Punalur Balan was a poet who used his poetry as a weapon for social progress, Cultural Affairs K C Joseph has said.
Balan was able to convey the greatness of labour and its power through his poetry, Joseph said, inaugurating a commemoration of the poet organised jointly by the State Institute of Languages and the Punalur Balan Smaraka Sahitya Vedi.
Dr Puthussery Ramachandran, who has won the Bhasha Samman, was honoured at the function. He had received the prize for ‘Keralacharitrathinte Adisthanarekhakal’ published by the State Institute of Languages. The Minister also released ‘Oru Bhoomi, Oru Sooryan, Oru Akasham’ by Dr P Soman, also published by the institute. Institute director Dr M R Thampan presided over the function.
Dr Puthussery Ramachandran, Dr Vilakudi Rajendran, Dr P Soman and Kalam Kochera spoke on the occasion. Chunakkara Ramankutty inaugurated a poetry session which was presided over by Kariavattom Sreekantan Nair.