THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With a heart full of adoration, a thankful generation represented by its government presented the state’s top literary honour, Ezhuthachan Award, to one of its greatest literary talents, M T Vasudevan Nair, on Friday. Before an august gathering comprising top writers, poets and bureaucrats, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy presented the award to MT. The award carries a cash prize of `1.5 lakh and a citation. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that he was happy that the government could start the Malayalam University with Thunchanparambu at Thiroor as its headquarters this fiscal itself.
“Efforts are on to get classical language status for Malayalam,’’ he said.
In his reply, MT said that it was difficult to be a writer these days.
“When I started writing and receiving responses about my writings, the world began asking me what else I have in store to write? It is at this juncture that a writer comes across a turning point.
In the journeys in search of unknown lands, the wind takes you to unknown realms of human conditions, some times we drift away from the destinations. The journey continues and, in between, we get some shades to cool the heals with the blessings of the past masters and it triggers in you a passion for further ventures ahead,’’ he said.
He recollected that the rustic settings in which he had been immersed in his boyhood days had made him delve deep into the works of the father of Malayalam language which had left a deep influence in him. “Now, when I receive the award in the name of Ezhuthachan, I remember I am indebted more to my language, my people and my country,’’ he said.
“James Joyce once said I can see what Dublin thinks when I look into my heart. But now I don’t think I can understand what my family think. Life has become such a complex affair,’’ he said.
In such a scenario, the major challenge before the writer is to find his or her own plot and a distinct way to bring it to the unknown readers. He said when he was being honoured, it was the father of the language and the very language itself were getting honoured.
Introducing the awardee, Kerala Sahithya Akademi president Perumbadavam Sreedharan said MT was a writer who mesmerised the readers after Changampuzha. “He converted everything into gold by his mere touch.”
He recollected that MT’s characters were those lonely ones who had been banished from the main stream. From ‘Naalukettu’ to ‘Randamoozham,’ his characters unravels the story of those who had been marginalised, he said. The magical spell of his golden pen created a language of sound and silence, he said.
Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph presided over the function. Cultural Affairs Secretary Sajan Peter welcomed the gathering.
Additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar read out the citation. Sahithya Akademi secretary R Gopalakrishnan proposed a vote of thanks.