N V Kurup born on May 27, 1931 at Chavara , a coastal village in Kerala is one of the greatest poets Kerala has seen. He spent his childhood in an environment where a peaceful agrarian culture was in constant confrontation with industrialisation. 

 Poetry, according to O N V, was a drop of light that came to him in the dark solitude of his childhood. His first published poem was 'Munnottu' (Forward) which appeared in a local weekly in 1946. It was only an outburst of his exuberant patriotic sentiments, but it marked the beginning of a long poetic career. 

 In every poem, the poet assumes the role of the spokesman of millions who are languishing in darkness and poses questions to the reader. He is not bothered about 'isms' in literature, but he writes poetry as it comes to him. His poems purveys the message to fight the battle of life against tyranny, desecration and destruction.