Poetry Chain is an English poetry journal of India published quarterly fromThiruvananthapuram,Kerala,India. The Indian English poetGopi Kottoor is its founder editor. The journal was founded in 1997 with the mentoring of the Indian poetAyyappa Paniker, who was involved with the journal until his death in 2007. In 2009 it was relaunched as online-only publication.
Poetry Chain started in 1997[1] as an informal platform for budding poets. Over the years it has acquired substance and stature under the able guidance ofGopi Kottoor and his circle of poet collaborators. The journal's life patrons includeSitakant Mahapatra, Dr HK Kaul (Poetry Society, India), and Padmasree award winnerJayanta Mahapatra. The journal has published internationally renowned poets like Jayanta Mahapatra along 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.[citation needed] Poets who have read under thePoetry Chain banner includeRuth Padel,Tapan Kumar Pradhan andMeena Alexander. The Awards for poetry instituted by Poetry Chain and in collaboration withThe Poetry Society (India) are theFather, Wake Us In Passing Poetry Prize,Agha Shahid Ali Poetry Prize, and The Best Chosen Poet of the year. In 2003,Samartha Vashishtha won one of these prizes for the segmentThe Jungle from his long poemSimla.
In July 2009, the journal became an online-only publication.[1]
The New Poetry Chain which is a part ofIndian Writers Association. Gopi Kottoor is one out of seven member of the advisory board of Indian Writers Association.
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.[2]
Poetry Chain has become a platform of interaction for Indian poets writing in English residing in different parts of the country.[3] AlthoughPoetry Chain journal has a pan Indian flavor, it has occasionally highlighted local Kerala based themes likeOnam also.[4]