The literature mafia in Kerala dominated by the ruling CPI(M) has its own system to determine the standard of novels, criticism  and poems. The CPI(M) has set the benchmark of literature and only writers subscribing to the views of the Marxist ideology make it to the holy grail of literature, according to C K Anandan Pillai, chief editor, Sahitya Vimarsam, Kerala’s lone magazine for literary criticism.

Septuagenarian Pillai is waging a battle against wheeler-dealers of Malayalam literature operating from Sahitya Academy at Thrissur and Kerala State Language Institute at Thiruvananthapuram, two establishments functioning as branch offices of the CPI(M).

Pillai has put the Kerala Government and  the State’s Sahitya Akademy for violating all norms associated with the selection of books and authors for the coveted Vilasini Prize, the one of its kind award in India meant for the book on the comprehensive study of a novel in Malayalam language. The award was instituted by MK Menon (1928-1993), veteran journalist-turned-novelist who is credited with writing the lengthiest novel (The Inheritors) in India.

A B Reghunathan Nair, noted critic and a lifelong friend of M K Menon who helped the novelist to draft his Will, said that the latter never wanted the Akademy to name the award after him. “Menon was upset over the falling standards of novels in Malayalam and wanted to resuscitate the same from further deterioration. He wanted an award to be instituted exclusively for studies on the best novel that hogs the public attention and that was how it came into being,” Nair told The Pioneer.

The Akademi changed the name of the award from O Chandu Menon award to Vilasini Award. Chandu Menon is rated as the first novelist in Malayalam language and Vilasini wanted to perpetuate his memory through this award.

He along with Reghunathan Nair has set stringent standards for the book to be considered for the award. Both Pillai and Nais said that the Marxist dons threw to the winds the qualifying marks set by Menon and this year’s award was bestowed on P K Pokker for his collection of essays “ Basheer-The Creativity of Blue Light”. “Basheer may be turning in his graveyard after hearing the news. We do feel that by honoring Pokker, the Sahitya Akademy has insulted and disgraced the memories of Basheer,” said Reghunathan Nair.

Writers who do not want their names  tob quoted said that this was how the Marxists take revenge on persons who do not sing peans to the. “There is a character by name Chatthankeri Manakkal Sankaran Namboodirippadu in one of the novels authored by Basheer. This Namboodirippadu has a lot of similarities with E M S Namboodirippadu, the former Marxist chief minister of the State. The comrades were waiting for a chance and they chose Pokker for this honor,” said a known critic.

Menon, whose pen name was Vilasini, wanted Kerala to have serious study on lead novels and he entrusted the Sahitya Akademy with the responsibility of awarding the best study on novels with a citation and prize money of Rs 50,000/.