Author: P. Valsala
Publication: Organiser.org
Date: October 25, 2015

In a joint statement intellectuals from Kerala termed the return of Sahitya Akademi awards as “equal to sending old parents to old age homes.” The statement said the writers are least bothered about the most serious human rights violation and cultural attacks of the past.
               
The statement has been signed by leading personalities including Shri P Parameshwaran, Prof Thuravoor Vishwambharan, Mahakavi (eminent poet) Akkitham, world famous sculptor Kanayi Kunjiraman, famous poet and lyrist S Rameshan Nair, Malayalam matinee idols Suresh Gopi and Maneka Suresh, renowned film makers Priyadarshan and Maj. Ravi, famous writers Madambu Kunjik-kuttan and KB Sreedevi and composer Alleppey Ranganath .

Eminent novelist Shri P. Valsala, former chairperson of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Akademi award winner ridiculed the protesting writers saying ‘some are returning not the awards they got, but the awards they bought’. Njanapeetam laureate MT Vasudevan Nair and Prof Sugathakumari (celebrated poet who has bagged numerous awards) also do not agree to the return of awards. C Radhakrishnan, winner of several literary awards and also renowned writer UA Khader said they will not return the awards for the sake of appeasing any one.

Kerala’s gene next wondered where were these so-called intellectuals when KT Jayakrishanan Mater was butchered by CPM goons in front of the sixth standard students when he was teaching them in the school class room.