THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Governor P Sathasivam has said that S Guptan Nair was a great scholar, critic and writer who stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries.
Presenting the Guptan Nair Award for eminent teachers, instituted by the Guptan Nair Foundation Trust, to renowned poet and scholar Puthussery Ramachandran here on Friday on the 9th death anniversary of Guptan Nair, he pointed out that Guptan Nair had earned the love, adoration and respect of his disciples and the general public wherever he had worked as a teacher.
‘’His writing was noted for its simple but lucid style which always charmed the young and the old,’’ he said.
Referring to his achievements in writing, the Governor said Guptan Nair could transform the ordinary into extraordinary.
Commending the achievements of Puthussery Ramachandran, Governor Sathasivam said Puthussery has proved worthy of the honour bestowed on him.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson elaborated his close proximity with Guptan Nair from his childhood days.
“Guptan Nair was noted for his dignified and rhythmic prose. His criticism was noted for its moderate style. But he had never ever compromised in telling the truth,’’ he said.
While he did not follow western literature blindly, he pioneered in introducing the western authors and literature to Malayalis. His critical style was distinct and it took the readers into the soul of the book, Jiji Thomson said. Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University Vice-Chancellor K Jayakumar presided over the function.
Puthussery Ramachandran in his reply speech said it was Guptan Nair, who wrote the preface for his anthology of poems in 1948, who actually led him to the realm of literature and gave him the confidence to remain there. Trust secretary A M Vasudevan Pillai introduced the awardee. Joint secretary M G Sasibhushan and S P Harikumar spoke.
