G. Sankara Kurup
G. Sankara Kurup, (born
June 3,
1901, Nayathode,
Kerala,
India -
February 2,
1978,
Trivandrum, Kerala), better known as Mahakavi G (The Great Poet G), was the first winner of the
Jnanpith Award, the
Government of India's highest literary award. He won the prize in 1965 for his collection of poems in
Malayalam Odakkuzhal (The bamboo flute,
1950). With part of the prize money he established the literary award Odakkuzhal in
1968. He was also the recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru Award, in 1967, and the
Padma Bhushan in 1968.
After completing his education, Mahakavi G worked as the Malayalam teacher in a secondary school in Thiruvillwamala in 1921. Later he became a teacher in the Government Secondary Teacher Training Institute near
Trichur. He worked as the Malayalam Pandit in Maharaja's College,
Ernakulam, and retired as Professor of Malayalam from the College in 1956.
Mahakavi G published his first poem, called
Salutation to Nature in 1918, while still a student. Apart from 25 collections of poetry, Mahakavi G also wrote verse dramas and collections of literary essays -- in all about 40 works in Malayalam. He also translated into Malayalam the
Rubáiyát (1932) of
Omar Khayyám, the
Sanskrit poem
Meghaduta (1944) of
Kalidas, and the collection of poems
Gitanjali (1959) of
Rabindranath Tagore. Indeed, one often speaks of the influence of Tagore and
Gandhi on the humanism and nationalism of Mahakavi G. Interestingly, he has also been described as a "bard of science" who explores the role of science in achieving the human potential.
He also penned the lyrics for P.J.Cherian's
Nirmala, (1948), the first Malayalam film to incorporate music and songs.
Mahakavi G also led an active public life as a member (1968-72) of
Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.
PoetrySuryakaanthi (Sunflower) (1933)
Nimisham (The Moment) (1945)
Otakkuzhal (Flute) (1950)
Padhikante Paattu (The Traveler's Song) (1955)
Visvadarsanam (The Sight of the Universe) (1960)
Moonnaruviyum Oru Puzhayum (Three Streams and a River) (1963)
Jeevana Sangeetham (The Music of Life) (1964)
Sahithya Kauthukam (The Sweetness of Literature), in 3 Volumes (1968)
EssaysGadhyopahaaram (Honouring with Prose) (1947)
Mutthum Chippiyum (Pearl and Oyster) (1958)
Ormayute Olangalil (In the Waves of Memory) (1978)
*
An overview of the major genres of modern Malayalam literature*
Bibliography of Malayalam Literature*
Another Bibliography of Malayalam literature*
G. Sankara Kurup's Jnanpith Award Acceptance Speech*
The Poet's commentary on his work*
Commemorative Stamp released by India Post on October 9, 2003 (image)
