Vayalar memorial work reaches nowhere

Alappuzha: At a time when villagers in Vayalar are set to celebrate navathi of the late legendary lyricist and poet, Vayalar Ramavarma, on Saturday, the work on the memorial of Vayalar here has not been completed.

It was in 2008 that Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust (VRMT) has decided to construct the memorial, Kalabham, with the financial support of the state government near the Smrithi Mandapam of Vayalar.

However, the first phase of the memorial has not been finished even after seven years since the construction was launched.

According to the trust, the 7,000-sq ft memorial building will have a museum, convention hall (Ambalika Hall), swaramandapam, mini-theatre, library and accommodation facilities for visitors.

Former cultural minister M A Baby had laid the foundation stone for the memorial in 2008. The mini-theatre will have a seating capacity of 50 people and the main convention hall can accommodate as many as 750 people. The museum of the memorial will include details and pictures of all the winners of Vayalar award instituted by the trust.

Lyricist Rajeev Alunkal said it was so sad to see the current plight of the memorial.

“The cultural department should immediately interfere in this issue and should open the memorial for the public,” he said.

VRMT secretary C V Thrivikraman said this time the state government has announced Rs 25 lakh for the completion of the construction work of the memorial.

“Once the fund is allotted by the government, the memorial can be opened within three months. We have informed it to the cultural ministry and they informed us that the fund will be provided soon,” he said.

Vayalar Sarathchandravarma, Malayalam lyricist and son of Vayalar, said that the trust authorities and the government ensured him that the construction work of the memorial would be completed soon. But I don’t think Rs 25 lakh will be sufficient to complete the memorial,” he said.

Cultural organizations will celebrate the navathi of Vayalar at Raghavanparambu and various parts around Vayalar on Saturday.