Published Nov 13, 2026 | 10:28 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 13, 2026 | 10:28 PM
The organisers said the Speaker pulled out without giving any specific reason.
Synopsis: The unveiling of two sculptures by celebrated artist Kanayi Kunhiraman at the Kasaragod District Panchayat premises was overshadowed by controversy after Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan withdrew from the programme at the last minute. Kanayi himself dedicated the sculptures, named “Victims”, to the state, recalling the suffering of people affected by the Endosulfan tragedy.
The unveiling of two sculptures by celebrated artist Kanayi Kunhiraman at the Kasaragod District Panchayat premises on Friday was overshadowed by controversy after Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who was scheduled to inaugurate the complex and preside over the felicitation ceremony, withdrew from the programme at the last minute.
The organisers said the Speaker pulled out without giving any specific reason.
The event was also notable for the absence of ministers, even as Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan and other political leaders and officials attended the function.
In the end, it was Kanayi himself who dedicated the sculptures to the state, which has aptly been named as “Victims”. The sculpture complex, conceived around the themes of survival and freedom, seeks to recall the suffering of people affected by the Endosulfan tragedy.
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The idea took shape during the tenure of former District Panchayat president M V Balakrishnan, who envisaged a public art installation that would preserve the memory of the victims and their struggle.
The District Panchayat subsequently commissioned Kanayi to create the two works.
The installations mark a significant addition to Kasaragod’s cultural landscape.
Kanayi, regarded as one of the leading figures in modern Indian sculpture, is known for works that combine striking forms with powerful ideas.
His sculptures have become important cultural landmarks, continuing to invite new interpretations and connect successive generations with the artistic and historical experiences of the land.
Speaking at the event, the 89-year-old sculptor said he was not particularly concerned about who inaugurated the sculptures. What mattered more to him was a long-cherished ambition: establishing a fine arts college in Kasaragod.
“If the government agrees to it, I will give my whole energy to it,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
