Kerala can’t have any more Memorials as it hurts Islamic tenets

Kochi: Even the memorials of Edasseri and Madhavikutty are not spared by Islamic fundamentalists in Kerala. According to Jihadists, “setting up an edifice in commemoration is against the tenets of their religion.” And with the state government meekly and mutely obeying their orders, the plan seems to have dissolved with the amount of rupees one crore sanctioned for the same, said to have been withdrawn. Members of Sahithya Academy and eminent cultural leaders are said to be in stoic silence over the matter, for fear of rejection.

An amount of rupees 25 lakh was sanctioned towards the construction of a memorial for Edassery in Kuttippuram, in March 2013. It was handed over to the members of Kerala Sahitya Academy from the state treasury. However, the project never took off, owing to the stance taken by Jihadists, who made it clear that the memorial would never be constructed. Sources have indicated that the same set of anti-nationals who desecrated the bust of OV Vijayan are behind the fiasco of denying a memorial for Edassery. In fact, MLA Abdul Samad Samadaani had willingly made a donation of 10 cents of land in Nilayoram Park, for the purpose. The project included along with Edassery’s bust, a library and an auditorium. But he too buckled under pressure from the Jihadists. The government too is reported to have dropped the plans. Adding to this is the silence maintained by Sahitya Academy.

Another commemorative edifice that has suffered the same way is that of Madhavi Kutty. This is being opposed by Jamat-E-Islami. With this, rupees 77.5 lakhs sanctioned for the project to be set up at Neermaathala Bhumi too seems lost. A basic amount of rupees 20 lakhs was sanctioned for initiating the project in 2010. Another rupees 57.5 was sanctioned in 2013. The foundation was laid by former state education minister MM Baby. A master plan as chalked out, where the epense was calculated to be around rupees 84.5 lakhs. It was at this juncture that the Jamats came out in protest. 

The proposed commemorative was intended to be built at the Nalappat ancestral land, which had a sacred serpentine grove as well. The Jamats have been playing their restrictive game well, having refused to voice their dissent publicly. They have also taken the stand that “it is not Madhavi Kutty who required an edifice, but the converted poet who came to be known as Kamala Suraiyya later. The Jihadists have stakes claim on the construction of the commemorative in Trissur or in Kochi. The Jamats dissent has given strength to Muslim League as well in voicing their rebellion.

The government is now reported to be scrambling, to recover the amount sanctioned. They have stated that the money be cast back to the treasury.

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