JEDDAH: Samskrithi, a cultural organization of Keralites in Jeddah, distributed literary awards for 2007 to their winners during a colorful function at Indian Consulate premises here recently. The award is named after the late C.H. Muhammad Koya, a former chief minister of Kerala and Muslim League leader.
M.K. Muneer, former Kerala minister for public works and son of Koya, gave away the awards to Professor Nissar Kathungal (poem), Joseph Athirungal (short story) and Basheer Vallikkunnu (essay), all Keralite expatriates working in the Kingdom. K.K. Vijayan, head of the chancery, opened the event.
In his keynote speech, Muneer praised Keralite expatriates for continuing their literary pursuits while living in foreign countries. “I have gone through the works of the winners and am convinced that they deserve the prize,” he told a large gathering of intellectuals, executives and community leaders who thronged the consulate’s open auditorium.
“They were trying to converse with society in the language of heart, making their works more appealing,” said Muneer, who won the applause of audience when he recited a poem and sang a song.
