Kozhikode: Renowned writer and cultural activist MN Karassery has expressed his belief that he does not deserve the Padma Shri award, following comments made by Opposition Leader VD Satheesan regarding the Padma awards.
In his response, Karassery pointed out that literary giants such as, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, MT Vasudevan Nair, and M Leelavathi have been honored with the Padma Shri in the past. He humbly stated that, in his personal opinion, he has not made contributions to Kerala and Indian history comparable to these esteemed figures. However, he expressed gratitude for Satheesan’s positive opinion of him.
In a Facebook post after the Padma award announcement, Opposition Leader Satheesan had expressed concerns about the limited recognition accorded to deserving individuals from Kerala, including actor Mammootty and MN Karassery.
Karassery urged people not to dwell on the award, citing examples such as Mahatma Gandhi, who was nominated five times for the Nobel Prize without winning, and writer Basheer, who did not receive major awards in the country. He emphasized that being mentioned alongside other honorary individuals is enough, and such discussions are unnecessary.
Discussion about this post