Chief Minister Oommen Chandy honoured Left ideologue and writer P. Govinda Pillai at a function organised by the Samskara Sahithi, the cultural wing of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, here on Friday.
Lauding Mr. Pillai for effectively conveying his philosophy through words and displaying mature journalistic skills, Mr. Chandy said his contribution to the field of political thought showcased his concern for society and humanist values.
Mr. Chandy was speaking during the inauguration of Onam programmes held at Mr. Pillai’s house on Friday.
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Samskara Sahithi chairman Palode Ravi, MLA, presided over the function. He honoured Mr. Pillai by draping a ponnada.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Pillai said it was the first time that he was being honoured during the festival season of Onam. Looking back, he had no regrets. He said he had committed mistakes for which he had been penalised by his party.
Malayalam novelist George Onakkoor read out parts of the newspaper that Mr. Pillai was presented with. Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar; V. Sivankutty, MLA; ‘Soorya’ Krishnamoorthy, Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary Kadakampilly Surendran, among others, were present.
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Between 1967 and 1970, P. Govinda Pillai served as a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. He also held the post of Kerala Press Academy Chairman and the Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.