THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a trip down memory lane for poet O N V Kurup on Thursday evening when he was presented the first Thoppil Bhasi Foundation Award instituted in memory of his late companion.The poet, in a sombre voice, recalled his close association with Bhasi and KPAC, the organisation that bound them together. ‘’I see this honour as a recognition to all of us who, together, scripted success stories under the KPAC banner,’’ he said.ONV also remembered the emotional moments that inspired him to pen some memorable lyrics that the working class in the state took to their hearts."Once I was travelling on a boat during night with M N Govindan Nair while he was on exile. It was a clear sky with the stars and a half-moon. MN, with his finger pointing to the sky, asked me half-jokingly whether it inspired the poet in me. At that moment, the half-moon appeared to me as a sickle.. a sickle representing the symbol of the working class.. a beacon of hope.... It remained in my heart for long and it was the inspiration for the song ‘’ponnarival ambiliyil kanneriyunnole...,’’ Kurup said."The songs in KPAC plays would not be of supreme poetic quality. But they served a far greater purpose.. to initiate changes in a society,’’ he said.CPI secretary C K Chandrappan presented the award to the poet. KPAC Lalitha, who was the chief guest on the occasion, attributed all the successes in her life to KPAC. ‘’This acronym is more important to me than my own name. That’s why I always put it before my name,’’ she said.Bhasi’s widow Amminiyamma, son Soman and daughter Mala were present on the occasion. Foundation chairman Panniyan Raveendran presided over the function.Veteran CPI leader Veliyam Bhargavan, C Divakaran MLA, Pirappancode Murali, Foundation secretary Vallikavu Mohandas, jury member A K Nambiar and KPAC secretary A Shajahan spoke at the function.
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