M.N. Paloor, who died here at the age of 86, was one of the major poets of his generation though it is doubtful whether he received as much recognition as he deserved.
He was a modernist but his writings, unlike those of many of today’s poets, were steeped in the poetic tradition of Malayalam.
His collections of poetry include Kalikalam , which won the (Kerala) Sahitya Akademi award in 1983, Theerthayathra , Pedithondan, and Bhangiyum Abhangiyum . He had a notable work of prose to his credit, Kathayillathavante Katha , his autobiography, which won him the (Kendra) Sahitya Akademi award.
He had finished writing the book 16 years before but nobody was willing to publish it until Green Books came forward.
It certainly was an interesting life that he led. He learnt Sanskrit and Kathakali but earned his living as a driver at the airport in Mumbai.
“I remember reading an article he wrote about writing poetry while working at the airport,” novelist C.V. Balakrishnan told The Hindu . “He had said in that article that he would cease writing poetry the moment he found it easy as driving.”
He had chosen varied topics for his poems, including Hollywood actor Marilyn Monroe and Anacin (tablet).
Paloor should have been celebrated more as a poet, Balakrishnan said.
