In a recent controversy sparked by Jnanpith laureate MT Vasudevan Nair’s subtle critique of personality cult and undesirable power politics in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the stage has barely subsided.
Now, another luminary of literature, M Mukundan, a recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi and Kerala Sahitya Akademi awards, echoed similar criticisms. While addressing a program in Kozhikode related to the Kerala Literature Festival, Mukundan remarked that these are times dominated by crowns. He emphasised the need to recognise the value of humanity, asserting that our blood holds more significance than any crown. Mukundan lamented the growing influence of crowns, urging people to demonstrate that a drop of blood can dislodge the crown from one’s head.
Mukundan, renowned for his best-selling novels and honored with the French Government’s Chevalier of Art and Letters Award, emphasised the democratic nature of our system. In asserting the power of the vote, he urged people to prioritise the significance of blood over crowns, demonstrating their irrelevance. With elections on the horizon, Mukundan highlighted the importance of remembering this sentiment.
MT Vasudevan Nair’s contentious remark about the venue of the Kerala Literature Festival adds resonance to Mukundan’s statement. Addressing the media later, the veteran author expressed his disapproval of those who prioritise thrones over people, emphasising the need to recall the paths that led them to their positions.
Mukundan argued that people work hard to attain thrones but should not forget the journeys that brought them there. Citing Jayaparakash Narayan’s poem, he conveyed the message, “Leave the throne; if they do not see the marching people, they will be thrown away from them.”
Further, he concluded his interaction with the media, suggesting that his words could be combined with MT Vasudevan Nair’s statements.
Originally from Mahe, a former French Colony now part of the Union Territory of Puducherry, Mukundan began his career in the French Embassy in New Delhi at a young age. As one of the early luminaries of Malayalam literature, particularly in the 1970s, he gained widespread readership. His award-winning novel,
“Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil” (On the Banks of the River Mahe), vividly depicts the liberation struggles of patriotic Mahe youths in 1954. Despite his association with the Left, Mukundan has been a mainstream Malayali writer.
The recent turn of events has surprised the State, and if more writers, poets, or filmmakers follow suit, it could potentially weaken the Left’s position. In Kerala, cultural leaders, including writers, filmmakers, and poets, have traditionally supported the Left. Given the significant influence these figures hold, their alignment with Left ideologies has often resulted in criticisms against nationalist and Hindu forces. The statements of both MT and Mukundan are of political significance in Kerala, given the impact cultural leaders’ ideals have on public opinion and political allegiance.
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