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He had been a towering figure in Kerala's political and cultural landscape. He was at once a critic, writer, teacher, thinker, social activist and a former legislator. He had remained an active and enthusiastic presence in public affairs until the very end, despite the frailties of age. He believed old age is a great pain.
He has authored over 50 works spanning various literary genres, including criticism, commentary, children's literature, biography and literature. He was indeed a multifaceted personality. He was an eternal presence to all he came into contact with.
His biographies stand apart for their depth and candor.
Even at the age of 90, he was sharp, articulate and full of clarity. Hia insights hadn't faded. They had grown deeper. Once when he was queried why he was so drawn to tragic heroes in Western literature, he had been eloquent. He explained how Hamlet, Oedipus, Romeo and others belonged to that category. He said, "They were individuals with willpower, courage and talent who scaled great heights and had fallen. The higher they rose, the greater they fell." He added that their mistakes might have shaped their tragic end.
In 'Changampuzha Krishna Pillai:Nakkshthrangalude Snehabhajanam', he explores Changampuzha not just as a literary icon, but also as an obsessive lover - delving into the emotional complexities and hidden struggles that shaped his pursuit of love and intimacy.
For Sanoo Mash, students were his pride and wealth. His Malayalam classes were a space where students from all streams had gathered. He was a deeply caring person. He was full of concern and empathy for others.
He was a left fellow traveller who always had believed in socialism. But he was a total believer in the existence of God. He believed chanting mantras had the power to heal. He was sanguine there was indeed an external force that guided all to greater goodness and kindness.
Speaking about writers, he had maintained, they had a single role to play - to write well. He wanted them to show the readers the multi dimensional reality of the world and unveil an aesthetic truth that they alone could unfold through what they deliver. He had been of the view that a writer should be in an ivory tower to write well though the writer should never be living there. He emphasised that unless the writer wrote from an ivory tower, he would be losing his focus whereas detachment aroused the creativity in him. According to him, detachment helps the writer meditate on his work. He signed off referring to Samuel Beckett who had said that art was the apotheosis of solitude.
Sanoo Mash was truly our generation's voice.
Sourced from report in Times of India of 3rd August2025 and articles in the newspaper by Viju.B,
P K Abhayakumar, CICC Jayachandran,& M K Sunilkumar
