The name ‘Nishagandhi’ evokes myriad images of music, dance and art in the minds of Thiruvananthapuram natives. But hardly a few know the fact that it was poet O.N.V. Kurup who gave that name to the city’s premier cultural space.
Last month, he came on the stage he had named, in what would be his last public appearance. On stage was Pakistani Ghazal legend Ghulam Ali, who had come here to sing despite threats from right wing forces. Neglecting his deteriorating health, ONV came on stage, spoke a few inspiring words and stayed almost till the end of the two-hour long concert.
A day before, ONV had written a poem titled ‘Padoo, Ghulam Ali, Padoo’ (Sing, Ghulam Ali, sing).
“ONV sir was in the forefront of Swaralaya’s activities to organise Ghulam Ali’s concert here. He was sad that we could not provide a proper reception when Syrian poet Adonis came here last year. He wanted to make up for it and used to say that art should not have any religious or geographical boundaries,” reminisces CPI (M) Polit Bureau member M.A. Baby.
Former Additional Chief Secretary D. Babu Paul has had a close relationship with the poet, especially during his days as the State’s Culture Secretary.
“Whenever we had an important event, he was the one we approached, for writing the theme song. He had this knack to pen lyrics suitable for each event. I first saw him in the early 1950s as a young boy in Perumbavoor, when he came to deliver a speech. He had already become famous by then through the songs of ‘Ningalenne Communistakki’. He was an affectionate elder brother for me,” says Babu Paul.
An integral part of the capital city’s cultural space since those early days, he along with Subramania Sharma was instrumental in forming the MBS Youth Choir.
“ONV sir is like the choir’s patron. We still regularly sing 5-6 songs written by him, especially the anti-war anthem ‘Ayudhangale Vida’ and the song on environmentalism ‘Manishada’,” says environmentalist Anitha Sharma.
An active member of the Indian Peoples Theatre Association (IPTA), he was the first Chairman of IPTA’s Kerala chapter.
“As part of the association’s activities, he formed the Thoppil Bhasi Nadaka Padana Kendram at the Lenin Balavadi. Two weeks ago, despite his ill health, he called me and asked me to hold a committee meeting urgently at his house to select this year’s Thoppil Bhasi award winner. He was the one who suggested Jagathy Sreekumar’s name for the award, which will be presented next month,” says Balan Thirumala, a founding member of IPTA.
Last year, a few young artists of the city gave one lasting tribute to the poet, a painting based on ‘Ujjayini,’ ONV’s poem which recreates Kalidasa’s unrequited love for Malavika, on the Manaveeyam Veethi walls.
On Monday, ONV will be cremated at the electric crematorium in Thycaud, which he named ‘Shanthikavadam.’
