Poet Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri released the book on NV Krishna Warrier by handing over the copies to Sugatha Kumari. “How many of us know the horizons that N V Krishna Warrier touched?” poet Sugathakumari asked a gathering of literary buffs in the capital.
Speaking during the book release of ‘Bahuroopi’, which is based on the life of Warrier, and written by Atmaraman (Krishna Kumar), Sugathakumari said the great poet faced neglect and contempt.
According to her, it was Warrier who was the first to bring out the voice of modernism. “However, we are led to believe otherwise,” she said.
The poet was quick to recollect that Warrier was also the first to head an organisation of writers, with her as secretary and Vishnu Narayana Namboothiri as joint secretary, who fought for environmental protection.
Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, O V Vijayan, Viloppilly, Dr K Bhasakaran Nair, Sukumar Azhikode and others followed suit and raised concerns to preserve Silent Valley. “However, today, no one listens to writers even though child rape, and encroachments for heavy investment projects are taking place,” she said.
Another book ‘Kavya Jeevitham’ which is a collection of poems by Atmaraman was also released during the function. Speaking on the occasion noted writer and social critic C R Parameswaran said Atmaraman’s ‘Prasrayam’ had given him a cultural shock. He said N V ‘s poem, ‘Naxal bari’, ‘Akkitham’s Irupathamnoottantinte Ithihasam’, Sugathakumari’s poems ‘Bihar’ and ‘Hey Rama’ were political poems, which made a difference.
Parameswaran also criticised the trend of Left intellectuals attaching a stigma to the words like Bharat Mata and Vande Mataram. “These are being treated as abusive words nowadays. In the process, we are allowing the Sangh Parivar to have a monopoly on them,” he said. K C Narayanan, Unni R, M I Mathai and Atmaraman spoke.
A ‘kavya keli’, featuring the poems by Warrier was presented. Jayalakshmi presented the poems from Atmaraman’s book. The Centre for South Indian Studies organised the function.