Three months after he passed away, Professor Madhukar Rao’s dream work, A Literary Salad , was released by his student and literary critic M. Leelavathy at a function at the Ernakulam Public Library on Saturday.
Author Jaishree Misra, who was tutored by the late Shakespeare scholar and eminent teacher, received the first copy. Writer A.S. Priya, author and student of the professor, introduced the book.
The event also witnessed the handing over of 371 books from Prof. Rao’s personal collection to the public library. Asok M. Cherian, secretary of the library, received the collection from Sahaji Rao, spouse of the late professor.
Dr. Leelavathy recalled the good old days as a student at Maharaja’s College, from where Professor Rao retired in 1980. Known for his scholarship and tutoring skills, Prof Rao continued to teach postgraduate students till about a year before he died aged 89.
Large followingThe late professor enjoyed a large following of students across the State, as he had also worked in Thalassery Brennen College, Trivandrum University College and Palakkad Victoria College.
Ms. Misra said she cherished wonderful memories of what his students called ‘the bamboo house’, a bamboo hut atop his rented house on TD Road, where she attended his classes while pursuing postgraduation in English as a private student in 1987.
The late professor had a keen interest in sports, too.
N. Ajith Kumar, Prof. Rao’s son, and C. Ramachandra Menon, president of the Ernakulam Library, attended the function.
