Literary seminars, meetings and film screenings will mark the birth centenary celebrations of one of Malayalam literature's titans, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, after the event's inauguration at Ambalapuzha by Magsaysay Award winner and Jnanpith laureate Mahasweta Devi on May 11.
The two-day centenary celebrations are being organised by Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
Addressing newspersons here on Tuesday, Akademi President Perumbadavam Sreedharan said the celebrations will begin with floral offerings at the Thakazhi Memorial in Ambalappuzha near here on May 11 morning. A seminar on the literature of Thakazhi will then follow, which will be moderated by D. Benjamin. Papers will be presented on the literary works of the writer.
At 5 p.m. on the same day, writer Anita Nair will share her experiences on the translation of Thakazhi's work Chemeen into English. Minister for Culture K.C. Joseph will inaugurate a cultural meeting on the topic ‘ Thakazhienna Viswa Manavan' (Thakazhi, the global man) at 6 p.m.
Union Minister of State for Power, K.C. Venugopal, will preside over the meeting. G.Sudhakaran, MLA will deliver the key note address, while Kavalam Narayana Panikker will deliver the memorial lecture.
This will be followed by a screening of the documentary on Thakazhi, directed by writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and of the film ‘ Nalu Pennungal ' by Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
The literary seminar on May 12 will be moderated by Vice-President of the Akademi, Balachandran Vadakkedath.
Thumpaman Thomas, O.G. Oleena and M.K. Harikumar will present papers. Akademi members, Akbar Kakkattil and Dr. Ajithan Menoth will speak on the occasion.
The function will also see young short story writers of Malayalam dwelling on their writings at 1.30 p.m. Writer C.V. Balakrishnan will preside over the young writers' meet. Writers such as K.R. Meera, Santhosh Enchikannam, Susmeth Chandroth, E. Santhoshkumar, Indu Menon and M.G. Babu will participate.
The valedictory of the celebrations will be at 5 p.m. and will be inaugurated by filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Actor Madhu will deliver the key note address.
