'Subnationalism' is one of the much talked about topic in the present world, especially after the urge for separate states arose even when they speak the same language.

Speaking of the effect of narrowness in the nationalism on subnationalist writers at Mathrubhumi International festival of Letters, eminent poet Satchidanandan said that Kerala literature has great importance in bringing forward the subnationalistic attitude. 

Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi are the two important critics in the history of subnationalism, he added.

Keralite is now synonym with being 'savarna' nationality or the nair nationality. Only they are projected and helped to rise. But in actual scenario the case should be totally different. Kerala  is the land of all religions and religous harmony exists here amidst the diversity, he opined.

According to his words, Kerala was not developed just around the temples, but also around churches and mosques. Satchidanandan also said that the existence of subnationality is deeply rooted in culture and moves forward through criticism and skeptism.  Dr TT Sreekumar was of the opinion that subnationalists are the people who were always sidelined from the political history or can be termed as historyless community. They have always refused to join shoulder with the mainstream nationalists.

The adverse effects on subnationalism and their insecurity can be overcome only through literature, he added. Poet PP Ramachandran said that among subnationalists, Malayalam is always special because it is a mixture of different cultures and castes. There exists two types of literature, one the mainstream one and the other a parallel stream through dalit literature which is not given the due importance. 

Also the present writers or generally terming them as artists, do not enjoy much freedom. They are always under survelience. He is of the opinion that the current siituation is where ideas are being promoted than writings from experiences. 

Meanwhile, Malayalam poet PN Gopikrishnan said that nationality in the present world is more physical, relating to the geographical borders than the inner contents. According to him, there are no threats subnationalism is facing right now, as they have already created their own space. Subnationalism gains importance only when modernisation is connected with it, he added. Eventhough issues like gender inequality exists, as long as freedom of speech exists, subnationalism is safe along with its writers. 

The session concluded with emphasising that subnationalism  is a much inevitable element in the present political senario.