Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the works of P. Kesavadev, a pioneer of the progressive literary movement in the State, have survived the test of time.
Speaking after presenting the 12{+t}{+h}Kesavadev awards, instituted by the P. Kesavadev Trust, here on Monday, Mr. Vijayan said that the late writer was known for his courage to highlight the hardships suffered by those who were neglected. “He was a staunch critic of the feudal system that had existed then and was never one to conceal his thoughts. He rebelled against inequality and injustice that existed in society. His writings expressed his anguish against social injustice,” he said.
Mr. Vijayan said that the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution was being curtailed by certain groups. “Ours is a country that was once known for the freedom to express diverse views, including those which went against the sentiments of a majority section. However, this unique feature of our democracy is under threat. Many persons have been killed for expressing contentious views in recent times. The brutal murders of social activist Govind Pansare, rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and scholar M.M. Kalburgi were grim remainders of the reality,” he said.
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Mr. Vijayan presented the Kesavadev literary award to writer G.N. Panicker and the Diabscreen Kerala Kesavadev award to neurologist Rajasekharan Nair. Novelist and jury chairman of the Kesavadev literary award George Onakkoor delivered the P. Kesavadev Commemorative lecture on ‘P. Kesavadev’s Bhranthalayam (mental asylum) and Contemporary Society.’
P. Kesavadev Trust chairperson Seethalekshmi Dev presided.
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O. Rajagopal and K. Muraleedharan, MLAs; film critic Vijayakrishnan; Trust managing trustee Jothydev Kesavadev; and Diabscreen Kerala award committee chairperson N. Ahmed Pillai spoke.