Kerala - Kochi   

M.N. Vijayan’s works released

KOCHI: Intellectuals like M.N. Vijayan have become a rarity in modern times and so the collection of his works will be an invaluable asset to the Malayalam literature, said V.R. Krishna Iyer, former Supreme Court judge and jurist.

He was speaking after releasing the first of the 10-volume complete works by literary critic and writer M.N. Vijayan here on Friday.

Prof. Vijayan was a powerful presence in the social and cultural scenes of our land, Mr. Krishna Iyer said.

He handed over the first copy of the book to literary critic M. Leelavati.

Presiding over the function, literary critic M.K. Sanoo said that Prof. Vijayan’s life was marked out by his determination to not compromise his ideological stance. He never adorned any official positions nor accepted any awards in his career.

Prof. Vijayan was different in his thoughts and lectures. Prof. Sanoo said that while for people like him oration was expressing a clearly lined up thoughts, in Prof. Vijayan’s case it was an outburst. And often it had a mesmerising effect on listeners.

Prof. Vijayan dared to speak out theories that went against accepted and popular ones, Prof. Sanoo said.

Prof. Vijayan’s works created a new wave of thought in Malayalam criticism, said Dr. Leelavati. The element of originality in his words could not be ignored.

Even while taking hard, and often cruel, decisions in professional front, he maintained a childlike tenderness in personal relations.

He used to go to great extends to defend those who were close to him, said Dr. Leelavati.

Even while being clear about his political stands, Prof. Vijayan never forfeited his personal integrity and freedom of thought.

He had a sage-like balance of emotions in dealing with setbacks and personal criticisms, she said.

N. Prabhakaran is the general editor of the collection being brought out by Current Books, Thrissur.

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