By Najiya O., TwoCircles.net,
Kochi: Former judge of the Supreme Court Justice VR Krishna Iyer released the book ‘Kamala Suraiya: Safalamaya Snehanveshanam’ (Kamala Suraiya: accomplishment of the quest for love) at ‘Sadgamaya’, the residence of Justice Krishna Iyer in Kochi yesterday.
Justice Iyer presented a copy of the book to Prof MK Sanu, eminent critic and writer. The book is written by Sheikh Muhammed Karakunnu, assistant Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala and a close family friend of Kamala Suraiya. It mainly deals with the last 10 years in the life of the literary star who breathed her last on May 30, 2009.
The conversion of Kamala Suraiya was the result of prolonged thought of 30 years, said Justice Krishna Iyer. The book tells us that she was real Muslim, that the Oneness of God was in her mind. She became a Muslim believing that one should believe in Allah to achieve Paradise. She was the blessing that God gave Kerala. Mentioning Pythagorus, Albert Einstein and Swami Vivekanana, he said that Kamala Suraiya also was misunderstood. “To be great is to be misunderstood. We can’t help that and that doesn’t matter. What is great will remain great forever.”
Sheikh Muhammed Karakunnu speaking at the function. Justice K Sukumaran, Justice VR Krishna Iyer, Prof MK Sanu, Dr CK Ramachandran and TK Farooq also can be seen
The author has presented the last phase of Kamala Suraiya’s life very well with simplicity and honesty, said Prof MK Sanu when he spoke receiving the book. The book has the pulse of sincerity and honesty. It will be very helpful for the future generations to understand Kamala Suraiya, he added.
Kamala Suraiya gave a great message through her life and death in the multi-cultural society, said Sheikh Muhammed Karakunnu. Innocence as of a child and boundless love like a sea were her characteristics, he added.
Justice VR Krishna Iyer releasing the book by giving a copy to Prof MK Sanu
The conversion of Kamala Suraiya to Islam was not a show but rather after much understanding, said Dr CK Ramachandran. He added that even before becoming a Muslim, Kamala Suraiya used to discuss Qur’anic verses with him.
Mother wanted the imaginary walls created by man (between human beings) to be ignored, said MD Nalappat, son of Kamala Suraiya. Her Islam was the Islam of tolerance, peace, compassion and mercy, devoid of the imaginary walls. It was not the so-called Islam followed by Bin Laden and others, he added.
Had people loved her earlier as they do now, Kamala Suraiya would not have left Kerala, said Parvathy Pavanan. Kamala became a Muslim because she wanted to be loved when she gave love in heaps, said Leela Menon, veteran journalist. Kamala would have lived some more time, had she not left Kerala, opined Dr KM Roy, veteran journalist. Kamal Suraiya gave me the inspiration to learn and understand more, said TA Ahmed Kabeer, Muslim League state secretary.
TK Farooq, director of Islamic Publishing House which published the book, presided over the function. Justice K Sukumaran, Purushan Kadalundi, secretary of Kerala Sahitya Academy and Abdul Hameed, former Crime Branch SP, also spoke. CR Neelakandan (environmentalist), Justice Ramakrishnan and NM Abdurahman and TK Husain (Jama’athe Islami state secretaries) too were present. VA Saleem, Kochi resident manager of ‘Madhyamam’ daily, welcomed and delivered the vote of thanks.