Two-time Sahitya Akademi awardee Puviyarasu laid to rest in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Renowned poet and two-time Sahitya Akademi Award winner Puviyarasu was cremated with full state honours in Coimbatore on Wednesday.

A ceremonial 21-gun salute was accorded in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Tamil literature. Puviyarasu (96) passed away at his residence in Coimbatore on Tuesday.

Widely regarded as one of Tamil's foremost literary figures, he was celebrated for his original poetry and his acclaimed translations, which introduced Tamil readers to the works of leading world poets.

He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007 for his poem Puratchikaran, which is the translation of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s The Rebel. In 2010, he won the prestigious award again for his poetry collection Kaiyoppam. He was one of the founders of the short-lived Vanambadi literary movement.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed condolences over the poet's demise and announced that the state government would accord full state honours at his funeral.

Tributes also poured in from several political leaders, including DMK president MK Stalin, besides writers, literary organisations and admirers from across the State, who hailed Puviyarasu's enduring contribution to Tamil literature.

The funeral was held at the electric crematorium in Periyanaickenpalayam. Coimbatore District Revenue Officer S Madhuranthagi, Mettupalayam MLA N Sunil Anand, and Kavundampalayam MLA Kanimozhi Santhosh, along with senior government officials and police personnel, paid their last respects before the cremation.