HYDERABAD: The Malayalam literature continues to be rich and will prosper with new writers, said renowned Malayalam novelist Mr C. V. Balakrishnan, while delivering the OV Vijayan Memorial Lecture in Hyderabad. The prestigious OV Vijayan Sahitya Puraskaram was awarded to Lopa R for her poems titled, Vaikkol Pava.
Naveena Samskarika Kala Kendram, a socio-cultural organisation in Telangana, instituted the award in 2011 in honour of the famous novelist and cartoonist O.V. Vijayan who spent his final days in Secunderabad. The award consists of Rs 50,001, a memento by Kanayi Kunhiraman who was the former chairman of the National Academy of Art, and a citation. Noted novelists such as Zacharia and Sarah Thomas have won the award earlier.
Speaking to DC, Lopa R said, “It gives me great honour to receive this award instituted in memory of O.V. Vijayan.” Vaikkol Pava, published by DC Books, tal-ks of tradition and values. Lopa has received the Yuva Puraskar by the Kerala Sahithya Aca-demy in 2012 for her poems titled, Parasparam. C V Balakrishnan said, “Works of art can speak more than words and therefore they should not be curbed in any way.” The event was inaugurated by Malayalam fiction writer A Sethumadhavan. The Telugu poet P. Lailtha Kumari, who writes under the pen name Volga, was the guest of honour.
