Gatherings on Sunday at the Edapally Smrithy Mandapam here to observe the 79th death anniversary of poet Edapally Raghavan Pillai saw a unique congregation.
Twenty five students of the Government Town Upper Primary School arrived there and paid tributes to the bard by reciting Edapally’s unpublished poem ‘Engilum.’
The students in school uniforms and wearing Edapally badges arrived at 10.30 a.m. with their headmaster S. Ajayakumar and teachers A. Gradison, P. Sajini, Aisha Prakash, and S. Saleena.
Floral tributes
After paying floral tributes at the smrithi mandapam (memorial), the students gathered around the structure and recited the poem. Class V student B. Kavya Varnan led the recitation.
When Edapally worked in Kollam as an advocate clerk, he lived at a house close to the school.
He was found dead there. ‘Engilum’ is one among 20 poems of Edapally that could not be published by his friend Changampuzha.
These poems in his own handwriting were much later discovered from the archives of the State Sahitya Academy.
On arrival at the srmithi mandapam, the students were addressed by Kollam Madhu, chairman of the Edapally Smaraka Samithy.
Much adored
Mr. Madhu said that that though Edapally had no known relatives, he had thousands who adored him and cherished his poems.
He said that the srmithi mandapam for Edapally was constructed only 60 years after his death.
It is hoped that a better memorial for the poet will be declared while commemorating his 80th death anniversary next year, he added.
A commemoration meeting organised by the samithy was held at the same venue in the evening which was inaugurated by Mayor Honey Benjamin.
Literary critic, Vallikavu Mohandas delivered the keynote address with a talk on ‘Edapally and Malayalam poetry.’
