Noted Poet P.N. Gopikrishnan Receives Prestigious Odakkuzhal Award

KOCHI:
The esteemed Guruvayoorappan Trust has conferred its coveted Odakuzhal Award for 2023 upon renowned poet P.N. Gopikrishnan for his exceptional poetry collection, “Kavitha Mamsabhojiyanu.” The award ceremony will be held on February 2nd, 2024, coinciding with the death anniversary of the great Mahakavi G. Sankarakurup.

Professor M. Lilavati, Trust President, will present the award to Gopikrishnan during the ceremony. The event will also feature a keynote lecture by Dr. E.V. Ramakrishnan, a distinguished literary critic. The Odakuzhal Award carries a substantial cash prize of ₹30,000, along with a commemorative citation and a unique sculpture.

The award jury lauded Mr. Gopikrishnan’s work, stating: “His poems are not mere fleeting expressions, but rather, they are magical inscriptions that transcend the limitations of language itself. They delve into the very essence of human experience, serving as profound reflections of social realities and insightful visions that pierce through the layers of our contemporary world.”

Established in 1968 by Mahakavi G. Sankarakurup, India’s first Jnanpith laureate, the Guruvayoorappan Trust has a longstanding tradition of recognizing and celebrating literary excellence in Malayalam. The Odakuzhal Award, bestowed annually upon the most outstanding literary work of the year, stands as a testament to the Trust’s unwavering commitment to fostering and promoting Malayalam literature.