M. N. Vijayan
Encyclopedia
M.N. Vijayan (8 June 1930 – 3 October 2007) was an Indian writer, orator and academic.
, India
. He was educated in Pathinettarayalam L.P. School, Kodungallur Boys High School, Ernakulam Maharajas College, and Government Law College, Ernakulam
. He was awarded a Master of Arts
in Malayalam
Language and Literature from Madras University.
as a teacher in 1952. He worked as a lecturer at University College, Trivandrum for a brief period before joining Brennen College
, Thalassery
, in 1960 as malayalam lecturer. He retired in 1985.
(CPI(M)). He was President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
(Progressive Association for Art and Letters) and Adhinivesha Prathirodha Samithi (Council for Resisting Imperialist Globalisation), a leftist think-tank based in Kerala
which collaborated with the CPI(M). He was removed as editor of Deshabhimani when leaders of the provincial Communist Party felt he did not adhere to the party line. He opposed the policy of some state level leaders and other leftist intellectuals to accept foreign funding of political work. He was also for a time the editor of the controversial periodical Padom, notably criticising a Kerala state government program called People's Campaign for Decentralised Planning ( People's Plan
) and its creator Thomas Isaac. Vijayan and Professor Sudheesh's articles in Padom against the "people’s plan", a program aimed at decentralisation of power, became a controversial issue. Later a Kerala court ruled that the allegations of foreign funding of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
(KSSP) had been proven by Sudheesh and Vijayan.http://www.mathrubhumi.com/php/showNews.php?news_category_id=3&Farc= Vijayan and Sudheesh had started Padom in 2000, and started to attack on CPI(M)'s social democratic stands and attitude towards World Bank and IMF . He resigned from Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham as a result of a disagreement with M. A. Baby
, then in charge of the CPI(M).
The cultural programme Manaveeyam of CPI(M)-led LDF
government of Kerala
was criticised for the extravagance of the programmes and the elitist audience to which the programmes catered, and also for the fact that the "people’s art and culture" gave way to bourgeois concepts under the influence of neoliberalism
. Vijayan also led an ideological debate against social democratic deviations. When the leader of Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (a pro-CPI(M)
Science forum) M. P. Parameswaran
went ahead with his “theory of the fourth world” campaign, it was alleged that a theory that had been opposed by the late ideologue of the party, E. M. S. Namboodiripad
, was now being resurrected after his death. Vijayan and his followers resisted P. Govinda Pillai
's controversial critical remarks against A. K. Gopalan
, Namboodiripad and others on ideological grounds. Though, initially, CPI(M) leadership was forced to expel Parameswaran and Depromote Pillai from the state committee because of the high reputation that Vijayan enjoyed among the party supporters, writers and the literate, later the Social Democrats group got control over the CPI(M) organization. There were similar attacks against other left-leaning intellectuals like Dr. B. Ekbal
(leading to Ekbal's expulsion from CPI(M)) who were trying to re-examine the direction of left-wing politics in Kerala.
Vijayan did not attend many public meetings during his last years as a result of his ill health, but continued to write weekly columns in Samakalina Malayalam, an Indian Express group of publications, Janashakthi and Maruvakku. The column was originally published weekly in Deshabhimani until he parted ways with the paper. He is also the editor of the monthly Maruvaakku.
, Marxism
and social science as tools to analyse life and literature
. Some prominent writers, including M. Krishnan Nair
, Thinakkal Padmanabhan
has said that Vijayan's writings are difficult to understand, as he does not follow conventional grammatical structures.V. C. Sreejan
, criticizes that Vijayan's style is densely figurative, hence vague and often meaningless. He was a pioneer of the use of psychological criticism in Malayalam Literature, and influenced contemporary Kerala culture.
Vijayan's works were nominated on several occasions for literary awards, but in keeping with a general aversion to institutionalism, he rejected any state-sponsored awards that he won.
. Unlike Thakazhi, Bashir and others, M. N. Vijayan never met Kesari Balakrishna Pillai during his lifetime. Vijayan was only 30 years old when Kesari died. However it was Vijayan who took initiative to publish Kesari's invaluable works.
counsellor, using Freudian techniques. Many writers, intellectuals, journalists and political activists have described him as an intellectual mentor. The November 2007 issue of Samayam Masika was devoted to articles by a variety of public figures about Vijayan and his influence, both on them personally and upon others, including M. T. Vasudevan Nair
(writer, film director, Jnanpith Award
winner), N .Prabhakaran (writer, academic), Mohanan Cherukadu (writer), Appukkuttan Vallikkunnu (journalist), P. Surendran (writer), Dr. Abdul Azeez (Doctor), Kunhappa Pattanoor (poet), Umesh Babu K.C. (Poet and political activist), A. V. Pavitran (writer), Anil Kumar A. V. (journalist, political activist), Dr. Vatsalan Vatuseeri (writer), Dr. Prabhakaran Pazhassi (writer, Professor), Choorayi Chandran (Political activist, Educationalist), N. Shasidharan (writer).
His studies on Vailoppilli, a well known Malayalam poet, and especially the poems "Mampazham" and "Sahyante makan", using Freudian techniques attained wide acclaim. He was a staunch critic of communal organisations and he used a significant part of his oratory and writings to back Communist Party of India (Marxist) in their ideological and material resistance against the invasion of fascist forces with venomous separatist aims in Tellicherry and Kerala. M.N.Vijayan, his wife and his residence at Dharmadam, Thalassey, provided a haven for people who faced psychological problems. With utmost affection Vijayan mash and his wife served them. He is the general editor of Nammute Sahityam Nammute Samooham (Our Society Our Literature), a four volume research book on literature and society of Kerala.
Vijayan became a mentor for many writers, leftist politicians and journalists. He was a critic of NGOs like Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
which polluted the sensibilities of Malayalees. Vijayan died while he was addressing a press conference in Thrissur, explaining how non- governmentally funded organisations like Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
function in Kerala, camouflaging their imperialist agenda by wearing a leftist mask. Parishath and its activities lost credibility when Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate dismissed the defamation case filed against Patom, a magazine which exposed the fishy trails of such organisations. "You are selling your credibility... It is hijacking democracy ...", Vijayan said about Parishath and its supporters in the last press conference.Thrissur Current Books and Akam Samithi Thalassey published the early works of M.N.Vijayan. Thrissur Current Books published the Complete Works of M.N. Vijayan in ten volumes under different titles, like literature, politics, culture, interviews, speeches, biography, memoirs, etc. The first M.N.Vijayan library was inaugurated at Kannur. Govt. Brennen College Malayalam department has constituted the M.N.Vijayan endowment in 2010 for outstanding students of Malayalam literature.
, while formally inaugurating M.N.V.C.S.R (Reg.No.67/2011), argued, the proposition that the Industrialization is a panacea for all societal problems is a folly. In the Neo-liberal Era, official Left Parties in India lack vision and strength to fight not only the anti-people policies, but also failed to question India's hegemonic control over the neighbouring nations and environmental issues. He pointed out that M.N.Vijayn was able to give voice to people's protests, by breaking the restrictions imposed on him. V.P.Vasudevan, N.Prabhakaran, P.N.Gopikrishnan et al participated in the meeting.
left the space of its main headline blank showing respect to him and commented "The death which doesn't have any title." Janashakthi Weeklyhttp://www.janashakthionline.com left its whole editorial page blank to show respect to him. His body was cremated with State honours in Kodungallur, Kerala.
Early life
M.N. Vijayan was born in Lokamaleshwaram, KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was educated in Pathinettarayalam L.P. School, Kodungallur Boys High School, Ernakulam Maharajas College, and Government Law College, Ernakulam
Government Law College, Ernakulam
Government Law College, Ernakulam is a prominent institution for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate legal education in Kerala. It is situated in the heart of Kochi City...
. He was awarded a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
Language and Literature from Madras University.
Academic career
He joined Madras New CollegeThe New College, Chennai
The New College is an institution of higher education in Chennai, South India. Established in 1951, the institution is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Madras, with autonomous status...
as a teacher in 1952. He worked as a lecturer at University College, Trivandrum for a brief period before joining Brennen College
Brennen College
Brennen College is one of the oldest educational institutions in Kerala affiliated to Kannur University. It is located in Dharmadam, Thalassery of Kerala state, India. The Brennen College evolved from a school established by the English philanthropist Edward Brennen, who had made Thalassery his home...
, Thalassery
Thalassery
Thalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...
, in 1960 as malayalam lecturer. He retired in 1985.
Political and journalism career
From 1960 to 1999 M. N. Vijayan stayed at Dharmadam, Thalassery. Vijayan worked as the editor of the cultural weekly Deshabhimani owned by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
(CPI(M)). He was President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham an Association for Art and Letters, also known as the PuKaSa, is an organization of artists, writers and art and literature enthusiasts based in Kerala. The association was formed on August 14, 1981, under the leadership of Malayalam poet Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon...
(Progressive Association for Art and Letters) and Adhinivesha Prathirodha Samithi (Council for Resisting Imperialist Globalisation), a leftist think-tank based in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
which collaborated with the CPI(M). He was removed as editor of Deshabhimani when leaders of the provincial Communist Party felt he did not adhere to the party line. He opposed the policy of some state level leaders and other leftist intellectuals to accept foreign funding of political work. He was also for a time the editor of the controversial periodical Padom, notably criticising a Kerala state government program called People's Campaign for Decentralised Planning ( People's Plan
People's Plan
People's Plan refers to the efforts made to involve the masses in the process of decision making in the field of local self government by the Left Democratic Front government of Kerala headed by Sri...
) and its creator Thomas Isaac. Vijayan and Professor Sudheesh's articles in Padom against the "people’s plan", a program aimed at decentralisation of power, became a controversial issue. Later a Kerala court ruled that the allegations of foreign funding of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad is a People's Science Movement of Kerala, India. At the time of its founding in 1962 it was a 40-member group consisting of science writers and teachers with interest in science from a social perspective...
(KSSP) had been proven by Sudheesh and Vijayan.http://www.mathrubhumi.com/php/showNews.php?news_category_id=3&Farc= Vijayan and Sudheesh had started Padom in 2000, and started to attack on CPI(M)'s social democratic stands and attitude towards World Bank and IMF . He resigned from Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham as a result of a disagreement with M. A. Baby
M. A. Baby
M. A. Baby is an Indian politician. He is the former Education Minister of Kerala State. He is also a Central Committee Member of Communist Party of India .-Early life:...
, then in charge of the CPI(M).
The cultural programme Manaveeyam of CPI(M)-led LDF
Left Democratic Front
Left Democratic Front is a coalition of left winged political parties in the state of Kerala, in India. This is one of the two major political coalitions in Kerala, each of which have been in power alternatively for the last two decades. LDF is the coalition that is presently in oppposition...
government of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
was criticised for the extravagance of the programmes and the elitist audience to which the programmes catered, and also for the fact that the "people’s art and culture" gave way to bourgeois concepts under the influence of neoliberalism
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a market-driven approach to economic and social policy based on neoclassical theories of economics that emphasizes the efficiency of private enterprise, liberalized trade and relatively open markets, and therefore seeks to maximize the role of the private sector in determining the...
. Vijayan also led an ideological debate against social democratic deviations. When the leader of Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (a pro-CPI(M)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
Science forum) M. P. Parameswaran
M. P. Parameswaran
M. P. Parameswaran is an Indian nuclear engineer and eminent science contributor. He is an atomic scientist and educationist of India. He played an important role in Indian Nuclear program.- Education :...
went ahead with his “theory of the fourth world” campaign, it was alleged that a theory that had been opposed by the late ideologue of the party, E. M. S. Namboodiripad
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an Indian Communist leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala. As the first non-Congress chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world...
, was now being resurrected after his death. Vijayan and his followers resisted P. Govinda Pillai
P. Govinda Pillai
P. Govinda Pillai, veteran Communist Party of India leader and ideologue from Kerala, India, and former Chief Editor of Deshabhimani, was born on 23 May 1926 at Pulluvazhi, Perumbavoor as the son of Parameswaran Pillai and Parukuttyamma. He graduated with BA Hons...
's controversial critical remarks against A. K. Gopalan
A. K. Gopalan
Ayillyath Kuttiari Gopalan , 1 October 1904 to March 22, 1977, popularly known as A. K. Gopalan or AKG, was an Indian communist leader and first leader of opposition of India.- Early life and education :...
, Namboodiripad and others on ideological grounds. Though, initially, CPI(M) leadership was forced to expel Parameswaran and Depromote Pillai from the state committee because of the high reputation that Vijayan enjoyed among the party supporters, writers and the literate, later the Social Democrats group got control over the CPI(M) organization. There were similar attacks against other left-leaning intellectuals like Dr. B. Ekbal
B. Ekbal
Dr. Ekbal Bappukunju is a public health activist, a neurosurgeon, and an academic in Kerala, India. He was the vice-chancellor of the University of Kerala during the period 2000–2004...
(leading to Ekbal's expulsion from CPI(M)) who were trying to re-examine the direction of left-wing politics in Kerala.
Vijayan did not attend many public meetings during his last years as a result of his ill health, but continued to write weekly columns in Samakalina Malayalam, an Indian Express group of publications, Janashakthi and Maruvakku. The column was originally published weekly in Deshabhimani until he parted ways with the paper. He is also the editor of the monthly Maruvaakku.
Writings
Most of Vijayan's publications are compilations of his speeches. He is considered to be a powerful orator. He used psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and social science as tools to analyse life and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. Some prominent writers, including M. Krishnan Nair
M. Krishnan Nair (author)
Prof. M. Krishnan Nair was an eminent Malayalam writer, literary critic and orator.He was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 3 March 1923. His father was V.K. Madhavan Pillai and mother, L. Sarada Amma. He had his school education at Travancore and his college education at University College,...
, Thinakkal Padmanabhan
Thinakkal Padmanabhan
Thinakkal Padmanabhan, popularly known as T. Padmanabhan is a short story writer in Malayalam. After education, he embarked on a career as a factory employee. In 1989, he retired as the general deputy manager. He has written 162 stories...
has said that Vijayan's writings are difficult to understand, as he does not follow conventional grammatical structures.V. C. Sreejan
V. C. Sreejan
V. C. Sreejan is a literary critic writing in Malayalam. Born in 1951, he retired in 2007 after working as Reader in English in Government Brennen College, Thalassery. He has published eleven books in Malayalam. In 2003 he was awarded the Kerala Sahithya Akademi's C.B...
, criticizes that Vijayan's style is densely figurative, hence vague and often meaningless. He was a pioneer of the use of psychological criticism in Malayalam Literature, and influenced contemporary Kerala culture.
Vijayan's works were nominated on several occasions for literary awards, but in keeping with a general aversion to institutionalism, he rejected any state-sponsored awards that he won.
List of published works
- Bhayavum Abhayavum (The Fear And Refuge)
- Pradhirodhangal (Resistances)
- Chithayile Velicham (Light In The Pyre)
- M.N. Vijayante Prabhashanangal (M.N. Vijayan's Speeches)
- Varnangalude Sangeetham (The Music Of Colours)
- Kavithayum Manashastravum (Poetry And Psychology)
- Sheersasanam (Standing Upside Down)
- Kazhchappadu (Perspective)
- Vaakkum Manassum (The Speech and The Thought)
- Puthiya Varthamanangal (Latest News)
- Noothana Lokangal (New Worlds)
- Fascisathinte Manashasthram (The Psychology Of The Fascism)
- Marubhumikal Pookkumbol (When The Deserts Blossom)
- Samskaravum Swathanthriavum (The Culture And The Freedom)
- Adhikaram- Anuragam- Athmarahasyangal (Power- Passion- Private Matters)
- Fascism- Prathyaya Shasthram-Prayogam- Pradhirodham (Fascism- The Philosophy -Practice- Protest)
M. N. Vijayan and Kesari BalaKrishna Pillai
Many in Kerala mistakingly consider that M. N. Vijayan was a student of Kesari Balakrishna PillaiKesari Balakrishna Pillai
Kesari Balakrishna Pillai , was a prominent Malayalam writer, art and literary critic, journalist, thinker and visionary.Kesari Balakrishna Pillai, who was known by the name of the newspaper he ran, "Kesari". He was also a literary critic, essayist and translated literary works form French and...
. Unlike Thakazhi, Bashir and others, M. N. Vijayan never met Kesari Balakrishna Pillai during his lifetime. Vijayan was only 30 years old when Kesari died. However it was Vijayan who took initiative to publish Kesari's invaluable works.
Intellectual mentor and counselor
Though not a qualified medical practitioner, Vijayan worked for many years as a pro bonoPro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
counsellor, using Freudian techniques. Many writers, intellectuals, journalists and political activists have described him as an intellectual mentor. The November 2007 issue of Samayam Masika was devoted to articles by a variety of public figures about Vijayan and his influence, both on them personally and upon others, including M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...
(writer, film director, Jnanpith Award
Jnanpith Award
The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country...
winner), N .Prabhakaran (writer, academic), Mohanan Cherukadu (writer), Appukkuttan Vallikkunnu (journalist), P. Surendran (writer), Dr. Abdul Azeez (Doctor), Kunhappa Pattanoor (poet), Umesh Babu K.C. (Poet and political activist), A. V. Pavitran (writer), Anil Kumar A. V. (journalist, political activist), Dr. Vatsalan Vatuseeri (writer), Dr. Prabhakaran Pazhassi (writer, Professor), Choorayi Chandran (Political activist, Educationalist), N. Shasidharan (writer).
His studies on Vailoppilli, a well known Malayalam poet, and especially the poems "Mampazham" and "Sahyante makan", using Freudian techniques attained wide acclaim. He was a staunch critic of communal organisations and he used a significant part of his oratory and writings to back Communist Party of India (Marxist) in their ideological and material resistance against the invasion of fascist forces with venomous separatist aims in Tellicherry and Kerala. M.N.Vijayan, his wife and his residence at Dharmadam, Thalassey, provided a haven for people who faced psychological problems. With utmost affection Vijayan mash and his wife served them. He is the general editor of Nammute Sahityam Nammute Samooham (Our Society Our Literature), a four volume research book on literature and society of Kerala.
Vijayan became a mentor for many writers, leftist politicians and journalists. He was a critic of NGOs like Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad is a People's Science Movement of Kerala, India. At the time of its founding in 1962 it was a 40-member group consisting of science writers and teachers with interest in science from a social perspective...
which polluted the sensibilities of Malayalees. Vijayan died while he was addressing a press conference in Thrissur, explaining how non- governmentally funded organisations like Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad is a People's Science Movement of Kerala, India. At the time of its founding in 1962 it was a 40-member group consisting of science writers and teachers with interest in science from a social perspective...
function in Kerala, camouflaging their imperialist agenda by wearing a leftist mask. Parishath and its activities lost credibility when Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate dismissed the defamation case filed against Patom, a magazine which exposed the fishy trails of such organisations. "You are selling your credibility... It is hijacking democracy ...", Vijayan said about Parishath and its supporters in the last press conference.Thrissur Current Books and Akam Samithi Thalassey published the early works of M.N.Vijayan. Thrissur Current Books published the Complete Works of M.N. Vijayan in ten volumes under different titles, like literature, politics, culture, interviews, speeches, biography, memoirs, etc. The first M.N.Vijayan library was inaugurated at Kannur. Govt. Brennen College Malayalam department has constituted the M.N.Vijayan endowment in 2010 for outstanding students of Malayalam literature.
Study Centre
M.N.Vijayan Center for Study and Research was formally inaugurated on 2nd October 2011 at Kerala Sahitya Academy in Thrissur. Praful BidwaiPraful Bidwai
Praful Bidwai is an Indian journalist, political analyst, and activist.-Journalist and columnist:Praful Bidwai is an Leftist political analyst and commentator, a social science researcher, and an activist on issues of peace, global justice, human rights and environmental protection.Bidwai's...
, while formally inaugurating M.N.V.C.S.R (Reg.No.67/2011), argued, the proposition that the Industrialization is a panacea for all societal problems is a folly. In the Neo-liberal Era, official Left Parties in India lack vision and strength to fight not only the anti-people policies, but also failed to question India's hegemonic control over the neighbouring nations and environmental issues. He pointed out that M.N.Vijayn was able to give voice to people's protests, by breaking the restrictions imposed on him. V.P.Vasudevan, N.Prabhakaran, P.N.Gopikrishnan et al participated in the meeting.
Family
The son of Pathiyasheril Narayana Menon and Moolayil Kochammu Amma, Vijayan was married to Sharada, and has a son, V.S. Anil Kumar (also a writer and lecturer), and two daughters, Dr. Sujatha Balachandran and Sunitha Rajagopal.Death
Vijayan died of cardiac arrest on October 3, 2007. He was speaking at a televised press conference at Thrissur to explain the defamation case filed by KSSP President Pappootty over an article that appeared in the Paadham magazine. Caught on film, his last words were "It's not the individual, but the nation is important. This language should be used if it has to be heard, it was Bernard Shaw who said this.", and he subsequently collapsed. Kerala KaumudiKerala Kaumudi
Kerala Kaumudi is a popular Malayalam newspaper, founded in 1911 by C. V. Kunhiraman with K. Sukumaran B.A. as the founder editor. Printed from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur in Kerala and Bangalore, Kerala Kaumudi is the third most circulated Malayalam daily. The...
left the space of its main headline blank showing respect to him and commented "The death which doesn't have any title." Janashakthi Weeklyhttp://www.janashakthionline.com left its whole editorial page blank to show respect to him. His body was cremated with State honours in Kodungallur, Kerala.