Prof Sreedhara Menon turns 80

Prof Sreedhara Menon, historian par excellence, turned 80 on Sunday. Prof Menon, who is considered as a living legend by eminent historians spent the birthday without any fanfare or celebrations. Reading continues to be his pastime. Newspapers and periodicals keep him update of the world events. Sunday was yet another day for Prof Menon. He read the Sunday editions of all newspapers, watched the TV news for sometime and had his lunch with wife and children.

Because of his non-partisan views and his boldness to call a spade a spade, the venerated professor is a persona non grata for AKG Centre, the CPM headquarter and for their acolytes like KN Panikker whom the CPM projects as the ‘real eminent historian’. Prof Sreedhara Menon bluntly told the CPM leadership to get lost when the latter asked him to get EMS Namboodirippadu’s approval before publishing the Kerala History project which he authored. The comrades saw red again when Prof Menon pointed out the meaninglessness of attacking Sir CP Ramaswami Iyer, the former Diwan of Travancore, for non issues. He had reasons to.. A detailed research supported by the archives in the Sir CP Foundation in Chennai helped Prof Menon to come to the conclusion that Sir CP stood for the integration of the state of Travancore in the Indian union. Prof Menon published a host of books on the topic. “I myself stand corrected because of the documents which have been preserved at the Sir CP Foundation. I felt I am obliged to let the world know that there was no point in hurling abuses at Sir CP who was a staunch nationalist and democrat,” Prof Menon told HK.

Haindava Keralam wish the doyen of Indian History a happy birthday. People like Prof Sreedhara Menon, through their selfless works, keep the spirit of truth flying all the time. May God Almighty bless Prof Menon with all health and energy in many more years to come so that he could throw more light into the hitherto unheard aspects of the Indian and Kerala history.