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Poetry Chain is a popular English poetry journal of India published quarterly from Thiruvananthapuram. The internationally renowned Indian English poet Gopi Kottoor is its founder editor. The journal was founded in 1997 with the inspirational mentoring of the noted Indian poet Ayyappa Paniker who formed its indispensable part until his tragic demise in 2007. In 2009 it was relaunched as online-only publication.
Contents
Inception and growth
Poetry Chain started in 1997 as an informal platform for budding poets. Over the years it has acquired substance and stature under the able guidance of Gopi Kottoor and his circle of poet collaborators.The journal's life patrons include Sitakant Mahapatra,Dr HK Kaul,(Poetry society, India), and Padmasree award winner Jayanta Mahapatra. The journal has published internationally renowned poets like Jayanta Mahapatra besides a long list of acclaimed as well as lesser known poets from all over India. The journal went on to discover many new talents, especially young voices on the poetry horizon.Poets who have read under the Poetry Chain banner include Ruth Padel and Meena Alexander. The Awards for poetry instituted by poetry Chain and in collaboration with Poetry Society India, are ' Father, Wake Us in Passing, Poetry Prize, The Agha Shahid Ali poetry Prize, and The Best Chosen Poet of the year.
In July 2009, the journal went on online.
Poetry get-together
Poetry Chain has been organizing periodic get-together of poets to facilitate exchange of ideas. From June 2013, Poetry Chain has started conducting monthly meeting of both aspiring and established poets. The meeting is conducted in the last Saturday of every month.
Poetry Chain has become a platform of interaction for Indian poets writing in English residing in different parts of the country. Although Poetry Chain journal has a pan Indian flavor, it has occasionally highlighted local Kerala based themes like Onam also.