimity from a writer at present. It was their reply that opened the world of literature to Prof. Azhikode. “I still cherish those letters as more precious than any award,” he said.

Prof. Azhikode described Vallathol as a driving force whom he held in great esteem above all others who shaped his destiny. Vallathol taught him how to see Gandhiji through his poems. The poems were a vestibule to Gandhian philosophy, he said.

Minister for Culture and Education M.A. Baby, who presented the award, said that just as the poet stood for human values and identified with the cause of the poor and the suffering, Prof. Azhikode too was making effective social interventions through his invaluable contributions. Time had come to build a strong resistance against the invasions on all walks of life, including culture, economy and politics. If Vallathol had declared solidarity with the proletariat, Prof. Azhikode too was making significant contributions for social renovation. He lauded the samithi for selecting Prof. Azhikode for the award. R. Ramachandran Nair, former Chief Secretary, presided. D. Babu Paul, former Additional Chief Secretary, and N. Mukundan, academic, offered felicitations. Samithi secretary N. Ajith Kumar welcomed the gathering. K. Sukumaran Nair proposed a vote of thanks.

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