
Fri Jun 13 14:17:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text, formatted for general readership:
**Headline: Writer Vallikavu Mohandas Honored with Hermann Gundert Award for ‘Missionaries’ Kerala’**
**Kozhikode, Kerala – June 13, 2025** – Writer Vallikavu Mohandas received the prestigious Hermann Gundert Award for his book, *Missionaries’ Kerala (Missionarykalude Keralam)*, at a ceremony held in Kozhikode today. The award, presented by former Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar on behalf of the Hermann Gundert Educational Foundation, recognizes Mr. Mohandas’s contribution to Malayalam literature.
During the ceremony, K. Jayakumar praised Hermann Gundert, the German missionary and linguist, for his ability to connect Eastern and Western knowledge systems. He emphasized Gundert’s respect for local beliefs and his effort to explain their underlying scientific principles. “Be like Gundert; be intellectually free; be curious,” he urged the audience at the Chavara Cultural Centre.
The Hermann Gundert Educational Foundation, under Vice-Chairman Chacko Kalamparambil, instituted the award to promote understanding of Gundert’s legacy and contributions to society. The event highlighted the importance of cross-cultural understanding and the continued relevance of Gundert’s work in bridging different perspectives.