Malabar Literature Pageant, a four-day occasion celebrating literature, music and the tradition of Malabar, started on the Kozhikode seashore on Thursday night.

Opening the occasion, Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal, Indian Union Muslim League State president, stated Malabar and Kozhikode had a singular distinction in historical past because it promoted cultural alternate between native individuals and those that got here right here for commerce. “The Arabs got here right here for commerce. However they later unfold India’s literature and tradition throughout the globe too. A heart-warming bond existed between us and them. I doubt if another coast had such a phenomenal relationship between native individuals and those that got here there,” the Thangal stated. He added that the UNESCO designating Kozhikode as a ‘Metropolis of Literature’ was a tribute to its tradition of social inclusiveness.

Author Subhash Chandran delivered the keynote handle. Panakkad Syed Munavvarali Shihab Thangal, pageant chairperson, and M.B. Manoj had been current.

The organisers claimed that the pageant was an try to re-read Malayalam literature from Malabar’s perspective. Round 70 classes would spotlight the communities on this area, their tradition, literature, historical past, languages, and travels. Sea can be the theme of the pageant this time with not less than 9 classes dedicated to it.

As many as 300 company, together with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Kanimozhi, would take part in discussions. The opposite individuals embody M.H. Ilyas, Nishat Zaidi, T.T. Sreekumar, T.D. Ramakrishnan, S. Joseph, P. Raman, S. Hareesh, and Unni R., amongst others. Educational Christophe Jaffrelot is anticipated to attend a session on-line. Malabar’s historic hyperlinks with locations reminiscent of Lakshadweep, Kayalpattinam in Tamil Nadu, and nations in Africa can be debated. The Israeli assault on Gaza can be mentioned too together with the literature scene in Palestine.