THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Litterateur N Mohanan’s stories had such compelling themes which prompted the readers to re-read them, auteur Adoor Gopalakrishnan said on Monday.
Presenting ‘N Mohanan Suvarna Mudra’ to veteran Malayalam critic M Leelavathy at a function, replete with memories of the late writer, organised under the aegis of ‘Sammohanam,’ a gathering of N Mohanan Memorial Trust here on Monday, Adoor said Mohanan’s stories were those of congealed sorrow. “His language was powerful and readable prompting the readers to read his works repeatedly. Mohanan’s stories will help to sustain his memories for a long time. Good writers will remain in the hearts of the people,” he said.
Referring to the degeneration and decline in the academic and cultural atmosphere on the campus, he said compared to the present, writers, poets and artists had been the most preferred guests on the campuses in the past. Recollecting his intermediate days at Pandalam NSS College, Adoor said it was there that he met Mohanan for the first time when the latter had come there to recite a poem.
“But it was before the college slipped into the grip of ‘cycle chain politics’. Later, the college even witnessed students murdering one of their own. But it is not specific to Pandalam College,” he pointed out.
In her acceptance speech Leelavathy said Mohanan had always been worried about the ugliness in life and he tried to wield his pen against it. “His stories were carved out from life. Stories like ‘Innalathe Mazha’, ‘Janmanthara Sandehangal’ and ‘Seshakriya’ are great works to be remembered in the years to come,” she said.
Lamenting the social inequalities prevailing in the Kerala society which is aware of the legend of ‘Parayi petta panthirukulam’, she said, “All works of art should become the dreams of society as Lalithambika Antharjanam and her son N Mohanan had aspired. She also criticised the party politics that look for martyrs to build the party. Noted critic and poet Atmaraman delivered the lecture on Leelavathy’s works. Saritha Varma welcomed the gathering and Thanuja Bhattathiri proposed the vote of thanks.