Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon
Encyclopedia
Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon (11 May 1911 – 22 December 1985) was a renowned India
n poet of Kerala
. He was born on 11 May 1911 in Kaloor in the Ernakulam district
. After taking his bachelors degree in science he took B.T. and joined as teacher in government service in 1931.
He started writing under the pen name 'Sree' and his very first collection 'Kannikkoythu' (Maiden Harvest), which came out in 1947, attracted the attention of critics by its innovative style free from the clutches of the Romantic tradition. He was associated with Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishath the biggest forum for Malayalam writers at that time, for more than 10 years. He represented Kerala in the national poets' meetings held at Delhi
(1951 and 1969) and Bangalore
(1965). In 1970 he toured the Soviet union
. He was the first President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
, a forum of progressive writers led by leftist intellectuals and artists.
He is considered by literary historians as one of the major voices in Malayalam poetry who marked the transition from the Romantic
to the modern
era. A scientific insight into the historical roots of social evolution and a deeper understanding of the psychological undercurrents of the human mind characterise his poetry. His mastery of the medium is evident in all his poems both lyrical and narrative.
Many critics consider the long poem Kudiyozhikkal (Eviction of the tenant) as his magnum opus
. In the prefatory lines to the poem the poet says: "Punchiri! Ha, Kuleenamam kallam. Nenchu keeri njan nerinekkattaam" (The smile! Oh, It's but a noble lie. Let me tear open my chest and show you the truth). The poem is a ruthless self-examination of a middle class land owner who realizes that the future belongs not to himself but to his poor tenant whom he despises at heart.
He died on December 22, 1985 and his body was cremated on the banks of river Bharathappuzha
(also called 'Nila'), as he had wished.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n poet of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He was born on 11 May 1911 in Kaloor in the Ernakulam district
Ernakulam district
-Economy:Agriculture constitutes the most important segment of the district’s economy and it is the biggest source of employment. Of the geographical 235319 hectares, crops are grown in 0 hectares. Coconut is the principal crop followed by rubber, paddy, and tapioca...
. After taking his bachelors degree in science he took B.T. and joined as teacher in government service in 1931.
He started writing under the pen name 'Sree' and his very first collection 'Kannikkoythu' (Maiden Harvest), which came out in 1947, attracted the attention of critics by its innovative style free from the clutches of the Romantic tradition. He was associated with Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishath the biggest forum for Malayalam writers at that time, for more than 10 years. He represented Kerala in the national poets' meetings held at Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
(1951 and 1969) and Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
(1965). In 1970 he toured the Soviet union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He was the first President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham an Association for Art and Letters, also known as the PuKaSa, is an organization of artists, writers and art and literature enthusiasts based in Kerala. The association was formed on August 14, 1981, under the leadership of Malayalam poet Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon...
, a forum of progressive writers led by leftist intellectuals and artists.
He is considered by literary historians as one of the major voices in Malayalam poetry who marked the transition from the Romantic
Romantic poetry
Romanticism, a philosophical, literary, artistic and cultural era which began in the mid/late-1700s as a reaction against the prevailing Enlightenment ideals of the day , also influenced poetry...
to the modern
Modern poetry
Modern poetry may refer to:*The more recent periods in the history of poetry; or*Modernist poetry, the application of modernist aesthetics to poetry....
era. A scientific insight into the historical roots of social evolution and a deeper understanding of the psychological undercurrents of the human mind characterise his poetry. His mastery of the medium is evident in all his poems both lyrical and narrative.
Many critics consider the long poem Kudiyozhikkal (Eviction of the tenant) as his magnum opus
Magnum opus
Magnum opus , from the Latin meaning "great work", refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of a writer, artist, or composer.-Related terms:Sometimes the term magnum opus is used to refer to simply "a great work" rather than "the...
. In the prefatory lines to the poem the poet says: "Punchiri! Ha, Kuleenamam kallam. Nenchu keeri njan nerinekkattaam" (The smile! Oh, It's but a noble lie. Let me tear open my chest and show you the truth). The poem is a ruthless self-examination of a middle class land owner who realizes that the future belongs not to himself but to his poor tenant whom he despises at heart.
He died on December 22, 1985 and his body was cremated on the banks of river Bharathappuzha
Bharathappuzha
Bharathappuzha , also known as River Nila, is a river in India in the state of Kerala. With a length of 209 km, it is the second-longest river in Kerala, after the Periyar River. The word "Nila" indicates the culture more than just a river. Nila has groomed the culture and life of south...
(also called 'Nila'), as he had wished.
Awards and honors
- Madras Government Award
- M. P. PaulM. P. PaulM. P. Paul was a scholar and a well-known literary critic of Malayalam. He was among the torchbearers of the progressive literature movement in Kerala...
prize - Kerala Sahithya Academy Award (1965) for Kaipavallari
- Kendra Sahithya Academy AwardSahitya Akademi AwardSahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
(1972) for Vida - Vayalar AwardVayalar AwardThe Vayalar Award is given for the best literary work in Malayalam. The award was instituted in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust in memory of the poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma . A sum of Rs.25,000/-, a silver plate and certificate constitutes the award...
(1981) for Makarakoythu - Sovietland Nehru Award (1964)
- Odakkuzhal Award
Selected works
- Kannikoythu
- Sreerekha
- Onappatukar
- Makarakoythu
- Vithum Kaikkottum
- Vida
- Kaipavallari
- kadalkkakkakal
- Kuruvikal
- Kudiyozhikkal
- Minnaminni
- Pachakkuthira
- Mukulamala
- Krishnamrigangal
- Charithrathile Charudrisyam
- Anthi Chayunnu
- Kunnimanikal
- Risyasringanum Alexandarum (Play)
- Kavyalokasmaranakal (Autobiography)
- Mambazham