The O.V. Vijayan Memorial at Thasrak village, near here, turned abuzz on Wednesday when writers celebrated the 17 th death anniversary of the legendary writer with a variety of programmes.
The day-long programme titled Paazhutharayile Porulukal attracted writers and artists young and aged alike. Speaker M.B. Rajesh inaugurated the celebrations after offering floral tributes at O.V. Vijayan’s statue.
Mr. Rajesh gave away the O.V. Vijayan Memorial Literary Awards to writers T.D. Ramakrishnan, Ambikasuthan Mangad, Arjun Aravind, and Salini. When Mr. Ramakrishnan won the award for novel, Mr. Mangad won it for short story. Mr. Aravind and Ms. Salini won the awards for young story writers.
Writers Asha Menon, T.K. Sankaranarayanan, and Rajesh Menon introduced the award winners. A. Prabhakaran, MLA, presided over the function.
The English translation of T.D. Ramakrishnan’s book Alpha was released at the function. Addressing the audience, translator Priya K. Nair said that English translations had played a key role to place Malayalam writers in international space.
“In India, we translate into English but in other places, they translate into their mother tongue,” said Dr. Priya.
The Speaker released the book by handing over a copy to G.S. Pradeep, vice chairman of the Vailoppilly Samskriti Bhavan.
A Tamil translation of Mr. Ramakrishnan’s Mama Africa was released at the function.
O.V. Vijayan Memorial Committee chairman T.K. Narayanadas welcomed the gathering. A.K. Chandrankutty proposed a vote of thanks.
Delivering the O.V. Vijayan Memorial Lecture, G.S. Pradeep said that knowledge would begin from one’s willingness to fail. Connecting knowledge and humanity, Mr. Pradeep said humility and failure could go hand in hand with plurality.
A drama based on O.V. Vijayan’s classic Khasakkinte Ithihasam was also staged at the function.
Poet Murukan Kattakkada inaugurated a poets’ meet in the afternoon. Many poets, including Vinod Vaishakhi, Asim Thannimoodu, Babu Pakkanar, Manju P.N., Santhan, P.R. Ratheesh, Padma Das, Sushama Bindu, Subhadra Satheesan, Bindu Pratap, Suguna Santhosh, and Unnikrishnan Chazhiyodu, presented their poems.
