THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former bureaucrat and writer K Jayakumar has been selected for the sixth Yesenin Prize instituted in the memory of Russian poet Sergei Yesenin.
Jayakumar, former chief secretary and current Vice-Chancellor of the Thunchathu Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, has won the award for his translation of Bella Akhmadullina’s collection of poems into Malayalam, the Honorary Consulate of Russia here said in a statement. One of the foremost 20th century Russian poets, Yesenin’s poetry covered varied themes including love, Russian life and the politics of his era. The Yesenin Prize is awarded by the Moscow State Yesenin Museum in Russia and the Russian Cultural Centre here every year. Jayakumar’s translation of Akhmadullina’s poems helped to acquaint Keralites with contemporary Russian poetry, Swetlana Shetrakova, director, Moscow State Yesenin Museum, said. Shetrakova and Georgiy Toloraya, director, Russkiy Mir Foundation, will present the prize to Jayakumar here on December 8, Honorary Consul Ratheesh C Nair said.