Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup was an Indian poet, playwright, translator, lexicographer and story writer of Malayalam. He was the author of a number of poetry anthologies, besides other works, and he translated Abhijnana Shakuntalam, Tulsi Ramayana, Tirukkuṛaḷ, the poems of Subramania Bharati and two cantos of The Light of Asia of Edwin Arnold into Malayalam. He also contributed in the preparation of a dictionary, Kairali Kosham. A recipient of the Odakkuzhal Award and Thirukural Award, Kurup received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1966. Sahitya Akademi honoured him with their annual award in 1974.
Biography
Gopala Kurup was born on May 10, 1902, at Vennikulam in Pathanamthitta district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Cherukattumadathil Padmanabha Kurup and Lakshmi Kunjamma. After learning the basics of Sanskrit from his father, he completed his primary education under Kochu Pilla, a local teacher, and joined the local school at Vennikulam, where he had the opportunity to learn under Kaviyoor Vekitachalam Iyer and A. Sahasranama Iyer to pass the 7th standard. Subsequently, he started his career as a teacher in 1917, but continued his studies to pass the vidwan examination after which he joined the English school vennikulam started by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai in 1918. Later, he shifted to Tiruvalla to join M.G.M. High School in 1924 where he stayed for 25 years until joining the Malayalam Lerxicon and State Manuscripts Library, the present-day Oriental Research Institute & Manuscripts Library, as a librarian. During his stint at Tiruvalla, he was also associated with Malayala Manorama, assisting in selecting poems for publishing in the weekly, an assignment he got when K. C. Mammen Mappillai became fascinated with one of the speeches Kurup made at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam in 1826. He superannuated from official service in 1961. Gopala Kurup was married to Mepral Mangattuveettil Madhavi Pilla, the marriage taking place in 1932. He died on August 20, 1980, at the age of 78. His tomb is at Vennikulam Manimala River Shore.
Legacy
Kurup's oeuvre comprises 15 poetry anthologies, two plays viz. Kaladasante Kanwan and Priyamvada, one book of folk tales, Thacholi Othenan, and a book of children's literature titled Katha Nakshathrangal. Known to have been influenced by Vallathol Narayana Menon, his poems are noted for their spiritual undertone. While working at the manuscripts library, he was involved in the preparation of Kairali Kosham. Besides, he translated Abhijnana Shakuntalam, Tulsi Ramayana, Tirukkuṛaḷ, the poems of Subramania Bharati under the title, Bharatiyude Kavithakal. and two cantos of The Light of Asia of Edwin Arnold into Malayalam. He also published his autobiography under the title, Athmarekha.
