M. Govindan remembered

A meeting held here on Sunday recalled the services of writer and cultural activist M. Govindan.

Addressing the meeting, artist M. V. Devan said that Govindan had fought social ills without bothering whether he was alone in the struggle.

“He fearlessly fulfilled the social role of the writer,” he added.

Delivering the M. Govindan remembrance lecture, Tamil writer B. Jeyamohan said that Kerala had rarely explored the grey areas between atheism and theism. Govindan had written extensively in Malayalam and English. As editor of the magazines, Navasahiti, Gopuram and Sameeksha, he groomed many avante-garde writers and artists. He was attracted towards the radical humanist ideas expounded by M. N. Roy. Mr. Devan presented the P. K. A. Rahim Memorial Award, carrying a purse of Rs. 20,000 and citation, to social activist Daya Bai (Mercy Mathew).

Ms. Daya Bai donated the prize money to Solace, an organisation that works for the welfare of children with long-term illnesses. She handed over the money to Sheeba Ameer, a representative of Solace and daughter of P. K. A. Rahim. Fatima Rahim, Rahim's wife, and M. Thomas Mathew were also present.