THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Mahakavi Kumaran Asan spread the light of humanity through his poems by breaking down the caste barriers that divided human beings. He pointed out that this was what Kerala Kaumudi had been doing since the time of its founder-editor K Sukumaran. The CM was inaugurating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahakavi Kumaran Asan and the 111th birth anniversary of Kerala Kaumudi at AKG Hall.

"Nowadays, we can see some people bringing up and celebrating obsolescences, which were buried by the renaissance heroes such as Sree Narayanaguru and Kumaran Asan. Those people are not leading society in the right direction. Those who read the poems of Kumaran Asan and others will not find it difficult to discern right from wrong. Asan's poetry inspires us to recognize and respond to it," the CM said.

The CM also released a documentary on Kumaran Asan and the cover of the book published by Kerala Kaumudi about Kumaran Asan. The cover was designed by artist BD Dethan.

SNDP general secretary Vellapally Natesan presided over the meeting. Vellapally said that Asan's poems were a storm that lit up the Kerala renaissance. He pointed out that there was no other poet in Kerala who has turned letters into sharp weapons like Asan.

Kerala Kaumudi Chief Editor Deepuravi delivered the introductory speech. Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan delivered the keynote address. Ministers KN Balagopal, V Sivankutty, Veena George, GR Anil, VK Prashanth MLA and Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran addressed the function.