MALAPPURAM: Innu, the oldest inland-letter literary magazine in the state, being published from Malappuram, celebrates its 30th anniversary with its December issue. This capsule literary magazine in Malayalam, being circulated across the state and also in the neighbouring states, was the brainchild of eminent writer Manamboor Rajan Babu. The publishing of the magazine began in 1981.
The experience in preparing and circulating a handwritten magazine named Sangamam across Manamboor village in the district in the late 1960s and the beginning of 1970s led Rajan Babu to start an inland-letter magazine. Later, in 1981, at the time of registration, the name of the magazine was changed to Innu.
Rajan Babu, who is the editor of the magazine says now the Innu has readers even in countries like Australia, the UK, the US, and the Gulf.Every month, Rajan Babu receives over 10,000 letters from the readers and replies to over 2,000 letters.
“As the magazine has already welcomed many new-generation readers into the world of letters, even the renowned writers who regularly write in the magazine never demanded payment for their works, except A Ayyappan. He once demanded `50 ‘to buy paper and ink’ to pen down the poem for the Onam special issue of Innu, Onakkazhcha. Anyone can send one’s literary works, whether it is a poem, a story or an article, to be published in the Innu. The selected works will be published in the next issue itself.
Some of the noted writers like Shihabudheen Poythumkadavu and P Surendran were the columnists of the Innu in the beginning of their career. Editorial, Athidhimoola, Pusthakavicharam, Pravrithiyum Thripthiyum, Pottum Podiyum, Kaathukal, Prathikaranam, Pusthakapputhuma and capsule stories and poems are the regular contents of the magazine.
The latest issue is fully packed with write-ups by eminent litterateurs, including M T Vasudevan Nair, O N V Kurup, Sukumar Azhikode, C Radhakrishnan, M K Sanu, Anand, Perumbadavam Sreedharan, Sreekumaran Thampi, M P Veerendrakumar, Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri, Sugathakumari, Balachandran Chullikkad, D Vinayachandran, and Alankode Leelakrishnan.
Eleven special issues have already been published. The sixth anniversary issue had won the best print and layout award, instituted by the Malayalam Book Development Council.
Those interested in subscribing to the magazine for one year should send 25 one-rupee postal stamps, or money order for `25, Innu Magazine, Malappuram, 676505, or call 04933 283707.