THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Historian K N Panikkar has said that there was a need for building secularism in the society with the struggle against communalism losing its importance. He said this after receiving the first Joseph Mundassery award for lifetime achievement in literary and cultural fields.
Communal hatred has reached its peak and has influenced people to such a level that agitations against it have become futile, he said. In such a situation, the people should be made aware of secularism. The socialist forces, who are bound to fight against communalism, are now only fighting against each other without any vision. It is only the left forces that have a clear vision, he added. CPM leader M A Baby gave away the award to K N Panikkar. Jeevan Jobe Thomas was presented with the young writers award. Mayor K Chandrika, G Balamohan Thampi, Vinodh Vyshaki, T N Seema, V N Murali, Jose Mundassery, Perumpuzha Gopalakrishnan and Neelamperoor Madhusoodanan Nair were present at the function.A separate Mundassery corner exclusively for his works at the Mundassery Smaraka Library was also inaugurated.