​Seven decades ago on Kumaranellur High School's anniversary celebration day. The great poet G Sankara Kurup was the inaugural speaker. An alumnus of the school was assigned for inviting and escorting the great poet from the railway station. The student, who met the great poet in person, talked and asked him very enthusiastically about many things including literature till they reached the venue.

The school anniversary celebration was going on. A teacher announced through microphone that a story ”Valarthu Mrigangal” ( Pets) won the first prize in the story competition organised by Mathrubhumi. And the name of the author was MT Vasudevan Nair. The great poet was surprised to discover that the winner, standing far away from the stage, was the same student who had accompanied him on his journey from the railway station. G Sankara Kurup wholeheartedly congratulated MT on the stage by removing the garland gifted to him and placing it on MT. 

Later, MT Vasudevan Nair often said that the encouragement he received on that stage during the Mathrubhumi Story Competition from the great poet was one of the most cherished moments of his life. His warm relationship with Mathrubhumi began that day.

Warm memories

In 1956, MT Vasudevan Nair arrived in Kozhikode as a sub-editor trainee at the Mathrubhumi weekly under  the guidance  N V Krishna Warrier. Later In 1968, when Krishna Warrier moved to the Language Institute, he became the editor of the weekly. It was around this time, at the Alakapuri Hotel, that I met MT along with Thikkodiyan. We have been close friends ever since.

In 1976, MT took a leave of absence from for a few months. During that time, one morning, MT called me unexpectedly and handed over 10 shares of that he owned. He said, "I don't need it anymore. Keep it with you." Despite the high price and demand for Mathrubhumi shares at the time, MT didn’t mention anything about their value. Nevertheless, for my satisfaction, I gave him an amount in return. He accepted it without even looking at the sum. I have often wondered why he chose to hand over the shares to me. The answer, I believe, lies in the deep connection of hearts we shared.

placeholder
MT with Adoor Bhasi and CCV Nair

Back to the weekly

MP Veerendra Kumar and I became directors of Mathrubhumi in 1978. In 1981, MT resigned from Mathrubhumi to focus more on writing and cinema. In 1987, I took on the role of director in charge of Mathrubhumi's editorial administration, which brought greater responsibility for the daily operations of the organisation. I took over as the managing editor in 1989.  That same year, the managing director, MP Veerendra Kumar, and I warmly persuaded MT to take over the editorship of Mathrubhumi Weekly once again. He continued as the editor of the weekly until 1999. During that time, we maintained our close relationship, staying in touch on matters related to the weekly.

It was while he was the editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly, MT wrote short stories, novels and screenplays for other publications. At the same time, he read the works of other writers, published the worthy ones in Mathrubhumi Weekly, and encouraged them to write again. It was a time when many writers had distanced themselves from the weekly for various reasons. MT took the initiative to reach out to all of them to write again.

Writer and Editor
He also wrote very rarely for Mathrubhumi Weekly. MT once said about writing for the publication of which he was editor-in-chief: "It is not right to write stories for a publication I am working on. Only seven stories, including Vanaprastham, have appeared in Mathrubhumi. The method where we are only writing, drawing and publishing ourselves is not right. I have had to write this way in special circumstances before." He firmly believed that an editor should not be biased. MT the editor was not MT the writer.

The best works of the finest writers were published in Mathrubhumi Weekly at that time. Stories and novels by luminaries such as Thikkodiyan, Lalithambika Antharjanam, C Radhakrishnan, Punathil Kunjabdulla, M Mukundan, P Vatsala, O V Vijayan, Kovilan, Sethu and others were featured during that period. Mathrubhumi Weekly also introduced many new writers to the Malayalam language. It was a time when readers eagerly awaited each issue of Mathrubhumi. The annual edition was a treasure trove of resources, and the Vishu special edition, Vishupathippu, was a gathering of luminaries.

placeholder
.
When MT became the editor, Weekly launched a story competition for the youth. The winners of that competition later went on to become great writers and experts in Malayalam literature. MT rendered invaluable service to both the Malayalam language and . Stories and poems in various languages were translated into Malayalam and published in Weekly. Also, G Aravindan's famous cartoon series ‘ was started during MT's tenure as editor.

NV Krishna Warrier gave MT, who was a sub-editor under his guidance at the time, a valuable piece of advice: "MT, great people write, and they are all experts. However, you must read carefully. Many things may go unnoticed by them. Then there are those who write things that we do not understand. We should not pass on what we don’t understand to our readers. We must edit and correct it." MT followed this advice to the core.

In the meantime, MT entered the film industry. He wrote the script for our film 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha', directed by Hariharan and produced by my younger brother P V Gangadharan under Grihalakshmi Productions. Later, MT also wrote the script for our film “Ennu Swantham Janakikutty”.

Mathrubhumi and MT

After 35 years at Mathrubhumi, MT resigned from the weekly in 1999. It is doubtful whether there is any other instance of the same person serving as the editor of a publication for such a long period. Even after retiring from the editorship, M.T. and Mathrubhumi continued to maintain their close relationship.

Mathrubhumi honored MT. by presenting him with the Mathrubhumi Literary Award in 2005. When we thought of someone to hoist the national flag at the Mathrubhumi courtyard on the 75th anniversary of independence, it was MT who immediately came to mind. I wished MT on every one of his birthdays. Although we are friends, we only contact each other occasionally by phone. MT speaks briefly to even close friends, but when we meet face to face, our conversations never seem to end.

Let me conclude this note by mentioning one more incident. The inauguration of Mathrubhumi's Navathi, the celebration of its completion of nine decades, was held in Ernakulam. The then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, was the chief guest. Although a list of important people, including MT., was prepared and sent, there was an instruction to reduce the number according to protocol. The Prime Minister's Office prepares the list based on protocol, which includes Union and State Ministers, the Mayor, MP, MLA and Mathrubhumi acquaintances.

MT had also come to Kochi from Kozhikode for the programme at our invitation and was staying at a nearby hotel. However, as per the instructions from the Prime Minister's Office, a situation arose where some important invitees, including MT, did not have a place on the stage. Despite many attempts, the list we had sent earlier was not getting approval.

That night, MD Veerendra Kumar told me from the pavilion on Marine Drive, "I cannot tell MT something like this. You should take this responsibility." Mathrubhumi Liaison Officer Srinivasan and I went to the hotel room and met MT. After talking for a while, I hesitantly got to the point.

When I expressed my helplessness, his response was, "There is nothing that can be done," without any change in expression. I believe MT acted this way out of love and affection for me. However, I now remember that very late at night, the list we submitted, which included the names of important people, including MT, received security clearance.