Former Malaysian Education Minister Dr Maszlee Abdul Malik opens the launch of cartoonist's Zunar's exhibition with Madhu Raghavendra's poem Artist

 On 3rd July 2021, Malaysia’s former education minister Dr Maszlee Abdul Malik began his speech by reciting my poem Artist during the launch of a digital cartoon exhibition titled 'Human Rights in Asean:The Cartoonists Perspective'

"Maszlee began his speech by reciting the poem by Madhu Raghavendra entitled ’Artist’, which the poet wrote in response to the idea that artists are non-essential."

“Just like Raghavendra puts it in his poem, ‘Art is non-essential, Until it is not…’ which means it is indeed essential,” said Maszlee.

Further reading: https://www.thevibes.com/articles/culture/33376/maszlee-launches-zunars-digital-exhibition-stresses-greater-freedom-for-arts