Reactions ꦬhave been pouring in since the great literary figure and Jnanpith Award winner M T Vasudevan Nair passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 91 owing to cardiac failure.
M T's extensive body of work during a career spanning seven decades included nine novels, 19 collections of short stories, six film directions, 54 screenplays, and several collections of essays and memoirs. As a tribute to his literary excellence, the Kerala government said it would observe official mourning on December 26 and 27.
Reactions ꦬhave been pouring in since the great literary figure and Jnanpith Award winner M T Vasudevan Nair passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 91 owing to cardiac failure.
Nair's extensive body of work during a career spanning seven decades included nine novels, 19 collections of short stories, six film directions, 54 screenplays, and several collections of ess𝐆ays and memoirs.
As a tribute to his literary excellenceꦦ, Kerala government said it would observe official mourning on December 26 and 27. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed postponement 💝of all government events, including the Cabinet meeting scheduled for December 26.
Condoling the demise of the renow✱ned Malayalam writer, President D♕roupadi Murmu in a X post said, "With the demise of Shri M T Vasudevan Nair, renowned Malayalam writer, the world of literature has become poorer. Rural India came alive in his writings."
"He was honoured with major literary awards and had made significant contribution to films. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan. I convey my heartfelt condolౠences to the members of his family, and the large number of his readers and admirers," the president said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the death of M T꧒ Vasudevan Nair, and said his works, with their profound exploration of human emotions, have shaped generations and will continue to inspire many more.
"He also ꦇgave voice to the silent and marginalised. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti✃," Modi said.
Expressing grief over N𝄹air's death, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, "It is an irreparable loss not only to Kerala in general but alsoꦆ to the world of Malayalam literature." Highlighting his literary brilliance, Vijayan said Nair brought Malayalam literature to the forefront of world literature.
Describing M T as a towering figure in the fields of short story writing, novel w🦂riting, screenplay writing, film direction, journalism, and cultural leadership, Vijayan said that through his works, he conveyed the beauty and comple🐠xity of Kerala's life.
"He rose to global prominence while firmly rooting himself in the cultural traditions of Valluvanadu, reflecting the life and ethos of the people. In doing 𓂃so, M T marked not only the individual minds of Keralites but also the collective consciousness of the people of Kerala through his writings," he said.
Condoling hisꦰ demise, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said the passi🌸ng of M T marks a profound loss for both Malayalam and Indian literature.
"This multifaceted genius who enriched literature, cinema, and journalism authored some of the finest w🥂orks in Malayalam literature. As a writer, M T championed modernism through characters that embodied modernist sensibilities, and as editor, advanced the movement by publishing theꦫ works of other modernist writers," he said, extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
"May his soul attain Mukti," the Governor wrote.
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, said M T was the꧒ one who, with the power of a pen, determined how a people should write and speak in th๊eir mother tongue.
"M T stood as the symb💜ol of the natℱion’s greatness, filled with the sanctity and radiance of Malayalam," Satheesan said.
On Wednesday, Nair passed away at 10 PM at🀅 a private hospital in Kozhikode. As per PTI, he had been undergoing treatment for ovꦰer a month due to illness. Following respiratory distress, he was admitted to the hospital in the early morning of December 16.
Earlier doctors had informed that his body was responding to the medication which raised hopes and coဣmfort that the beloved writer might recover. However, by n♏ight, hospital authorities confirmed his death.
His last rites will be held at 5 PM on Thursday at the Mavoor Road crematorꦜium. The body will be brought from the hospital to his residence on Kottaram Road. Public viewing will be held at the house until 4 PM in the afternoon.
M T's extr🌞aordinary literary achievements earned him the Jnanpith Award in 1995, India's highest literary honour.
His long💝 list of accolades also included Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, V🌞allathol Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, and O N V Literary Award.
In 2005, M T was awarde♑d the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour.
He received the J C Daniel Award for lif🍷etime achievement in Malayalam cinema in 2013, and in 2022, he was honoured with the inaugural Kerala Jyothi Award, the highest civilian honour from 🍷the Kerala government.