Ezhuthachan award presented to N.S. Madhavan

N.S. Madhavan honored for politically charged writing, praised by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Ezhuthachan award ceremony.

N.S. Madhavan is a writer who responds creatively to contemporary political developments, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

He was speaking after presenting the State government’s Ezhuthachan award for 2024 to Mr. Madhavan at a function here on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said Mr. Madhavan’s story Vanmarangal Veezhumbol, set against the backdrop of the communal riots in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, definitely had a politics. His stories such as Thiruthu, Nilavili, and Naalam Lokam too put forth politics. Despite a career in the IAS, he continued to pursue writing, which echoes the vigour of modern literature.

He also praised Mr. Madhavan’s creativity as reflected in Lanthan Batheriyile Luthiniyakal and Higuita.

The award, Mr. Vijayan said, was instituted in memory of Ezhuthachan who revived Malayalam through his poetry. At a time when Sanskrit alone was considered primary, he took Malayalam to the common man through the concept of Bhakti. In a caste-ridden society, he took the Ramayana to every household.

Malayalam, the Chief Minister pointed out, had a rich cultural heritage. The importance given by the State government to Malayalam is evident in it being made the official language. Its greatness should be preserved, he said.

In his speech, Mr. Madhavan said Malayalam rejected purity and absorbed words from Sanskrit, Persian, Aramaic, Arabic, Portuguese, and Danish. He was proud to write in a language that accepted diversity and was tolerant.