Despite age and health concerns, MT continued to read to the end, although his pace was slower in old age. At 90, he remarked, “Reading has never let me down.”
Published Dec 28, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 28, 2024 | 9:00 AM
MT Vasudevan Nair at work. (Shaju John)
For Malayalam readers, MT Vasudevan Nair was much more than a legendary writer. The 91-year-old Jnanpith Award winner breathed his last on Christmas Day in 2024.
An avid reader who shaped and expanded the literary boundaries of Malayalam, MT had a lifelong love for reading that enriched not only his own writing but served to expand the horizons of the average reader in Malayalam during his tenure as editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly.
He is renowned for introducing readers in Kerala to the galaxy of world literature.
MT’s journey into the world of books began in childhood, with his relentless pursuit of stories. He would recall that he walked miles as a child to borrow or buy books, often spending money he did not have.
Libraries were scarce, and books were confined to a neglected corner alongside sports equipment in schools during his childhood.
Teachers tasked with managing libraries were often disinclined to facilitate lending, but MT’s passion for reading pushed past these hurdles.
“Reading is not leisure for me; it’s an essential part of my life,” MT once said.
He saw books as treasures, claiming ownership of around 3,000 volumes in Malayalam and English, many gifted by friends or sent from abroad.
“Reading shapes our personality. It is an investment, a gain. It is an integral part of existence for those who love it,” he explained.
As editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly, MT Vasudevan Nair transformed the publication into a window to world literature.
His column “Kilivathililoode” (Through the window) became a cultural bridge, introducing Malayalees to authors and works from across the globe.
Noted Malayalam critic PK Rajasekharan recalled how MT’s articles led readers to discover Portuguese writers like José Saramago and António Lobo Antunes.
“It was through MT’s writing that I first learned about An Explanation of the Birds by Antunes,” Rajasekharan told South First.
MT also brought James A. Michener’s sweeping historical novels into focus for Malayalam readers and highlighted the works of Elias Canetti, Thomas Hardy, and Mario Vargas Llosa.
His introduction of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude to Malayalam’s literary sphere was particularly groundbreaking.
Márquez’s novel, published in Spanish in 1967 and translated into English in 1970, was reviewed by MT shortly afterwards.
This further expedited the entry of Latin American literature into Kerala’s reading culture.
MT’s editorial tenure also nurtured new Malayalam writers, including Sethu, Punathil Kunjabdulla, and Lalithambika Antharjanam.
He was instrumental in creating a platform that allowed fresh voices to flourish while exposing readers to global literary icons.
MT’s personal reading habits mirrored his editorial vision.
He was a voracious and eclectic reader, devouring works across genres and cultures. Apart from novels, he eagerly read biographies, autobiographies, and even crime thrillers, amassing a collection of detective stories.
Artist, orator and cultural activist MV Devan once noted MT’s fascination with Arabic stories, which were often found on his desk.
“His mastery of storytelling must have been influenced by these narratives,” Devan remarked.
MT himself said, “You should read everything. Not just the classics, but even detective novels. Excellence in the craft of storytelling can be found anywhere.”
It is said MT kept himself updated on global literature through publications like The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and The London Review of Books.
One incident he would narrate was of a friend gifting him Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, during a visit to the US. The book had made waves internationally, and a woman who saw the book remarked that she too had read it, proving the universal appeal of great literature.
Despite age and health concerns, MT continued to read to the end, although his pace was slower in old age. At 90, he remarked, “Reading has never let me down.”
Books remained a source of joy, knowledge, and inspiration till the end.
“Reading is not an engagement; it’s not leisure. It’s part of my existence,” he would say.
His legacy reminds us that reading is transformative, bridges cultures and enriches entire communities.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas.)
