O.N.V Kurup was born to O. N. Krishna Kurup and K. Lakshmikutty Amma, on 27 May 1931 at
Chavara,
Kollam (Quilon) in Kerala. He lost his father when he was eight. His childhood days were spent in Chavara, where he attended the government school. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics from SN College,
Kollam, he moved to
Thiruvananthapuram city where he joined Travancore University (now
Kerala University) and pursued
Master of Arts in
Malayalam literature. O.N.V. was a lecturer at
Maharajas College –
Ernakulam,
University College – Thiruvananthapuram, Arts and Science College –
Kozhikode, and
Brennen College –
Thalassery. He joined Government Women's College –
Thiruvananthapuram as the Head of Malayalam Department. He was also a visiting professor at
Calicut University. He retired from service in 1986. He was the fifth Jnanpith laureate from
Kerala and the second
Malayalam poet to win the award. According to a statement by Bharatiya Jnanpith, the trust which presents the award, Kurup began his career as a "progressive writer and matured into a humanist though he never gave up his commitment to socialist ideology". He was settled at
Vazhuthacaud in
Thiruvananthapuram, with his wife Sarojini, who was also his student in his early days. ONV Kurup died on 13 February 2016, due to age-related ailments at KIMS Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 84. He was cremated with full state honours at Thycaud Santhikavadam crematorium, which was named for him. At the time of his cremation, 84 singers representing the 84 years of his life, led by
K. J. Yesudas, paid homage to him by singing his poems and songs. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ==Poetry==