A month after the passing of M.T. Vasudevan Nair, one of the greatest writers in Malayalam literature, the nation posthumously honoured him with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. Along with him, Malayalis from diverse fields were among those recognised with the Padma Awards announced on Saturday.
“We’re happy that the nation has honoured him. It is a recognition for Malayalam language and literature as well,” MT’s daughter Aswathy V. Nair told The Hindu following the award announcement.
MT, who strode like a colossus in Malayalam literary arena for over six decades, captured the societal changes and the inner lives of those who lived through these changes in his remarkable novels, most of which are considered among the classics in the language. His major works include Randamoozham, Naalukettu, Kaalam, Manju and Asuravithu. As the editor of one of Malayalam’s most popular literary magazines, he nurtured the next generation of writers, including writers whose style and concerns stood in stark contrast with his own.
When he ventured into Malayalam cinema, he left his indelible mark there too, as the screenwriter of some of the most popular films in the 1970s and 80s. His directorial debut Nirmalyam (1971), with its iconoclastic content and images, is still considered as a touchstone in debates on freedom of expression.
Occupying the helm of Thunchanparambu in the later years of his life, he continued to nurture Malayalam literature and language, while remaining a steadfast defender of secularism.
