On Tuesday, October 28, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warmly lauded acclaimed literary critic M. Leelavathy. He specifically highlighted her steadfast refusal to back down from her poignant remarks concerning the ‘starving children of Gaza,’ even in the face of a fierce and hostile social media backlash.
During his address at the Deshabhimani Literary Award ceremony, held at the seminar hall of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), the Chief Minister recalled Dr. Leelavathy’s powerful statement made on her birthday. She had shared that she found it difficult to eat, constantly burdened by thoughts of the hungry children in Gaza. Her courageous stance, despite facing a barrage of online attacks, was a testament to her conviction, the Chief Minister noted.
In a remarkable act of generosity, Dr. Leelavathy announced that she would donate ₹2 lakh from her ₹3 lakh cash prize to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. The remainder of the award money, she stated, would be distributed to individuals who had reached out to her seeking assistance following the announcement of her award.
The event also saw the esteemed presence of renowned author M. Mukundan and Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, among other distinguished guests.