Varma's poem: Malayalam Varika firm on decision

KOCHI:  The ‘Samakalika Malayalam Varika’s’ decision to discontinue publishing the poetry series of CPM sympathiser Prabha Varma, who has justified the brutal murder of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan, has been creating ripples in the state’s socio-political sphere.
Reacting sharply to the killing of Chandrasekharan and Prabha Varma’s  attempts to vindicate the murder, ‘Malayalam Varika’ has discontinued the serialised publication of Varma’s poem titled ‘Syama Madhavam’.
In the latest issue of the weekly, Malayalam Weekly Editor Jayachandran Nair remarked: “Chandrasekharan has been a symbol; one which points fingers against the rule of autocracy. And there is nothing more contemptible than the brutal killing of a person... While some of us are heartbroken by the cruelty, the attempt by Prabha Varma to trivialise such attempts needs to be condemned. If I did not do at least this much, it would be a denial of my own self.”  
The decision to discontinue the publication has invited mixed response. Speaking to ‘Express’ on Sunday, Jayachandran Nair said it was not a political decision.   “It is a humanitarian protest. At a time when no magazine which is interested in its readership publishes lengthy poems, we decided to carry Prabha Varma’s poem as we consider it good poetry.
Same way, we decided to stop publishing it as it is a way of protest. A publication is a platform. We don’t have any reservations against anyone,” he said, adding that a piece of writing cannot be viewed in isolation from the writer.
Asked about the discussions and debates over the decision to discontinue the publication, Jayachandran Nair said he was not interested in such discussions. “Let there be debates. As an editor, I did what I’m supposed to do. That’s all,” Jayachandran Nair added.