Even as the prestigious Viswa Malayala Mahotsavam 2012, a universal conference to celebrate Malayalam, is just five days away, resentment is brewing within the Kerala Sahitya Akademi against the manner in which it is being conducted.
As a last minute attempt to pacify the members, akademi president Perumabadavom Sreedharan in a letter has appealed them to cooperate with the event.
While accepting that there was a delay in the arrangement, he expects the support of akademi members. “(We) did not get enough time to have a detailed deliberation with the akademi members as there was a delay in the coordination of the fest. However (I) expect the support of akademi members to the resolutions of the new committee constituted by the Department of Cultural Affairs”, he said in the letter dated October 20.
A section of akademi members feels that the three-day Mahotsavam, which will be inaugurated by President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee on October 30, has been hijacked by a few, including the president and secretary of the akademi and John Samuel, general convener of the Mahotsavam. They feel there is a lack of communication and they have been made mute spectators regarding the idea of the Mahotsavam mooted by the akademi.
The president’s letter confirms this as it says: “The government has allotted `2 crore for the programme. The interest shown by the government in setting up a working committee has eased the pressure on the akademi and we could expedite the activities of the fest.”
“The authorities have something to hide. For example, even after repeated requests from my part, they did not provide the details of the programme. So I chose to quit,” N Ajith Kumar, who had been given the charge of the seminars, told Express.
Though most of the members are against the manner in which the conference is being held, only a few opt to voice their opinion in open. “We don’t have any differences of opinion with the government or the concept of the Mahotsavam. So we are not coming out in open,” said a member.
However, Perumabadavom Sreedharan said it is natural to have criticisms against the conference. “We are aware of the criticisms against the Mahotsavam while the preparations are going in a systematic way for a grand fest,” he said.
