Azhikode a righteous force, says Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Intolerance towards criticism in a democracy invariably leads to disaster, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Tuesday, describing Dr Sukumar Azhikode, writer and critic, as a ‘force’ that prompted us through his sharp criticism to correct errors and travel the path of righteousness.The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating a function organised by ‘Kerala Samskara’ to felicitate Azhikode and evaluate his contributions on the occasion of his 85th birthday.“When you think of him, you think of his criticism. But you are not pained by it as you cannot doubt his sincerity, even if you may feel that he should treat all impartially,” the Chief Minister said.Poet and Jnanpith laureate O N V Kurup, who crowned Azhikode with a ‘Jnanakireedam’ on the occasion, remembered how Vaikom Mohammed Basheer described Azhikode as ‘Sagaragarjanam.’ ONV said that his own relationship with Azhikode went back to 1952, when they met at a function beside the final resting place of poet Kumaran Asan.“Ever since, he has been an elder brother to me. Normally, human beings harbour differences of opinion, but we have never quarrelled, perhaps because we share the same interests though we may have different opinions,” ONV said. Taking a dig at Azhikode, ONV said he had always wondered how such extraordinary volumes of scholarship existed in such a diminutive physique as that of Azhikode’s.Poet Sugathakumari recollected how Azhikode’s ‘Sagaragarjanam’ reverberated throughout Kerala during the Silent Valley agitation. “There was such opposition towards us. We were quite few in number, a small number of environmentalists and scientists. But when our small committee wrote to Azhikode, he replied, ‘I’m with you,” Sugathakumari said. She said it was high time Kerala introspected whether it had absorbed the exhortations made by Azhikode. Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph released four books on the occasion; ‘Asante Seethakavyam’, ‘Remananum Malayalakavithayum’ and ‘Sankarakurup Vimarshikkappedunnu’ in a single volume; ‘Azheekkodenna Vicharashilpi’; ‘Azhikodinte Avatharikakal’ and ‘Indiyaum Chinthayum’.  Dr Sukumar Azhikode, neuro-physician Dr Shaji Prabhakaran, P Govinda Pillai, C J Roy and P Soman were present on the occasion.