Cultural Department Indifferent towards Narrator of Swami Vivekananda’s Life History.

published on July 19, 2014

The state Cultural Department is allegedly indifferent towards the narrator who has taken upon himself to unfold to the newer generation the life history of swami Vivekananda. The apathetic attitude is being shown towards Pathanapuram native PK Sreekumar, who is a kathaprasangam artist. Sreekumar however, is undaunted and continues to go ahead with his mission.

Sreekumar was a performer with All India Radio, where he served as a B Grade artist. But soon bad days befell him as the art form of kathaprasangam suffered a setback. He tried other professions, but met with little success. That was when things turned. Along with a few friends Jayaprakash Kuloor and PK Gopinathan, Sreekumar ventured back into kathaprasangam, this time with the life history of Swami Vivekananda. Thus, with sustained efforts he was able to give a new garb to the art form that has been slowly waning. Most of the times, the audience was reportedly skin.

Sreekumar was given an avenue by Kerala Sangeetha Sahithya Academy, to conduct a programme related to the life and times of Swami Vivekananda. On the occasion of the 150th birthday celebrations of Swamiji, he conducted programmes at many places of worship, including Sabarimala.

However, a person who is beset with hardships in life, Sreekumar has not received any favourable responses from the Department of Culture or its officers.