Gopi Kottoor

Early life and education

Kottoor had his school education in the Loyola English School,and Arya Central School, Trivandrum. He took his B.A. in English Literature, and Masters in English from the Institute of English, Trivandrum, where with Dr. Ayyappa Paniker the noted professor of English, they formed a college poetry club that invited Indian poets in English such as Kamala Das, R Parthasarathy, and Keki Daruwalla to read at the college. Meanwhile, Kottoor won his first poetry prize, a first, in the University college poetry competitions, and published his poems in 'Thought' (Ed Keshav Malik), ' The Illustrated Weekly of India' and in the Bennet and Coleman magazine ' Youth Times' that featured poetry in their middle page, selected by poets as Shiv K. Kumar and Kamala Das. He soon published his poetry in Opinion, Kavya Bharati, Lipi and Chandrabhaga (Ed : Jayanta Mahapatra), Indian Literature, Debonair, Kavi India, The Literary Half Yearly, Femina, Triveni, The Hindu Literary Supplement, and most other Indian magazines publishing poetry in English. Instrumental in his grooming up as a poet was the Tamil novelist and poet T.K. Doraiswamy,better known by his pen name ' Nakulan' who read his poetry note books every Sunday and introduced him to the world of English, European, and American poetry.

Kottoor attended the Master of Fine Arts (Poetry) program of the Texas State University, Southwest Texas, USA, having won the Philip McCormick scholarship of the University,during the year 2000.

In 2005, Kottoor was Poet-in-Residence in the University of Augsburg, Germany, on a sponsorship by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations,(ICCR) in association with Tagore Centre, Berlin, Germany. Kottoor was invited to read from his translation of the 15c Bhakti poet Poonthanam's Gyanappana (The Fountain of God) at the University of Vienna, Austria, in the same year.

Career

As Poet

Gopi Kottoor won both the All-India Special Poetry Prize of the British Council-Poetry Society, India All India Poetry Competitions (AIPC) in 1997 for his poem These are the things we could talk about as also the Second Prize for his poem Digging in the General Category of the Competition in 1997. Between 1995 and 1998, he won two more major poetry prizes presented by the British Council – Poetry Society (India) sponsored All India Poetry Competitions (AIPC).

Writing to him soon after he won his poetry prizes, the leading poet Jayanta Mahapatra,and editor of Chandrabhaga, who was also a part of the jury wrote to him saying

"You write exceptionally well.... My admiration grows for you for your poems".

Kottoor's Father, Wake Us In Passing (2000), which won for the poet a Residency in the University of Augsburg, Germany, is a touching poem sequence on his father in coma, and dying. The book is also a thanksgiving to his father who first noticed and nurtured his talent for poetry. The German translation of this poem by the German poet Wolfgang Heyder (b. 1956) appeared as a Laufschrift Book edition (Vater, wecke' uns im Vorübergehen)in Fürth, Germany in 2004. This work is considered peerless in its genre in Indian English writing and has received rave reviews in India and abroad ever since it was first published. In the words of the eminent poet-critic Ayyappa Paniker, Kottoor is "a poet who has discovered his own voice distinct from that of his ancestors or his compeers." His poetry, known for its rich visual imagery embalmed with feeling has won him accolades both in his home country and abroad.

Kottoor's poetry has appeared in a wide range of international journals, that include Orbis (UK) , Ariel (University of Calgary), Toronto Review (Canada), Plaza (Japan), Arabesques Review (Africa), Persona (Texas State University Journal), Bluefifth Online (UK), Chiaroscuro Magazine (UK), Levure littéraire (UK), Big bridge (UK) , Nth Position (UK), New English Review (UK) and others. His poems have featured in significant imprints of Contemporary Indian Poetry in English. His recent poems can be read at New English Review, (U.K.), and Nthposition online, (U.K.) His poems featured in the poetry anthology, The Dance of the Peacock.

As Playwright

Kottoor's recent play The Nectar of the Gods (2015), is a socio-historical take on the life of the palace soldier Devasahayam (Lazarus), who was executed following his conversion to Christianity, during the reign of King Marthanda Varma ( Kerala, 18c). His other plays include The Mask of Death, a radio-play on the dying days of the Romantic poet John Keats in Rome, 'Fire in the Soul', a play on the life and times of the Nationalist rebel poet of India, Subramania Bharati, and A Woman in Flames.

As Novelist

Kottoor's novels are primarily based on true life incidents. His first novel, A Bridge Over Karma was translated into Malayalam and serialized in the popular Malayalam journal ' Kala Kaumudi'. His novel ' Presumed Guilty' has parallels with the life of the fashion designer Anand Jon. His third novel 'Hill House' is based on the life and acts of the Hungarian serial killer Bela Kiss.

As Transcreator

Kottoor's transcreations are Gynapana (The Fountain of God) of Puntanam Namboothiri, and Rati Rahasya (Love's Ecstasies) of Kukoka.

As Editor

Kottoor founded and edited Poetry Chain, a quarterly for Indian Poetry in English, which ran uninterruptedly for ten years from 1997-2007.Late Dr. Ayyappa Paniker, the noted English Professor and major Malayalam poet was its leading patron. Gopi kottoor also edited Everyman's Guide (1987-1995). He presently edits www.undergroundflowers.com (Poetry)

Awards

All India Special Poetry Prize, Poetry Society, India and The British Council, 1997. All India Poetry Prize (Second Prize), Poetry Society, India and The British Council, 1997. All India Poetry Awards, Commendation prizes, 1995 & 1998. The Bharathi Prize, Chennai,(1995) The Kerala University College Prize (1976) The Clover Poetry Prize, Commendation (1973)

Honours

Philip McCormick Scholarship, Texas State University,Texas, USA 2000

Distinguished Guest from India, Government of India Annual Report 2005-2006,(p) 152

Michael Madhusudan Dutt Award

D.Litt, World Academy of Arts, California, USA

21 Top Indian Poets [1]