THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Critic M. Thomas Mathew has been selected for the Vayalar Ramavarma literature award instituted by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust for the year 2009.
Announcing the award here on Saturday, Trust president M.K. Sanu said Thomas Mathew’s work `Marar - Lavanyanubhavathinte Yuktishilpam’, a critical work on Kuttikrishna Marar published by Kerala Sahithya Academy, was selected from three shortlisted works.
A jury comprising C.P.Nair, Sethu and C.R. Susheeladevi selected the award winner.
The award comprising a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a bronze sculpture made by Kanayi Kunhiraman and a citation will be presented to Thomas Mathew by M.K.
Sanu on October 27 on the death anniversary of Vayalar Ramavarma at a function to be held at Tagore Theatre here at 5.30 p m. Sanu said that the decision of the jury was unanimous.
Sethu said Thomas Mathew’s work is getting honoured at a time when there are only a few critical works being written in Malayalam language.
In recent times, there had been no work based on a critic released in Malayalam language. The language, references and findings of Thomas Mathew had attracted the attention of this book.
Susheeladevi said Thomas Mathew had brought literary criticism near to creative art through his work on Marar. ``It is a textbook on metacriticism deserving special attention.
The unrelenting rational thinking of Marar gets exposed through this critical work,’’ she said.
Sanu said they had asked 226 people to suggest three books each published during the last five years for consideration of the award. They suggested 196 titles and five of them which got maximum points were sent for consideration of 20 experts.
They shortlisted three books and submitted them for consideration of the judging committee.
Born in 1940 at Keekozhoor in Pathanamathitta district, Thomas Mathew had his education at Christian College Chengannur and Maharajas College, Ernakulam.
He had served as professor of Malayalam at Government College, Chittoor, Victoria College, Palakkad, and Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam.
His major works are Danthagopurathilekku Veendum, Entevalmikam Evide, Sahithya Darsanam, Vangmukham, Atmavinte murivukal, Sathyam Ningale Swathanthrarakkum and Marubhoomiyil Vilichuparayunnavante Sabdam. He had two translations including M.N. Roy’s new humanism.
Trust vice-president O.N.V. Kurup, trustees K. Jayakumar(Additional Chief Secretary), C. Gowridasan Nair, N. Ramachandran, honorary secretary C.V.
Thrivikraman were also present at the press conference.