Congress leader Rahul Gandhi presenting the Priyadarshani Literary Award to critic M. Leelavathy at her residence in Thrikkakara on Monday (January 19, 2025).
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that great nations are not built on silence, but when people express their views and fight for them.
“All over the country we see people who think and believe something but do not have the courage to say it,” he said after presenting the Priyadarshini Literary Award instituted by Priyadarshini Publications under the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to critic M. Leelvathy at her residence in Thrikkakara on Monday.
“Embedded in the culture of silence is also the idea of greed. It does not matter what is happening as long as I am getting what I need. I do not need to say anything. I can watch people being humiliated and killed. That is the culture of greed,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi praised Ms. Leelvathy for being simple and humble. “We are very proud of you for the wisdom you have given to the people,” he said.
In her reply speech, she described Indira Gandhi as one who sacrificed her life to safeguard secularism in the country. “She valued secularism more than her life. Her love and respect for the common people, her determination to eradicate poverty and to uplift the downtrodden and her courage and conviction above all made me adore her,” she said.
She said those who ridiculed the Gandhi family in the political arena had failed to consider the fact that two of its members became martyrs while serving the nation. Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s son and former Prime Minister, had inherited her traits. “He elevated women from across various sections to positions of power. He offered more seats in elections to women when he was Prime Minister. Even I was offered one, though I could not accept it for personal reasons,” she recalled.
Ms. Leelvathy pointed out that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had inherited the traits of their father and grandmother. “I wish that both of them would rise to more powerful positions in the near future so that they can serve the nation more effectively. I hope that India’s destiny will be shaped in their hands. It was a coincidence that I was able to receive the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award from Ms. Gandhi in 1981 and the Priyadarshini award from her grandson today,” she said.
She donated the cash prize of ₹1 lakh received as part of the award to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
Published – January 19, 2026 10:57 pm IST
