“More than a writer and an artist, MT is a human being and is able to empathise with his fellow humans,” literary critic M.K. Sanoo has said. He was presenting the second Chavara Samskrithi Puraskaram to writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair in Kozhikode on Saturday.

The award, named after Chavara Kuriakose Elias, the 19th century Christian priest and social reformer who founded the CMI and CMC congregations, was first presented to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam five years ago.

Lyrical quality

Commenting on the lyrical quality of MT’s short stories, Mr. Sanoo said they often outshined the poems of the writer’s time. He added that the essence of modern literature in Malayalam was first seen in MT’s works.

Earlier, Mr. Sanoo noted that Father Kuriakose Alias of Chavara had a prominent place among social reformers in the State for making education accessible to backward and lower class people and for pioneering Sanskrit education among the masses.

“Father Chavara initiated many women into the field of education and set up hostels for them to stay away from home. Thus they could be involved in social service activities.” he said. He exalted Father Chavara’s idea of ‘one school for every Church’ as well as his early contributions to Malayalam literature.

Lauds contributions

MT in his address said the contributions of Father Chavara to the field of education, social reform, and literature were “unbelievable” and added that the clergyman’s works were a reminder to today’s society of one’s duties and responsibilities.

Artist Namboothiri, filmmaker Ranjith, and CMI Church director Roby Kannanchira were present. CMI chairman Sebastian Thekkedath presided over the function. The award is instituted by Chavara Cultural Centre, Kochi.