THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Poetry blooms in dark times. That is perhaps the only justification for being dark.” said poet Ashok Vajpeyi while inaugurating ‘Dakshina’, the three-day poetry festival organised by the Ayyappa Paniker Foundation at VJT hall here on Tuesday. Referring to the socio-political climate prevailing in the country, he said it was only the writers who offered resistance when all sections of the society seemed to be silent, complacent or tolerant towards intolerance.
K Satchidanandan reminded the audience of the violent times the country had gone through. According to him relevance of poetry had only increased at times independent and open creativity had been challenged. Poet Balachandran Chullikad, while remembering poet Ayyappa Paniker spoke about the importance of freedom . He also recited a poem ‘Chenda’. Poet Sugathakumari likened poets to the wild birds who could spot the danger signals in forests.
Despite her frail health she recited verses from her poem ‘Nirbhaya’. The poets hailed the contribution of Paniker to poetry and to the society. Poets from other states K Sivareddy, Manjunatha V M, Rajathi Salma and Sridala Swami recited their poems. The poetry session was followed by the screening of a documentary on Attoor Ravi Varma by Anwar Ali.