IANS/Thrissur, Kerala
Malayalam writer and orator Sukumar Azhikode died of cancer at a private hospital here yesterday morning. He was 85.
Azhikode: multi-faceted personality
He was admitted to hospital on December 7 last year and his condition deteriorated in the past few days. The end came at 6.33am.
Family sources said his body would be taken to his hometown in Azhikode in Kannur district and the funeral will take place today afternoon at the Payamabalam beach.
Azhikode was a bachelor and he retired as pro-vice chancellor of Calicut University in 1986.
A multi-faceted personality, Azhikode won 12 awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy visited ailing Azhikode two days back. Soon after he fell ill, Chandy had announced that the state government would foot the writer’s medical bill.
Azhikode’s most famous work is Tatvamasi (1984, Malayalam), an authoritative book on Indian philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads.
This work won him 12 awards including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and Rajaji Award.
In January 2007, the writer refused to accept the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honours, stating that such honours were against the constitution.
“The constitution says everyone should be treated as equal. Giving such honours at different levels, the state discriminates between people. I see the Padma Shri conferred on me as an opportunity to expose this discrimination,” he had said.
His razor-sharp tongue and hard-hitting speeches interlaced with characteristic humour will remain in the memories of many who have heard him at least once.
Since his retirement as the pro-vice chancellor of Calicut University, he became a busy public speaker, even remarking once that he had decided to be based in Thrissur simply because it was in the central part of the state and his travel either north or south would be more or less the same distance.
His standoffs with public personalities are legendary. His recent spats with veteran Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and Velapally Natesan, the head of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, the social movement of the Hindu Ezhava community, had garnered huge media attention.
When Azhikode was diagnosed with bone cancer and got admitted to the hospital, he decided to withdraw his criminal defamation case against Mohanlal and the two broke the ice through a series of phone calls.
Recently, Mohanlal called on the ailing Azhikode and for those who witnessed the meeting, the scene was an emotionally-charged one.
Likewise, soon after Azhikode was diagnosed with cancer, Natesan arrived at his bedside. In full media glare and with tears rolling down his cheeks, he asked for forgiveness for whatever curt remarks he had made in his public spat against the master orator.
His friend and fellow writer Chemmanam Chacko showed reporters what is believed to be the last letter written by Azhikode dated November 29.
“This was written on a postcard and he says he is not keeping well and wishes to try out homoeopathy for his ailment. He ends his letter by inquiring about the womenfolk in my family and also states that he loves to have fish curry with green gram,” Chacko said.
His brother’s wife, who lives in Kannur where Azhikode was born, recalled his visits to their home as ones which were full of wit and humour.
“He never used to stay beyond two days here, but the two days were a jolly affair,” said his sister-in-law.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy described him as one of Kerala’s tallest and most multi-faceted personalities.
“He was a true Gandhian, teacher, orator and a critic. No one ever doubted his critiques. His loss is just not a loss to the social milieu but to the entire state,” Chandy said.