TP Chandrasekharan verdict to upset CPM’s literary base

Kozhikode: The dead TP has acquired a greater image than what he had while he was alive. Chandrasekharan’s death not only challenged the political citadels of the CPM but also shattered its intellectual fortresses.

From time immemorial, the CPM had been the unquestioned protector of intellectuals. Writers, poets, artists and sculptors would clash with each other to find a place in Purogamana Kala Sahithyasangham (Pukasa), the cultural arm of the CPM. Those out of Pukasa were considered as angels pushed out of heaven.

But the TP murder brought about a paradigm shift in perceptions. A host of pro-CPM intellectuals including noted writer N. Prabhakaran, dramatist and musician Karivellur Murali and even M. Mukundan, who once showered encomiums on the CPM for its struggle in creating a world of equality, came out of the red frame to join the rebellious tribe of writers.

Even K.E.N. Kunhammad who had always been a party stalwart, kept off from several venues organized to vindicate the party stance. “Before TP, criticizing the CPM in literature was considered a crime and the writer a criminal”, said writer Shihabudheen Poythumkadavu. “But the post-TP literature is flooded with anti-CPM works and most of them were penned by leftist writers”, he added.

Vettuvazhikavithakal, an anthology of more than 50 poems published by a prominent publishing house lashing out at the murder, was sold out within four days and it later ran into three editions.

The most embarrassing contribution in honour of TP’s martyrdom came from Njeralath Harigovindan, the master of Sopanasangeetham. He penned a keerthanam on TP’s martyrdom and presented it across the state to the accompaniment of edakka.

A collection of articles, Kulamkuthikal was also published. Interestingly, the word kulamkuthi, meaning a renegade, came from CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan during the post-TP days.