“The real spirit of renaissance is the courage to question orthodoxy and embrace humanity beyond caste, creed, and gender. Kerala’s progress was built on reason, reform, and coexistence — values we must now defend more than ever,” noted author and social thinker M.N. Karassery said while delivering the Vakkom Moulavi Memorial Lecture here on Friday.
Prof. Karassery described Kerala renaissance as a far-reaching social transformation grounded in rational humanism, secularism, and the empowerment of marginalised communities including Dalits, Muslims, and women. He said its greatest achievement lay in the non-violent dismantling of caste barriers, expansion of education, and the democratic construction of an egalitarian society.
The event was organised by the Vakkom Moulavi Memorial and Research Centre (VMMRC) as part of the observance of Vakkom Moulavi Memorial Day. Senior journalist M.G. Radhakrishnan chaired the session.
Prof. Karassery emphasised that Kerala’s progress emerged from the combined efforts of reformers, intellectuals, caste associations, and political movements that advanced coexistence and universal human values. Rejecting sectarian interpretations of history, he upheld a plural and inclusive vision of the renaissance shaped by reformers such as Sree Narayana Guru and Vakkom Moulavi, whose shared commitment to social reform and rational thought redefined Kerala’s moral landscape. He also cautioned against the resurgence of communalism and religious orthodoxy, which he said threatened the state’s secular ethos.
Published – October 31, 2025 08:39 pm IST
