Puthussery helped Malayalam get classical language tag: Prabha Varma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Paying tribute to writer and linguistics scholar Puthussery Ramachandran, ‘Karuthinte Mozhitthottam,’ a study on his life and compositions, was released at a function at the Kerala Bhasha Institute premises here on Monday.

The compilation of articles based on Puthussery’s major contributions to the world of literature and linguistics was released by renowned poet and journalist Prabha Varma. He said Puthussery was a person who devoted his life to branch out of poetry to other connected areas. His research works from ancient leftovers contributed in a big way to brining classical status for the Malayalam language, he added.

“The sacrifices he underwent during difficult times to protect, renovate, and sustain the language are incomparable. His valuable contributions have undoubtedly led to a social metamorphosis,” he said. Receiving the first copy, critic B. Rajeevan said that evaluating poets on a common scale was a failure. “This unscientific method has come in the way of giving due recognition to personalities like Puthussery who worked tirelessly towards developing language and literature," he added.

He also spoke on the writer’s role as a teacher who inspired many to lead a better life. He also pointed out that the governments failed mercilessly even to evaluate major contributions made towards the language. The book is edited and compiled by Vilakkudi Rajendran. Kerala Bhasha Institute, the publishers have brought out similar publications as part of paying tribute to the contributions made by eminent personalities from the field of language and literature including Thakazhi and E.V. Krishnapillai.

M.R. Thampan, director of Kerala Bhasha Institute presided over the function in which former chief secretary C.P Nair, senior journalist G. Sekharan Nair, and writer Sudarshan Karthikaparambil addressed the gathering.