Former bureaucrat, lyricist and Vice-Chancellor of Malayalam University K. Jayakumar has said that Vaikom Muhammad Basheer was a narrator of pure spirituality free from all kinds of chains.
Delivering the Basheer memorial address as part of an award function organised by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Malayalam Study Centre here on Saturday, Mr. Jayakumar said the spirituality infused into Malayalam literature by Basheer helped the language soar into heights defying boundaries.
“There were attempts to restrict Basheer to communal labels. However, the writer has been able to outsmart such skewed classifications. Had he written in some world language, he would have been celebrated across the globe.
“Only now have we started realising the greatness of his works. So, we have a responsibility to let the world know about his unique literary genius,” he said. Critic M. Thomas Mathew presided over the function.
Earlier, the Basheer Memorial Award was presented to novelist U.K. Kumaran by Culture Minister K.C. Joseph. Researcher P.R. Sowmya received the award for the budding writer. Results of the talent examination conducted by the study centre were announced by critic M.K. Sanoo, vice-chairman of the study centre.
