Coir Board chairman G Balachandran was awarded the first Thakazhi Sahitya Puraskaram, instituted by the Thakazhi Sahitya Puraskara Committee and the Ministry of Culture, by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the Kanakakkunnu Palace here on Wednesday.
Speaking at the function, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would take steps to upgrade the Thakazhi Smrithi Mandapam and Museum at the late writer’s residence at Thakazhi into a heritage museum that would showcase the entire history of Kuttanad.
Balachandran bagged the inaugural award for his work in ‘Thakazhiyude Sargapadhangal’ that dealt with Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s epic novel ‘Kayar’.
Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph, poet Kavalam Narayana Panicker, Kerala Sahitya Akademi chairman Perumbadavam Sreedharan and Thakazhi Sahitya Puraskara Committee chairman Thakazhi Sankaranarayanan were also present.
Chandy lauded Balachandran’s efforts to improve the working conditions of workers in the coir industry and said that it was a fitting award for his work in literature. “Thakazhi has left behind a treasure for all Keralites,” the Chief Minister said of the Jnanpith winner. Receiving the award, Balachandran said that the book was the product of 20 years of labour analysing Thakazhi’s various works.
“Thakazhi’s works cannot be completely analysed in just a lifetime. He reached the infinity of world literature from a small village in Kerala,” he said.
K C Joseph said that Balachandran’s book was a comprehensive account of Thakazhi’s works. The Minister also said that the govt had not exerted any pressure on the award jury during the decision-making process.