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Success of a travelogue

M.P. Veerendrakumar is a familiar figure on the literary scene in Malayalam even though his is a managerial role in the Mathrubhumi group of publications.

So it comes as no surprise that Haimavathabhuvil, a travelogue in which he takes the reader on culturally enriching trips to the Himalayas, is into its sixth edition.

The art of writing travelogue reaches rare heights of brilliance in Haimavathabhuvil.

Veerendrakumar is a high profile political leader who has been a former Union minister and a parliamentarian, among other things.

He is also gifted with an insatiable creative energy that propels him on through arduous treks and tiring trips by air and rail.

Veerendrakumar has travelled far and wide across the globe. Says the author: “I have had the good fortune to visit countries in different continents. I had the opportunity to spend long hours in valleys of the Alps and on the banks of Mekong, Amazon, Nile, Rhine and Mississippi rivers. Memories of my travels through foreign lands remain indelibly etched in my mind. However, it is my journeys though our own land that stand out as an entirely different experience. The peace that sets in on the mind while travelling through our villages and the valleys of Himalayas was unique.”

“Himalayas is not just the king of mountains. It represents a great culture that bred poetry, paintings and sculpture. My travel through the Himalayas is a journey in search of the source of our rich and varied culture. I have learned that as you travel it is not your body alone that moves from place to place but your mind too.”

Haimavathabhuvil is another landmark in Veerendrakumar’s literary career which like his political career, is already studded with a number of prestigious awards.

Among these laurels are the awards of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Mahakavi G Award, KV Daniel Award and the Rajiv Gandhi National Award.

The success of Haimavathabhuvil proves beyond doubt that well written travelogues would be welcomed by readers.

R Madhavan Nair

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