The poet and philosopher Mr. M. Odakkal now has become a memory. His demise happened a couple of months ago. Born on 15th August 1927 in Kondotty, Malappuram Dist. Kerala he devoted his life to English poetry. He had worked with Air force and Navy before Indian independence for a short period. But his acclaim is as a teacher of English. He taught English for more than three decades in colleges at Aligarh, Agra and Allahabad. As a tribute to late Mr. M. Odakkal the Editorial note of his collection of poems “Expression of the Heart” published by Thejaswini Prasadhanam is reproduced:

“Poetry should initiate us into Philosophy” was Plootark’s view on poetry and philosophy. But can poetry be personal and at the same time philosophical? This anthology “Expressions of the Heart” by Mr.M.Odakkal, Kondotty gives a wonderful explanation to this question. The purity of emotions and the clarity of vision make these expressions more philosophical than personal. As Wordsworth had defined, here is a fine flow of “powerful emotions”.

At the first reading one is reminded of Walter Pater’s observation that “the highest style is a combination of the maximum of personality with the maximum of impersonality”. The poet is gifted with a genuine, subtle style; rich in diction. “Expressions of the Heart” reveals a soul really “closer to God than most of us”.

Every one should enjoy the torrential blessings from God. Never disgrace the Lord- this is poet’s feel. When you are grateful to God, you will be assigned with more missions to fulfil. To attain salvation one has to “stay entwined around God from first breath to the last”. We have to ‘shun all the moral hawks’; never be their easy prey. “Disown if you want to own” is a fine message from the poet.
In the poems “Happy Dad” and “The Sun is Higher” the grief and the despair of the parents are portrayed. But the poet is hopeful that the poor parents shall be protected well by God. Poems like “Fairy Glean Me”, “We Both will Merge into One”, written in poet’s youthful days are romantic in nature, with the sad note of loneliness. “Ku’s Gospel”, “Hyma’s Beauty” and “Devil’s College” are social satires.

The poems in this collection instil deeper awareness in the reader. Our sense of Judgement to differentiate the right from the wrong is stirred. Human dignity is acclaimed and the divinity of God is praised in these poems and the Key-note is that one should be free from personal and social restraints”.

-A.P. Nalinan