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In memory of Kumaran Asan
The thatched house in which Asan lived and his `ezhuthupura' (study) have been preserved for posterity.
The Kumaran Asan Memorial at Thonnackal, on the outskirts of the State capital, attracts visitors in good numbers, even 80 years after the renowned poet passed away.
The Asan Memorial Committee, along with the Kumaran Asan National Institute of Culture, has submitted a project report worth Rs. 16 crores to the Union Government to develop the Institute into a research centre.The poet was born at Kayikkara, a coastal village on the northern border of Thiruvananthapuram district. It was at Pallana, near Alappuzha, that he met with a watery grave. However, his memorial has come up at Thonnackal, on the National Highway, some 25 km. away from the State capital; and not without reason.
Asan spent most part of his last years at Thonnackal and it was here that he wrote `Chandalabhikshuki', `Duravastha' and `Karuna', regarded as his most popular and socially relevant works. It was from Thonnackal that he set out on his last journey to Aluva.
It was in the early hours of January 17, 1924, that the boat in which Kumarasan Asan was travelling sank in the Pallana River near Thottappally. The idea of erecting a memorial in his name at Thonnackal was mooted by Joseph Mundassery, Minister for Education in the EMS Ministry of 1957. This idea became a reality only seven years later when R. Sankar, a former Chief Minister of Kerala, inaugurated the memorial in 1964.
However, it was after many years still that the memorial began to be developed and it is what it is now, thanks to the efforts of the succeeding Governments in the State.
Now there is a committee, constituted by the Government, to take care of the memorial and also to oversee the ongoing development works at Thonnackal. The committee has entrusted the renowned artist, Kanayi Kunhiraman, with the task of providing a facelift to the Asan memorial that is situated on 1.23 acres of land.
The landscaping has been done, taking care to retain the thatched house where Asan lived his last years and the outhouse used by him to spend time in solitude or lost in the world of letters, in their original shape.
Even the well right in front of the house has been maintained in good shape.
Mr. Kanayi plans to recreate moments from Asan's select works with special emphasis on the lead female characters. The work on this will begin next month, says M.R. Thampan, chairman of the Asan Memorial Committee and the Kumaran Asan National Institute of Culture. Apart from the very few memorabilia now in its possession, the Committee has plans to procure all objects used by Asan and also associated with his life. All the manuscripts and published works of Asan, besides his personal diaries, will be digitalised.
`Vivekodayam', once edited and published by Asan is being regularly brought out by the Committee.
By Ajeth Kumar J
Photo: K. G. Santthosh
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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