Koyamparambath Satchidanandan Comments

Part 1 Mr Satchidanandan is undoubtedly the most respected contemporary Malayalam poet. He is undoubtedly holding a leftist position, which of course, is not a crime. Always held his head high, and kept himself away from politics. But he has always been responding to contemporary issues, never shied away from it. Has been the Secretary to Kerdria Sahitya Akademi, India.

Part 2 He was nominated for Nobel prize for Literature in 2011. Won many prestigious awards. Translated Many writers like Bertolucci Brecht, Pablo Neruda into Malayalam He had started his career as Professor in English Literature with Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, India.

On reading his Old Women Old Women is not An Acre of Grass by W.B.Yeats, but At Grass by Philip Larkin where he thinks about the abandoned racing horses. Similar is the case with abandoned of the washerman.

On reading his Old Women poem His angst the angst of the age, his bewilderment the bewilderment of the age and there is no remedy for it, for it; for in the age of anxiety and malaise born, bearing the brunt of loss. What to say about life where is bleak hope for survival; where is despair, dismay and despondence writ large? And it is but the fate of mankind, mankind!

Satchidanandan's poetry is one of a socialist tenor refreshing the memory of the Soviet blocs, China and Kerala to Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Mao to Castro and so on. An undertone of the communist movement and ideals, people's govt. and politics can be found in his poetry. His is a socialistic vision, communistic bent of mind apart from his frail Gandhian leanings.

K.Satchidanandan, is he a Gandhian or a socialist? A realist or a myth-maker? Witty, humorous, satiric and ironical? Or, an anti-thesis giver? Who is he? How the crux of his poesy?

Satchidanandan Sir has been awarded Ezhuthachhan Puraskaram and E K Divakaran Po'tty Memorial Award for Translation very recently.