Kerala Assembly pays homage to poet ONV Kurup

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Assembly paid homage to poet O. N. V. Kurup on Monday. This is the first time that the House made an obituary reference to a cultural leader who was not a member of the Assembly or political personality.

Making the reference, Speaker N. Sakthan said that ONV’s poetry was noted for their diversity and simplicity. His growth as a poet was rooted on his experiences and awareness of life.

He had made significant contributions in getting recognition for Malayalam as a classical language. Kerala has lost a great poet, teacher and exponent of humanism, the Speaker added.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy noted that ONV was a poet who had won the hearts of people of Kerala.

The Chief Minister announced that a ‘Kalagramam’ would be set up at Chavara with visual rendition of his poems. A statue of the late poet would be installed in Thiruvananthapuram.

Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan said that the poetry of ONV transcended time. He enthralled Keralites with pleasing lyrics.

Mr. Achuthanandan recalled that ONV had always stood with leftist movement.