Kerala   

The joy of poetry

Poetry must be the most beautiful thing man has ever invented. Is there a greater joy than reading a great poem?

You are reminded of the sheer beauty and power of poetry when you flip the pages of Kavithakudanna, an interesting collection of small poems and writings about poetry.

Published as the 26th anniversary issue of Innu, a little magazine brought from Malappuram by Manambur Rajan Babu, the book features poets like O.N.V. Kurup, Sugathakumari and Akkittham, along with many new generation poets, whose works might seem more prose than poetry on most occasions.

The tone of the book is set by a collection of few lines, chosen by Balachandran Chullikkad, from the great masters of Malayalam poetry, including Cherussery, Ezhuthachan, Kumaranasan, Vallathol, Ulloor, G. Sankara Kurup and Changampuzha. The book also gives space to the newest kids on the block like Arya Gopi who won the first prize in a competition conducted by the publisher.

One of the highlights of the book is the section on `first poetic experience', in which M.T. Vasudevan Nair tells us the excitement with which he read Kumaranasan's Nalini as a school student and Sukumar Azhikode recalls the impact of Veenapoovu on a 12-year-old. Reading about those experiences, you might want to go back to the Complete Works of Kumaranasan. It certainly is not a bad idea.

P.K. AJITH KUMAR

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Steps urged to check illegal construction in Munnar
Excess vessels to be diverted for deep-sea fishing
Take steps to check land grab
Aggrieved students check out of two nursing colleges
Bloodstains found on weapons seized from Cherukol
Focus on development, says GCDA chairperson
CD ratio touches record high in State
KSBC suspends six employees
Court order to convene special grama sabha
Ayurveda doctors seek pay parity
Excess vessels for deep-sea fishing
The joy of poetry
In Malappuram Today
Save the earth
Support price: KC(J) plans stir
Soaring pride
Workers' protest
Around the City

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu