Written in the early 20th century, Othoruma (which translates to "A Round" or "A Swing") was part of a collection titled Valsa Sougandhikam . At a time when Malayalam literature was dominated by heavy court poetry, devotional verses, or complex translations of Sanskrit epics, Kerala Varma Valiya Koyi Thampuran turned his gaze toward the innocent world of children. He wrote Othoruma specifically for Balakokila , a magazine dedicated to children. This act marked a significant shift in Malayalam literature, legitimizing children's literature as a serious genre.
A classic imagery where individual sticks break easily, but a bundle remains invincible. othoruma poem in malayalam