This Sunday the city witnessed the prestigious "6th Kovilan Memorial Talk" organised annually by the Kerala-based "International Kovilan Study Group and hosted by the Kolkata Kairali Samajam at the Birla Academy.
Eminent critic and journalist K C Narayanan, editor of Bhashaposhini delivered the memorial talk under the title "The elements of liberation in Kovilan" at the tributary function, inaugurated by former Kerala minister M A Baby.
Prominent writers, artists and filmmakers from the city as well as peers of the Kovilan Study Group from other states and abroad also participated in the event.
A display of the rare photographs of the writer and his books as well as the screening of documentary "Kovilan - My Grandpa" were also arranged at the function.
A freedom fighter, Kovilan whose real name was V V Ayyappan, worked in the Royal Indian Navy from 1943 to 1946 and from 1948 to 1968 in the Corps of Signals.
Born on July 9, 1923 at Kandanassery in Guruvayur, Thrissur district, Kovilan was a recipient of the Kerala government's highest literary honour Ezhuthachan Puraskarom in 2006 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Malaylam literature.
He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1972 and 1977 and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award in 1998 besides Vayalar award in 1999. He was also a member of the Kendra Sahitha Akademi.
He had written 11 novels 12 collections of short stories besides articles and a play. He passed away in 2010.
