Azhikodes bust unveiled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A life-like bust of Dr Sukumar Azhikode was unveiled at a private residence here on Thursday. Sculpted from a single piece of mahogany, the bust has been mounted on the wall in the house of V Sumedhan of Venmana House, Vellayambalam for the time being. Once a suitable memorial for Sukumar Azhikode is opened, his bust will be transferred there, Sumedhan, an ardent admirer of the literary critic who passed away on January 24, said. Sculpted by Satheeshan Muttathara, the bust was to have been unveiled by Azhikode himself. But that was not to be. On Thursday evening, poet Puthussery Ramachandran performed the ceremony. Ramachandran, a close friend of Azhikode and Sumedhan, said his relationship with the critic began on a tempestuous note when Azhikode took exception to a translation of a quote by Goethe on literary critics. For Satheeshan Muttathara also, the commission was an extraordinary one. A sculptor who specialised in idols of gods, this was the first time he attempted a likeness of a living human being.  ‘’Azhikode had visited a few months back, when his photographs were taken. His remarks about the sculpture is printed on the pedestal,’’ Satheeshan said. Azhikode has written that it takes an exceptional sculptor to create the likeness of a living human being. Sumedhan said that his relationship with the eminent critic began when the latter became the first to accept the award instituted in memory of Sumedhan’s father in 1990.