Fitting tribute to Akbar Kakkattil

KOZHIKODE: A disciple and close friend of late writer Akbar Kakkattil, who was partially paralysed after hearing the news of his demise, has finally got his book on him Ummini Balya Mash released. Rafi Neelankavil, the headmaster of BB Lower Primary School, Chavakkad, was overwhelmed when writer Khadeeja Mumtaz handed over the first copy to the writer’s widow Jameela Akbar at their home late Friday evening. The book is a collection of his experiences as a teacher.

The ceremony marked the beginning of Akbar Smruthi, being organised by Koottu, a collective of Kakkattil’s friends and students. It was Kakkattil who introduced Mr Neelankavil to the world of literature and wrote the foreword for his first book. Though he had agreed to write a preface for this work also, he passed away before keeping his word. Mr Rafi had collapsed in his school after hearing about Kakkattil’s demised and got paralysed from the shock. He will undergo surgery next week.