G. Sankara Kurup

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Template:Short description Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox writer G. Sankara Kurup, (3 June 1901 – 2 February 1978) also referred to as Mahakavi G (The Great Poet G), was an Indian poet, essayist and literary critic of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the greats of Malayalam poetry, he was the first recipient of the Jnanpith Award―the highest Indian literary honor. He served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1968 to 1972 and received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award, in 1967. He was also a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award.Template:Citaiton needed

Life and career

Sankara Kurup was born on June 3, 1901, at Nayathode, a hamlet in the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin (now in Ernakulam district of the south Indian state of Kerala) to Nellikkappilli Variyath Sankara Warrier and Vadakkani Marath Lakshmikutty maarasyar<ref name="Profile of G. Sankara Kurup">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His early education was at the local schools in Nayathode and Perumbavoor after passing his 7th standard examination, he passed the Vernacular Higher Examination from a school in Muvattupuzha.<ref name="G. Sankara Kurup - Malayalam writer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Subsequently, he started his career as the headmaster of Kottamam Convent School when he was only 16 and during his tenure there, continued his studies to pass the Malayalam Pandit and Vidwan examinations. In 1927, he moved to Thiruvilluamala High School as the Malayalam Pandit and to Thrissur training school in 1927 as a teacher. In 1931, he joined Maharaja's College, Ernakulam as a lecturer where he stayed until his retirement from service as a professor in 1956.<ref name="G. Sankara Kurup - Malayalam writer" /> He also served as a producer at the Thiruvananthapuram station of the All India Radio.<ref name="Profile of G. Sankara Kurup" />

Sankara Kurup served Kerala Sahitya Akademi as its fourth president.<ref name="Succession list of Presidents, Vice Presidents and Secretaries.">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> n He was also the president of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad and served as the chief editor of its official magazine; it was during his tenure that the magazine became a tri-monthly.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He edited another magazine, too, titled Thilakam. In 1968, he was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

Sankara Kurup married Subhadra Amma in 1931 and the couple had two children, a son, Ravindranath and a daughter, Radha.<ref name="Profile of G. Sankara Kurup" /><ref name="A house for a poet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Radha was married to M. Achuthan, an academic and a prominent literary critic.<ref name="Literary critic Achuthan passes away in Kochi - Times of India">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He died on February 2, 1979, aged 76, at Thiruvananthapuram Medical college following post surgical complications,

Legacy

File:G Sankara Kurup 2003 stamp of India.jpg
Kurup on a 2003 stamp of India

Kurup published his first poem, called Salutation to Nature in 1918, while still a student<ref name="G. Sankara Kurup Jnanpith Award Awarded In 1965">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and his first poetry anthology, Sahitya Kouthukam, was published in 1923.<ref name="G. Sankara Kurup and his Poetry">Template:Cite journal</ref> By the time he published Sooryakanthi in 1935, he had already established his place among Malayalam poets. Overall, he published over 40 books which included 25 poetry anthologies, short stories, memoirs, play and prose.<ref name="List of Books on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="George1992">Template:Cite book</ref> He translated the Rubáiyát (1932) of Omar Khayyám, the Sanskrit Meghadūta (1944) of Kalidas, and the collection of poems Gitanjali (1959) of Rabindranath Tagore into Malayalam.<ref name="G. Sankara Kurup - Malayalam writer" /> He also wrote the lyrics for P. J. Cherian's Nirmala, (1948), the first Malayalam film to incorporate music and songs.<ref name="NIRMALA 1948">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Besides Nirmala, he wrote the lyrics for such movies as Oral Koodi Kallanayi, Abhayam, Aduthaduthu and Olipporu.<ref name="List of Malayalam Movies by Lyricist G Sankara Kurup">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His poems have been translated into English by A. K. Ramanujan under the title, Selected poems of G. Sankara Kurup.<ref name="Selected poems of G. Sankara Kurup.">Template:Cite book</ref> Along with his masterpiece, Odakuzhal, Poojapushpam, Nimisham, Navathidhi, Ithalukal, Pathikante Paattu, Muthukal, Anthardaham, Chenkathirukal, Vishwadarshanam, Madhuram Soumyam Deeptham, and Sandhya Ragam are considered as his major works.<ref name="G. Sankara Kurup - Malayalam writer" /> His autobiography was titled Ormmayude Olangalil, and was published by National Book Stall.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Awards and honors

Sankara Kurup received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1961 for his anthology, Viswadarshanam.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Central Sahitya Akademi honored him with their annual award for poetry in 1963.<ref name="Malayalam literary award winners">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was the first winner of the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, when the award was instituted in 1965.<ref name="JNANPITH LAUREATES">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Usurped</ref> He received the prize for his anthology, Odakkuzhal (The Bamboo Flute) which was published in 1950;<ref name="Malayalam literary award winners"/><ref name="തമ്പുരാനോട്‌ ജി പറഞ്ഞു: ‘‘പറ്റില്ല’’">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He set apart a part of the prize money to establish Odakkuzhal Award in 1968 and the work was later translated into Hindi, titled, Bansuri.<ref name="G. Sankara Kurup - Malayalam writer" /> In 1967, he received the Soviet Land Nehru Award and a year later, the Government of India awarded him he third highest civilian honor of the Padma Bhushan.<ref name="Padma Bhushan">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Padma Awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The India Post issued a commemorative postal stamp on Kurup in 2003, under the series, Jnanpith Award Winners.<ref name="Commemorative and definitive stamps">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Work

Poetry

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  • Kavanakalika (Poetic Buds)
  • Dharmarashmi (The Rays of Justice)
  • Muthukal (Pearls)
  • Swathanthryodhayam (Sunrise of Freedom)
  • Poojapushpam (Flowers for Offering)<ref name="Lal1992">Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Ente Veyil (My Sunlight)

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Short Story anthologies

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  • Kathakauthukam

Essays

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  • Mutthum Chippiyum (Pearl and Oyster) (1958)
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  • Bhashadeepika
  • Bhasha Praveshika (2 volumes)

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Plays

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Translations

Biography, autobiography

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Letters

Translations into other languages

Books and articles on G. Sankara Kurup

Filmography

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References

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Further reading

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Template:PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1960–69 Template:Jnanpith Award Template:Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam Template:Malayalam Literature Template:Padma Award winners of Kerala Template:Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship

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