Noted writer Perumbadavam Sreedharan’s much-celebrated novel Oru Sankeerthanam Pole is one of the few Malayalam literary works that has gained wide acceptability among readers, even while achieving critical acclaim, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
Launching the 100th edition of the novel here on Saturday, Mr Vijayan said the literary work had proved to be a befitting reply to naysayers who claimed that the habit of reading was on the wane. “Soon after its launch, the novel heralded a revival of sorts and sparked a growing interest in Malayalam literature that had then begun to undergo a significant change as far as style and themes were concerned. It stood testimony to the fact that literary works that maintained a high quality will attract high readership,” he said.
The novel, regarded as a ‘solitary wonder in Malayalam fiction’, was released in 1993 and has sold over 2 lakh copies. Over the years, it has been translated to several other languages including English, Arabic, German, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and Assamese. Mr. Sreedharan has also won as many as 11 literary awards including the prestigious Vayalar Award, for his work that is set in St. Petersburg and touched upon the life of Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
“By managing to seamlessly weave a novel around a historical figure, Perumbadavam has enthralled readers worldwide. His work has brought the State immense cultural pride,” the Chief Minister added.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sreedharan said that Dostoyevsky’s works has had a great influence on him and he had gone to great lengths to read them during his younger days. Recollecting the period that preceded the launch of Oru Sankeerthanam Pole , Mr. Sreedharan said that immense uncertainty had existed regarding the possibility of the work and its success. He attributed the resolve shown by Asramam Bhasi, the founder of Sankeerthanam Publications, for having launched the novel. “What expected next continues to be unfathomable for the both of us. We were shocked at learning that it had become a bestseller and had to rush its second edition after the initial stock of 5,000 books were sold in a few days,” he said.
Jose Panachippuram of Malayala Manorama presided over the function. Poet V. Madhusoodanan Nair, writer Chandramathi, lawyer Madavoor Mohan and Mr. Bhasi were among those who spoke on the occasion.
