Writer M N Vijayan dies at press meet

THRISSUR: Prof M N Vijayan, well-known literary critic and cultural activist, collapsed and died while addressing a press meet at the press club here on Wednesday.

Journalists rushed Vijayan (75) to hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors.

Known for his pro-Left stand, Vijayan had left a lasting impression in Kerala cultural life for over five decdes as literary critic, social activist and cultural commentator.

Vijayan had taught Malayalam literature in various government colleges before his retirement some 20 years back.

After his retirement, he edited a weekly of CPI(M)'s official organ Deshabhimani for a while and served as president of the 'Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham.'

In the last few years, he had been associated with the cultural struggle against the neo-liberal tendencies in the CPI-M and was said to be close to the section owing allegiance to Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

Known for his bold and radical views on literary and cultural issues,Vijayan was credited with breaking a new path in Malayalam literary criticism by applying Marxian social outlook and Freudian psycho-analysis in studying literary works.