The Asan Memorial Association has prepared a project to establish a museum at Kayikkara to perpetuate the memory of Mahakavi Kumaranasan. The Rs.1-crore project has been submitted to the Union government for financial assistance, working president of the association Cherunniyoor Jayaprakash and secretary S. Sasankan told a press conference here on Friday.
They said the museum would come up in the coastal village of Anchuthengu, the birthplace of Asan and the venue of the first mutiny against East India Company. The museum would feature the era and genius of Asan and episodes from the struggle against the British.
The 138th birth anniversary of Asan, to be observed from April 24 to 28, would seek to mobilise public support for the project. They said the first phase of Kavyagramam, (village for poets) at Kayikkara was expected to be completed in a year's time with financial assistance of Rs.50 lakh sanctioned by the Department of Tourism. The project is being executed by the Harbour Engineering Department and includes a garden, rain shelters, landscaped grounds, entrance arch, office complex and electrification.
Mr. Jayaprakash said the work on a full size statue of Asan to be installed on the premises of the memorial was nearing completion. The construction of a multi-decked lamp, mandapam and office complex is over. The association is also preparing to acquire 80 cents of land adjacent to the memorial.
Bindu Krishnan has been selected for the Asan prize for this year for her anthology of poems titled ‘Thottaal Vaadaruruthu.' The award, instituted by the association to promote young poets, comprises a cash prize of Rs.10,000.
Mr. Jayaprakash said the Asan World Prize of Rs.3 lakh would be announced during the inauguration of the first phase of Kavyagramam.
The arts festival organised by the association would be revamped with emphasis on literary events and extended to the State level. A Poets' Day will be observed on the birth anniversary of Asan.
The 138{+t}{+h} anniversary celebrations this year include seminars on the commercialisation of news in the media and the recent developments in the film world.
A discussion on Asan's poetry is a highlight of the celebrations.
