Poet G Sankara Kurup needs no introduction to the people of Kerala. But the lesser known fact is that the mortal remains of the winner of the first Jnanpith Award were cremated in Thrikkakara where a memorial was built. It can be traced to the compound of his son Ravindranath’s residence at Vallathol Padi, near Bharat Matha College, on Seaport-Airport Road.
In an effort to familiarise the life and works of the poet, who was better known as Mahakavi G, Thrikkakara Samskarika Kendram has been organising various events for the past one year and it is bent on carrying on with the programmes such as competitions and public events. Though the G Auditorium, near Maharaja’s College, was named after the great poet who was a professor at the college from 1937 to 1956, no cultural centre has been formed in his name, Samskarika Kendram office-bearers pointed out.
Poet Chemmanam Chacko, an active member of the Kendram, said that it was a lesser known fact that the memorial of the great poet is at Thrikkakara.
“The poet died in Thiruvanathapuram Medical College on February 2, 1978, aged 76. At that time I was the Publications Director there. I accompanied his body to Thrikkakara where he was cremated at his son’s residence. When I shifted to Padamugal, near Thrikkakara, we took a strong initiative to commemorate the poet under the banner of Thrikkakara Samskarika Kendram. The government and the local bodies should take an initiative to set up a memorial for the poet whose 113th birth anniversary falls in June this year,” Chemmanam Chacko said.He added that the Samskarika Kendram is planning to conduct various events as a tribute to the poet and orator.
Thrikkakara Samskarika Kendram president Paul Mecheril said that the government and the local bodies should take initiatives to promote the life and works of G Sankara Kurup.
“We organised various programmes to mark the 36th death anniversary of the poet this month. We are planning to conduct more such events,” he said.