On Poetry That Defies Definitions: Its Relevance in Modern Times- Sahitya Akademi Samvatsar Lectures: Twenty-Eight

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Ottaplakkal Nambiyadikkal Velu Kurup, popularly known as O.N.V Kurup, is considered to be a master of Malayalam literature.

Born in 1931 at Chavara village in South Kerala, he spent his childhood in the village in an environment of classical art and literature. After graduating from SN College, Kollam, he moved to Tiruvanthapuram to purue post-graduation in Malayalam literature. He joined Maharaja's College, Ernakulam as lecturer and rose to become Head of Department of Malayalam at Government Women's College at Trivandrum.

During his college days, he was involved with the Progressive Movement and began his career as a trailblazer of progressive literature. His first collection of poems Porutunna Sondaryam came out in 1949. Later his poetry encompassed in itself all that contribute to the flowering of humanity. Today he has more than 21 poetry collections. He is also one of Kerala's leading lyricists and has penned more than 900 songs in about 232 films, plays and albums.

O.N.V. Kurup has been awarded numerous honours and awards including Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, the Central Sahitya Akademi Award, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Asan Prize, Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Bhilwara Award, Vallathol Award, Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, and the Jnanpith Award. Recently he was honoured with the Padmavibhushan by the Government of India.

On Poetry that Defies Definitions: Its Relevance in Modern Times contains the text of Samvatsar Lectures delivered by O.N.V. Kurup on the occasion of Sahityotsav 2014. Here he shares his thoughts on poetry and wonders aloud on his experiences of joy and sorrow in the course of a long journey seeking poetic truth.