Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Friday stressed the need to carry forward the legacy of Thunchathu Ezhuthachan, the poet and writer considered as the father of modern Malayalam literature.

Mr. Arlekar was inaugurating a new library at Lok Bhavan which has been named ‘Thunchan Smrithi Library.’ “We have named it after the great writer, poet and saint-like figure of Malayalam literature,” he said.

The library, which has around 10,000 books on diverse subjects, will be open to the public, the Governor said. Lok Bhavan already had a small library, Mr. Arlekar said. The bigger, better-stocked facility was developed as part of the efforts to make Lok Bhavan accessible to the public, according to him. The collection features books gifted to Lok Bhavan and those purchased over the years. “We invite suggestions from the people of Keralam to improve the facilities in the library,” he said.

Formerly known as Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor was renamed Lok Bhavan in December 2025.

Sections in library

The new library currently occupies the ground floor of a building on the sprawling Lok Bhavan campus. Sections include history, fiction, poetry, culture, political science, science, economics, philosophy, music, journalism, psychology and encyclopaedias. Books on religions including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism, those on agriculture, medicine and health, Indian and Keralam economies, and the Constitution are also available.

Collections include the complete works of Swami Vivekananda and several works by the English humorist P.G. Wodehouse. Writer George Onakkoor, poets V. Madhusoodanan Nair and Rosemary, filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Kerala University Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) Mohanan Kunnummal were among those present.

Published - August 21, 2026 06:11 pm IST