Reputed Malayalam writer and Jnanpeet laureate said in Kozhikode that freedom is not the ‘generous gift’ of any ruler. He said this while sharing the dais with Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPM CM of Kerala. The inauguration of Kerala Literature Festival was the venue for this sharp statement. It appeared to be a veiled attack against the CM and a nice piece of advice.
MT liked to point out a historical necessity. It is long time since the deterioration of values in politics turned a hot topic. We are satisfying ourselves with an excuse that it happens, thanks to the absence of the proper and suitable leaders. Political activity is a legitimate means to bag the power. Now, power means domination or autocracy. A position in Parliament or Cabinet leads to domination hence autocracy. Long time back we buried the faith that power is an opportunity to serve the people. Russia threw the Tsarist regime away from the power; but, afterwards theory of service was ignored. Wilhem J. Reif, Marxian philosopher, psychologist and a student of Sigmund Freud, had warned in 1944 that a balkanisation would take place there in Soviet Union. Reif reminded that it is better to analyse the reasons behind the balkanisation than to deny the existence of it. When industry, culture and science are handed over to managements with excess power, there begins the deterioration, MT warned.
He reminded that the people who participated in the Russian revolution was a mob. One can easily provoke a mob, make them his fans as well as soldiers. The mob should become a responsible society, attain strength and freedom. Freedom is not the piece of generosity that the governments flaunts before the poor guys.
Maxim Gorky and Anton Chekhov, two writers of Russia said that mob should develop into a society, it is essential for Russia’s existence. It is much before the revelation of Reif. Both writers were against blaming the Tsars for all wrong doings and also magnifying the achievements of the new establishment thereby satisfying the mob.
EMS Nampoothirippad always kept on trying to change the notion that some do always lead and some others will always be led. Therefore, he was not seen at the centre of personality cult. Some people come at the helm due to some circumstances the society is found in.
He said, after coming to power in 1957, through ballot, some communists might have thought that the goal is achieved. EMS is respected now perhaps due to the fact that he might have taken it as mere beginning. He might have thought that it is the kick off of a process to convert the masses into a responsible society.
Some people are catapulted to the high positions ‘incidentally’. A leader, who aim at the creation of a society which longs to enjoy a liberation from the oppression and which does not see the power without fear but, with respects, should always expand his thought process to wide horizons. Then he converts himself from an ‘accidental incident’ to a ‘historic necessity’. That is the significance of EMS.
MT concluded that he believes, those who are at power will realize this as the need of the hour and proceed accordingly.
The above statement, which he read from the prepared draft, appears to be a clear indication that he is unhappy with the Pinarayi regime. MT has been maintaining a neutral stand always. Under normal circumstances, writers and cultural leaders in Kerala are always scared of Left forces. Now, the most respected living Malayalam writer, a nonagenarian, has taken a strong stand even though he has not named any one. But, right thinking people has got the real wind of it. Therefore, it is a major development.
Left leaders try to escape from the embarrassment by stating that MT meant Modiji. But, BJP and opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) laughs at Left version. Even media, both print and electronic, took the right stand that MT targeted Kerala CM. Because, he is facing lot of allegations of corruption, fascism and nepotism.
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