Kerala   

Finding space for their verse

Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

Dream come true: Young poets with

Na Sheershakam (Untitled), an anthology of 17 Malayalam poems penned by seven budding poets from the district, was released here on Sunday. P.K. Pokker, former Director of the State Institute of Languages, released the book which was published by the Vettom People's Collective Book Project.

It was for the first time that all the seven poets, from different backgrounds, got a chance to publish their works collectively. Each of them invested Rs.2,000 to get their maiden works published with the support of Vettom. The group included students, daily-wage workers, and school employees. Opportunity knocked at their doors when the publishers invited works from budding poets and screened out the best for publishing.

Fine expressions

“For me, the day was a memorable one as I had been eagerly waiting for a chance to get my works published,” said Dinesan Palliyath, a daily-wage worker from Kozhikode. Poetry was a medium to stage a silent protest against the elements of suppression and exploitation, he said.

Dinesan had completed 30 such works, but could not be published due to the financial burden involved. Nayattu was the first poem he wrote. It is being published with the support of Vettom now. M.S. Anoop, a native of Peruvannamoozhi, said, “I nurtured my love for poetry while working with a jewellery firm in Coimbatore.”

V.P. Surya, journalism student from Mangalore University, and P. Mohammed, a student of KKM GVHSS, also contributed to the compilation. When Surya expressed her concern over the degradation of values in society, Mohammed opted to give expression to fascinating thoughts on life and death.

Sabeesh Thottilpalam, C.V. Sudheeran, and Sunil Kumar Nagampara were the other three poets. They said the event gave them the inspiration to work creatively.

Mithosh Joseph

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