THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Poet O.N.V. Kurup was cremated with full state honours at the Santhikavadam electric crematorium here on Monday. The mortal remains of the poet were brought in a procession from his house Indeevaram in Vazhuthacaud to Santhikavadam.
Prior to the cremation, a group comprising 84 local singers joined together for paying a musical tribute to the poet. Singers Sreeram, members of MBS youth choir, Swaralaya members and many others rendered songs penned by ONV.
His favourite songs “pon arrival ambiliyil, ambili ammava thamara, marivillil thenmalare maanjupokayo, maanjupokayo reverberated” in Shanthikavadam even as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan, Ramesh Chennithala, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Pannyan Raveendran a host of cultural and social leaders paid their last respects.
CPM politburo member M A Baby led ONV’s disciples to pay tribute through verses; Nee urangumbol, ivide nin vaak orungaathe irikkunnu , priya guru andhyabhivadyangal (while you are sleeping, your words don’t sleep here. Dear guru our last salute).
Earlier, chief minister, Achuthanandan, K J Yesudas, Kavalam Narayana Panicker. V S Sivakumar, Ramesh Chennithala, Sugathakumati and Madhusoodhanan Nair paid their tributes at his residence in Vazuthacaud.
After the cremation, the state government held a memorial meet at VJT Hall in which top political leaders, cultural and social leaders paid rich tributes to ONV.
Musical tribute to master of lyrics, rhythms
The state gave a befitting final send off to poet O N V Kurup whose mortal remains were consigned to flames with full state honours at the Santhikavadam electric crematorium here on Monday.
Since morning, political, social, cultural leaders and people from various walks of life thronged his residence “Indeevaram” at Vazhuthacaud to pay homage. Chief Minister Ooommen Chandy, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan and K.J. Yesudas were among the prominent people who paid respects to their dear poet and consoled his family.
ONV’s final journey began at 9.45 am to Shanthikavadam, the electric crematorium which incidentally was named by him. All along the route, people gathered on either sides of the road to have a glimpse of the poet, teacher, cultural icon who inspired generations during the past several decades.
Singers from different walks of life sing songs written by O.N.V. Kurup during his cremation on Monday in Thiruvananthapuram.
The mood at Shantikavadam though sombre, was filled with music. Drama and film songs penned by ONV “pon arrival ambiliyil, ambili ammava thamara, marivillil thenmalare maanjupokayo” reverberated in the air as a group of 84 local singers joined together to pay a musical tribute to the poet.
Singers Sreeram,Kallara Gopan, Sudeep, members of MBS Youth Choir led the tribute which was conducted by Dr Omanakutty. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan, Ramesh Chennithala, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Pannyan Raveendran and a host of cultural and social leaders paid their last respects at Shanthikavadam in the middle of the musical tribute.
Along with the musical tribute, the poet was given full state honours with police giving guard of honour and firing ceremonial gun shots in the air. CPM politburo member M A Baby led ONV’s disciples to pay tribute through verses.
As son Rajeevan lit the funeral pyre arranged at the crematorium, his wife, grandchildren, close relatives and many gathered at Shanthikavadam could not hold back their emotions.
