G. Sankara Kurup

Govinda Kurup Sankara Kurup (3 June 1901 – 2 February 1978), also referred to as Mahakavi G (The Great Poet G), was an Indian poet, essayist and literary critic of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the greats of Malayalam poetry, he was the first recipient of the Jnanpith Award―the highest Indian literary honor. He served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1968 to 1972 and received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award, in 1967. He was also a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award.

Life and career Sankara Kurup was born on June 3, 1901, at Nayathode, a hamlet in the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin (now in Ernakulam district of the south Indian state of Kerala) to Nellikkappilli Variyath Sankara Warrier and Vadakkani Marath Lakshmikutty maarasyar His early education was at the local schools in Nayathode and Perumbavoor after passing his 7th standard examination, he passed the Vernacular Higher Examination from a school in Muvattupuzha. Subsequently, he started his career as the headmaster of Kottamam Convent School when he was only 16 and during his tenure there, continued his studies to pass the Malayalam Pandit and Vidwan examinations. In 1927, he moved to Thiruvilluamala High School as the Malayalam Pandit and to Thrissur training school in 1927 as a teacher. In 1931, he joined Maharaja's College, Ernakulam as a lecturer where he stayed until his retirement from service as a professor in 1956. n He was also the president of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad and served as the chief editor of its official magazine; it was during his tenure that the magazine became a tri-monthly. He edited another magazine, too, titled Thilakam. In 1968, he was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India. Radha was married to M. Achuthan, an academic and a prominent literary critic. He died on February 2, 1979, aged 76, at Thiruvananthapuram Medical college following post surgical complications,

Legacy

Kurup published his first poem, called Salutation to Nature in 1918, while still a student and his first poetry anthology, Sahitya Kouthukam, was published in 1923. By the time he published Sooryakanthi in 1935, he had already established his place among Malayalam poets. Overall, he published over 40 books which included 25 poetry anthologies, short stories, memoirs, play and prose. He translated the Rubáiyát (1932) of Omar Khayyám, the Sanskrit Meghadūta (1944) of Kalidas, and the collection of poems Gitanjali (1959) of Rabindranath Tagore into Malayalam. Besides Nirmala, he wrote the lyrics for such movies as Oral Koodi Kallanayi, Abhayam, Aduthaduthu and Olipporu. His poems have been translated into English by A. K. Ramanujan under the title, Selected poems of G. Sankara Kurup. Along with his masterpiece, Odakuzhal, Poojapushpam, Nimisham, Navathidhi, Ithalukal, Pathikante Paattu, Muthukal, Anthardaham, Chenkathirukal, Vishwadarshanam, Madhuram Soumyam Deeptham, and Sandhya Ragam are considered as his major works.

Awards and honors Sankara Kurup received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1961 for his anthology, Viswadarshanam. The Central Sahitya Akademi honored him with their annual award for poetry in 1963. He was the first winner of the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, when the award was instituted in 1965. He received the prize for his anthology, Odakkuzhal (The Bamboo Flute) which was published in 1950; He set apart a part of the prize money to establish Odakkuzhal Award in 1968 and the work was later translated into Hindi, titled, Bansuri. The India Post issued a commemorative postal stamp on Kurup in 2003, under the series, Jnanpith Award Winners.

Work Poetry

Kavanakalika (Poetic Buds) Dharmarashmi (The Rays of Justice) Muthukal (Pearls) Swathanthryodhayam (Sunrise of Freedom) Poojapushpam (Flowers for Offering) Ente Veyil (My Sunlight)

Short Story anthologies

Kathakauthukam

Essays

Mutthum Chippiyum (Pearl and Oyster) (1958) Bhashadeepika Bhasha Praveshika (2 volumes)

Plays

Translations

Meghadūta of Kalidasa Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam

Biography, autobiography

Letters

Translations into other languages

Books and articles on G. Sankara Kurup

Filmography

Nirmala Oral Koodi Kallanayi Abhayam Aduthaduthu Olipporu