PKV AWARD FOR P GOVINDA PILLAI
The eminent Marxist
thinker, writer, social and political activist P Govinda Pillai has been chosen
for the PKV Award for the year 2011.The award was instituted by PKV Centre for
Human Development and Cultural Affairs in memory of former Chief Minister P K
Vasudevan Nair.A judging committee comprising litterateur Puthussery
Ramachandran, Justice N Krishnan Nair and media personality Sunnikkutty Abraham
selected the awardee, a release said. Pillai had made commendable contributions
to the social and political life of Kerala for the last several decades, the
Judging Committee said. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, memento
and citation.Earlier recipients of the award are former CPI state Secretary
Veliyam Bhargavan Congress leader V M Sudheeran, writer Sara Joseph, RSP leader
K Pankajakshan and CPI state secretary C K Chandrappan.
Poet and Jnanpith laureate O.N.V. Kurup presented the award,
instituted by the PKV Centre for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, at a
function held at Mr. Govinda Pillai's residence. Handing over the award Mr.
Kurup said that Mr. Pillai was a political activist and intellectual with a
difference. “It amazes me to think how someone like PG could remain such a
strong and respected presence in the field of politics where people are
generally hailed based on their fan-following, vote-bank influence, and power
positions. PG has none of these qualities. What makes him different is his
intellectual honesty and academic ingenuity,” he said.Accepting the award, Mr.
Govinda Pillai said he was happy and pleased to receive an honour in the name
of a lifelong friend and relative. CPI leader and he former Chief Minister P.K.
Vasudevan Nair — PKV— was married to Mr. Pillai's sister.“We studied together
at UC College, Aluva, from where our friendship began. We then became fellow
comrades and our friendship grew over the years. PKV was a perfect gentleman
but also a person with strong conviction and ideas,” Mr. Pillai said.
Mr. Pillai recounted the days in which he, along with PKV, took
part in the freedom struggle and in the uprising against the Diwan of the
Travancore C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer.“In fact, almost 10 days after his wedding with
my sister, PKV had to go in hiding. I was studying in Bombay then and had been
jailed as part of my involvement in the freedom movement. Those were days of
struggle, but looking back, I feel proud and a sense of satisfaction,” he said.Award
committee chairman Pudussery Ramachandran presided over the function.CPI State
unit secretary Pannyan Ravindran delivered the PKV memorial lecture.
Prof. John Kurakar
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