Clemency plea for death row poet

Pearls from Prison and its author Radhakrishnan

A book of poems written by a man on death row in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has moved politicians to call for a halt to his execution.

Radhakrishnan, 36, was sentenced to death for murdering a man in a courtroom in 1994.

His book, Pearls from Prison, has won praise from poets and politicians.

Radhakrishnan has had an appeal turned down by the state and supporters hope that President APJ Kalam - himself a poet - will grant clemency.

Poets' praise

Pearls from Prison costs 55 rupees ($1.20) with profits going to destitute children, Radhakrishnan's publisher told the AFP agency.

His poems prompt us to pray that his body not hang. Let this lyrical mind flourish Jana Krishnamurthy, BJP politician

The poems deal with topics ranging from the Iraq war to the head of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers, Prabhakaran.

They have won the praise of poets Vairamuthu and M Mehta, and the leader of the influential DMK party, Karunanidhi.

And the head of the local Bharatiya Janata Party, Jana Krishnamurthy said: "It is astonishing that from the heart of a man awaiting the gallows such a poetic outpouring has come forth.

"His poems prompt us to pray that his body not hang. Let this lyrical mind flourish," he said.

Radhakrishnan was sentenced to death for killing a man accused of slaughtering the cattle of a friend.

The prisoner, being held in Salem jail, holds a master's degree and is studying computers as he awaits a verdict on his appeal.

No execution date has been set.

The death penalty is normally commuted in India, although last month President Kalam refused clemency to Calcutta murderer Dhananjoy Chatterjee, who was hanged on 14 August.