KLF HIGHLIGHTS: M. MUKUNDAN SUGGESTS A BROADER SOCIAL CONVERN
After M.T. Vasudevan Nair criticized the glorification of political leaders at the Kerala Literature Festival, another well-known writer, M. Mukundan, also shared his disapproval. During a session commemorating the 50th anniversary of his famous novel, “Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil,” Mukundan talked about today’s leaders who enjoy power but don’t seem to care about the lives lost in the process. He urged people to think about the bloodshed in politics when voting and emphasized the leaders’ lack of concern for human life. This echoes Vasudevan Nair’s recent criticism of totalitarianism and power politics at the same festival.
Malayalam Novelist M. Mukundan called upon the public to recognize the pivotal role elections play in effecting change and urged them to bear in mind the blood spilled in the name of politics when casting their votes. This resonates with M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s recent critique of totalitarianism, personality cults, and power politics, articulated during the inaugural ceremony of the Kerala Literature . Notably, Mukundan’s critique is not isolated to this particular event.
The cumulative effect of these criticisms suggests a broader societal concern with the state of political affairs, prompting intellectuals and writers to speak out against what they perceive as a deterioration of values within the political landscape. The resonance of these sentiments across various sections of society underscores a shared anxiety about the direction of political leadership and the erosion of ideological distinctions that were once considered fundamental.
Novelist Mukundan’s concerns are not unique to this event. Many writers and intellectuals are expressing worries about the state of politics. They are speaking out against what they see as a decline in values in the political landscape. The fact that these criticisms resonate across different parts of society shows a shared anxiety about the direction of political leadership and the fading of once-important ideological differences.- WILLIAMSJI MAVELI
