Kerala writer: 2013

Friday 18 January 2013

Kottarathil Sankunni

Kottarathil Sankunni

Born	March 23, 1855
Died	July 22, 1937 (aged 82)
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Writer
Known for	Aithihya Mala

Kottarathil Sankunni is a well-known author of Malayalam literature, was born on 23 March 1855 in Kottayam, Travancore. He made huge contributions in both poetry and prose. He died on 22 July 1937. He started compiling the legends of Kerala in 1909 and completed the work in eight volumes over a quarter of a century. "Aithihyamala" (Garland of Legends), is a collection of stories of legends prepared by Kottarathil Sankunni. The works on the legends were collected and published by Sankunni in the famous Malayalam literary magazine of the nineteenth century, the Bhashaposhini. Later, they were collected in eight parts and published by the Reddiar Press in Quilon, sometime in the early twentieth century. India’s first writers’ cooperative, the National Bookstall started publishing these articles as collections on behalf of the 'Kottarathil Sankunni Memorial Committee' in 1974 and later this was taken up by another publisher, D. C. Books, in 1991. Such is their popularity that, from 1991 till 2004 almost 150,000 copies of these stories were distributed.

His contributions in both prose and poetry, including Kathakali literature and Thullal, earned him a place in Malayalam literature.

Famous works include:

Aithihyamala, a collection of legendary stories including those about Kadamattathu Kathanar, Kayamkulam Kochunni, Parayi petta panthirukulam etc.

Sreerama pattabhishekam (Kathakali)
Adhdhyathmaramayanam (Translation)

Index of Eight Parts of Aithihya Mala

Book I

1. Chempakassery Raajaavu
2. Kottayaththu Raajaavu
3. Mahaabhaashyam
4. Bhartṛhari
5. Adhyaathmaraamaayanam
6. Parayi petta panthirukulam
7. Thalakkulaththoor Bhattathiriyum Pazhur padippurayum
8. Vilwamangalaththu Swaamiyaar
9. Kaakkassery Bhattathiri
10. Muttassu Namboothiri
11. Puliyaampilly Namboori
12. Kallanthaattil Gurukkal
13. Kolaththiriyum Saamoothiriyum
14. Paandamparampaththu kodanbharaniyilaey uppumaanga
15. Mangalappilly Moothathum Punnayil Panikkarum
16. Kaaladiyil Bhattathiri
17. Venmani Namboorippaadanmaar
18. Kunchamanpottiyum Mattappally Namboothirippaadum
19. Vayakkara Achchan Mooss
20. Kozhikkottangaadi
21. Kidangoor Kandankoran

Book II

1. Kumaranalloor Bhagavathi
2. Thirunakkara Devanum aviduththaey kaalayum
3. Bhavabhoothi
4. Vaagbhataachaaryar
5. Prabhakaran
6. Paathaayikkara Namboorimaar
7. Kaaraattu Namboori
8. Viddi! Kushmaandam
9. Kunchan Nambiaarudaey Ulbhavam
10. Valiya Parisha Shankaranaaraayana Chaakyaar
11. Aazhuvaanchery Thampraakkalum Mangalathhtu Shankaranum
12. Naalaekkaattu Pillamaar
13. Kayamkulam Kochunni
14. Kaipuzha Raajniyum Pulinkunnu Desavum
15. Orantharjanaththintaey yukthi
16. Pazhur perumthrukkovil
17. Paakkanaarudaey bhaaryayudaey paathivrathyam
18. Randu Mahaaraajaakkanmaarudaey swabhaavavyathyaasam
19. Kochchunamboori
20. Chempakassery Raajaavum Maeppaththoor Bhattathiriyum
21. Vattapparampil Valiyamma
22. Vaikkaththu Thiruneelakantan

Book III

1. Kiliroorkunninmael Bhagavathi
2. Poonthaanaththu Namboori
3. Aalaththoor Nampi
4. Vayaskara Chathurvedi Bhattathiriyum Yakshiyum
5. Raamapuraththu Warrier
6. Chemprayezhuththachchanmaar
7. Kochchi Shakthanthampuraan Thirumanassukondu
8. Ammannoor Parameshwara Chaakyaar
9. Cheranalloor Kunchukkarthaavu
10. Kottarakkara Goshaala
11. Thaevalassery Nampi
12. Chila eeshwaranmaarudaey pinakkam
13. Parangottu Namboori
14. Paakkil Shaasthaavu
15. Kodungallur Vasoorimaala
16. Thripoonithara kshethraththilaey ulsavangal
17. Aaranmulamaahaathmyam
18. Konniyil Kochchayappan

Book IV

1. Oorakaththu Ammathiruvadi
2. Swathithirunal Mahaaraajaavuthirumanassukondu
3. Pilaamanthol Mooss
4. Shasthamkottayum Kuranganmaarum
5. Mazhamangalaththu Namboori
6. Vayaskarakkudumbavum aviduththaey Shaasthaavum
7. Kaayamkulaththu Raajavintaey shreechakram
8. Kulappuraththu Bheeman
9. Mannadikkaavum Kampiththaanum
10. Shreekrishnakarnaamrutham
11. Kadamattathu Kathanar
12. Puruharinapuraeshamaahaathmyam
13. Tholakavi
14. Kunchukuttippilla sarwaadhikaaryakkaar
15. Achchankovilshaasthaavum Parivaaramoorththikalum
16. Avanaamanakkal Gopalan

Book V

1. Pallipuraththukaavu
2. Elaedaththuthykkaattu Moossanmaar
3. Kaipuzhathampaan
4. Kollam Vishaarikkaavu
5. Vayaskara Aaryan Narayananmooss avarkaludaey chikilsaanaipunyam
6. Chamkroththamma
7. Avanangaattu Panikkarum Chaaththanmaarum
8. Kuttanchery Mooss
9. Pallivaanapperumaalum Kiliroor Desavum
10. Kaadaamkottu Maakkam Bhagavathi
11. Oru Yooropyantaey swamibhakthi
12. Sanghakkali
13. Kottarakkara Chandrashekharan

Book VI

1. Panayannaar kaavu
2. Uthram Thirunaal Thirumanassukondum Kathakali yogavum
3. Kaplingaattu Nambooriyum Deshamangalaththu Warrierum
4. Vijayadri Maahaathmyam
5. Naduvilaeppaattu Bhattathiri
6. Aaranmula Devanum Mangaattu Bhattathiriyum
7. Mundaempilly Krishna Maaraar
8. Mannaarassaala Maahaathmyam
9. Oru Swaamiyaarudaey shaapam
10. Pullankoottu Namboori
11. Panachchikkaattu Saraswathi
12. Vellaadu Namboori
13. Aaranmula Valiya Balakrishnan

Book VII

1. Chengannur Bhagawathi
2. Edavettikkaatthu Namboori
3. Payyannur graamam
4. Olassayil Vaettakkorumakan kaavu
5. Shabarimala Shaasthaavum Panthalaththu Raajaavum
6. Vaikkaththaey Paattukal
7. Perumpulaavil Kaelu Menon
8. Chempakassery Raajaavum Raajniyum
9. Vilwamangalaththu Swaamiyaar
10. Paambummaekkaattu Namboori
11. Kalidasan
12. Panthalam Neelakantan

Book VIII

1. Chittoor Kaavil Bhagavathi
2. Kalloor Namboorippaadanmaar
3. Thakazhiyil Shaasthaavum aviduththaey ennayum
4. Arackal Beebi
5. Thiruvizhaa Mahaadevanum aviduththaey marunnum
6. Pazhur perumthrukkovil
7. Thekkaedaththu kudumbakkaar
8. Mookkola Kshethrangal
9. Kumaramangalathhtu Namboori
10. Mandakkaattamanum kodayum
11. Thiruvattattaadhi Kesavan

Murukan Kattakada

Murukan Kattakada

Born	Murukan
Residence	Kattakada
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	Indian
Occupation	Malayalam Poet
Notable work(s)	Kannada, Renuka etc
Home town	Kattakada

Murukan Kattakada (Malayalam: മുരുകന്‍ കാട്ടാകട) is a Malayali poet and lyricist. He was born in Kattakada, a small town near Trivandrum in Kerala. He wrote the lyrics of songs in Malayalam films like Oru Naal Varum, Parayan Marannathu, Bhagavan,Chattambinadu and Rathinirvedam.

He started his career as a teacher, teaching economics for classes Plus 1 and 2 in SMV Government Higher Secondary School, Trivandrum.

List of poems

Kannada

Renuka

Baghdad

Paka

Thirike Yathra

Oru Karshakante Athmahathyakkurippu

Unaratha Padmatheerthangal

Rekthasakshi

Kaathirippu

Kakkanadan (George Varghese Kakkanadan)

George Varghese Kakkanadan (Malayalam: ജോര്‍ജ്ജ് വര്‍ഗ്ഗീസ് കാക്കനാടന്‍; 23 April 1935 – 19 October 2011), commonly known as Kakkanadan, was a Malayalam language short story writer and novelist from Kerala state, South India. He is often credited with laying the foundation of modernism in Malayalam literature. He is a recipient of Kendra Sahithya Academy Award.

Professional career

Born in Thiruvalla to evangelist George Kakkanadan and Rosamma, George Varghese Kakkanadan spent most of his childhood at Kollam and Kottarakkara. After completing BSc chemistry from SN College, Kollam, Kakkanadan started his career as a school teacher in Kerala. He quit the job to join Southern Railway in Tamil Nadu as an officer and later shifted to Ministry of Indian Railways in New Delhi in late 1950s. In early 1960s, he shot into prominence as one of the most promising writers in Malayalam and was among the pioneers of the modernist trend in Malayalam literature. He went to Germany in 1967 on a scholarship to pursue research in literature but abandoned it midway and returned to Kerala to become a full-time writer. He won the Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award for his shortstory collection "Aswathamavinte Chiri" in 1980 and for his novel "Orotha" in 1984. In 2005 he won the Kendra Sahithya Akademi Award for "Jappana Pukayila" and in 2008 he was bestowed with the Kerala Sahithya Akademi Fellowship. Kakkanadan was a craze among the younger generation of Kerala during the 1960s and 1970s.

Major works
Ushnamekhala
Vasoori
Japana Pukayila
Kakkanadante Priyakathakal
Saakshi
Orotha
Kambolam
Parangimala

Awards and honors

Kakkanadan received a Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2002) for lifetime achievement in Malayalam literature.
Kendra Sahithya Academy Award (2005)
Balamaniamma Award (2008)
Padma Prabha Award (2002)
Muttathu Varkey Award
Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam "Sahithya Award" (2009)

Balachandran Chullikkadu

Balachandran Chullikkadu

Balachandran Chullikkadu (Malayalam: ബാലചന്ദ്രന്‍ ചുള്ളിക്കാട്) (born 30 July 1957) is a renowned Malayalam poet and film actor.

Early life
Balachandran was born in Paravur, Ernakulam, Kerala. He completed his graduation in English literature from Maharajas College, Ernakulam.

Writing career
His collection of poems published are "Pathinettu kavithakal", "Amaavaasi", "Ghazal", "Maanasaantharam", "Dracula" etc. A collection of his complete poems, Balachandran Chullikkadinte Kavithakal (The Poems of Balachandran Chullikkad) (2000) was published by DC Books, Kottayam, Kerala, India. They have also published the book of his memoirs,Chidambarasmarana (2001). He married the Malayalam poetess Vijayalaksmi.

He has participated in many national literary seminars organised by Central Academy of Letters, India. He was one among the ten members of a cultural delegation of India to Sweden in 1997 invited by Nobel Academy and Swedish Writers Union. He represented Indian poetry in the international bookfair in Gotenborg, Sweden in November 1997. In 2000 he took Buddhism as his religion. He is also an actor in Malayalam films and serials.

Thoppil Bhasi

Thoppil Bhasi

Born : 8 April 1924

Thoppil Bhaskara Pillai
Vallikunnam, Alappuzha

Died : 8 December 1992 (aged 68)
Occupation : Playwright, Script writer, Film Director
Language : Malayalam
Nationality : Indian

Notable award(s) :
Kerala Sahithya Academy Awards, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, Professor N Krishna Pillai Award, SovietLand Nehru Award

Spouse(s) : Amminiamma

Children : 4 sons – Ajayan, Soman, Rajan and Suresh, and daughter Mala .
==============================================

Thoppil Bhasi (Malayalam: തോപ്പില്‍ ഭാസി) (born 1924 April 8 – died 1992 December 8) was a Malayalam playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He was associated with thecommunist movement in Kerala and his play Ningalenne Communistakki (You Made Me a Communist) is considered to be a groundbreaking event in the history of Malayalam theatre.

Early life
Born Thoppil Bhaskara Pillai, on April 8, 1924 at Vallikunnam in Alleppey district, Kerala, Bhasi was the eldest son of Thoppil Parameshwaran Pillai and Nanikkutti Amma.

Education
His elementary education was at the SNDP Sanskrit School, and later on at the Sanskrit School, Changankulangara, from where he graduated in the Sanskrit Shastri course. Knowing fully well his desire to learn indigenous medicine, his father had him enrolled at the Ayurveda College, Thiruvanathapuram. It was here that he spearheaded the Students’ Agitation that led to installing many of the facilities and rights enjoyed by the current generation of students at the College of Ayurveda. He also graduated securing the Top Rank in the Vaidya Kalanidhi Examination.

Social life
His deep and endearing friendship with Kambisseri Karunakaran that extended through all spheres of their lives, also saw them at the forefront of some of the most significant political agitations in central Kerala. Once a staunch supporter and activist of the Indian Congress party, Thoppil Bhasi soon distanced himself from the same on matters of principles and found his direction in the neo movement of Communism via the Communist Party of India. He was associated with the communist movements that took place in Kerala during 1940s and 1950s. Branded a Subversive and a Wanted Man by the government, he was on the run and went underground during the period of 1948-52, as a top priority suspect in the infamous Sooranad Incident, with a Rs 1000 bounty on his head. He was later acquitted, and went on to contest the first Panchayat elections in Kerala. He won, becoming the first president of the Vallikunnom panchayat. He was elected twice to the state assembly contesting the Sate elections, from Bharanikkavu in 1954 and Pathanamthittain 1957.

KPAC, theater and Malayalam films
Thoppil Bhasi never contested any more elections post his 1957 win, in order to devote his entire energies to this new direction his life has set course on – theater. He had written his first One-act play Munnettam {The Advance}while on the run from the state, and based on the feedback received from the underground collective, had revisited, refined and re-energised the plot from a different perspective, creating the historical Ningalenne Communistaakki, both under his pseudonym Soman, for fear of revealing his true identity. The drama helped KPAC to become a force to reckon with on Kerala’s theatrical arena. Later,he wrote scripts for 110 Malayalam films starting from 'Mudiyanaya Puthran' in 1961,most of them mega hits.

His association with KPAC started with the staging of Ningalenne Communistaakki, and the entire proceedings from the show were donated towards the attorney fees needed to free the rest of accused in the Soornad Incident.He wrote the play Ningalenne Communistakki while in hiding in connection with the Sooranad case, which resulted from a revolt by agricultural workers against a landlord. Bhasi had to write the play under the name, Soman. Ningalenne Communistakki was first staged (under the banner of KPAC) in Chavara in Kollam district on December 6, 1952. He wrote 16 plays, for KPAC, each more spectacular and socially relevant than its predecessor and it used to be said in the 60′s and 70′s that there wasn’t a day where at least one of his plays was not staged at any part of Kerala ! Such was the influence of his creative power. From KPAC, he slowed moved to the film industry ( some say it was a natural progression ), authoring over 100 Screenplays and turned to directing 16 movies in Malayalam language, most of them box-office successes.

Personal life
Thoppil Bhasi’s wedding with Amminiamma, the niece of C Shankaranarayanan – ex-Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly was solemnised when he was on the run, a wanted man for the government ! In a moving tribute, aptly titled ‘My Comrade’, Amminiamma, amongst other nuggets, shares her husband’s principle of simplicity and frugality in every aspect of his life. She recalls Udaya studio‘s Kunchacko asking her to buy him a new shirt as he was fed up of seeing Thoppil Bhasi in the same shirt everytime! Thoppil seems to have famously remarked, “Chackochen, I have 8 shirts of the same color and type, and all eight have the same ‘beedi-burn’ patch at the left side of my breast-pocket !” He was the quintessential socialist, according to her. Thoppil Bhasi has 4 sons – Ajayan, Soman, Rajan and Suresh, and daughter Mala . Ajayan went on direct the award-winning Malayalam film Perumthachan in 1991.

Awards and recognition
Thoppil Bhasi’s dramas, Mudiyanaya Puthran and Puthiya Akasham, Puthiya Bhumi were awarded the Kerala Sahithya Academy Awards, and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy awarded him its Fellowship in 1981. He is also the recipient of the Professor N Krishna Pillai Award and the SovietLand Nehru Award.

Literary works
Thoppil Bhasi was prolific in terms of his creative output during his active years in theater and movies. He authored 16 full-length plays, screenplays for over a 100 movies, directed 16 movies and his autobiography was titled, Oliviley Ormakal. He was a regular contributor to the Janayugom Magazine and short stories to various publications which are yet to be collated and archived.

Death
Thoppil Bhasi died on December 8, 1992.

Selected books
Ningalenne Communistakki: a drama which has influenced the politics of Kerala.
Thulabharam and many screen plays.
Olivile Ormmakal: give light to the life of many communists who are not known outside.

V. Balakrishnan (author)

V. Balakrishnan
V. Balakrishnan
Born	February 13, 1932 Palai, Kerala, India
Died	August 2, 2004 (aged 72) Palai, Kerala, India

V. Balakrishnan (b. in Katappattoor near Pala, 13 February 1932; d. at Pala, 2 August 2004) was a prolific Malayalam writer and translator of texts between Malayalam, Sanskritand English. He participated in the Indian independence movement, which resulted in his expulsion from college.

Biography
In 1960, his short story, entitled Neelakoduveli ('നീലക്കൊടുവേലി'), was awarded first place in a competition conducted by the Kerala Dhwani ('കേരള ധ്വനി') newspaper. The children's book, Ithu Nammute Naatanu ('ഇതു നമ്മുടെ നാടാണ്‌'), came first in the competition held by Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangam ('സാഹിത്യപ്രവര്‍ത്തക സഹകരണ സംഘം'). Later, in 1962, his story about a rogue elephant, Ottayan' ('ഒറ്റയാന്‍'), won first prize in the contest held by Southern Language Book Trust (ദക്ഷിണഭാഷാ ബുക്ക്‌ ട്രസ്റ്റ്‌). It was later translated to allSouth Indian languages.

After his marriage to Dr. R. Leela Devi, they started their literary career together. As he required more time for his writing endeavours, he resigned his job as a high school teacher. They compiled the first Malayalam Encyclopedia in 1967. Thereafter he continued his activities together with his wife until her death in 1998.

Together they translated most of the Sanskrit Vedic works; including the Vedas, Puranas,Aranyakas, Upanishads, Dharsanas, Mahabharata, Valmiki Ramayana, Devi andBhagavata Purana to Malayalam. He has 11,394 printed pages (D1/8 size) in 67 books in the genre of children's literature alone. Amir Hamsa ('അമീര്‍ ഹംസ'), a book for children, has 1148 pages with 500 illustrations. Together, he and his wife authored sixteen books related to Islam, including an Encyclopedia on the religion, as well as publications related to Hinduism and Christianity. In total, they have eleven publications in the English language.

Published works
7 Encyclopedias including a Hindu Encyclopedia
21 Novels
24 Dictionaries
Various travelogues, short stories, biographies, studies, translations, study guides etc. numbering around 290
From Representation to Participation (First book on Panchayatiraj)
Sarojini Naidu (Biography)
Blue Jasmine (Fantasy novel)
Saffron (a novel exploring the myths of Kashmir)
Mannatthu Padmanabhan and the Revival of Nairs in Kerala
An Epoch in Kerala History
History of Malayalam Literature
Kerala History
Influence of English on Malayalam Literature
Indian National Congress - Hundred Years (History of the Indian National Congress published for its centenary)

P. Balachandran

P.Balachandran
P. Balachandran
Born	February 2, 1952 Sasthamkotta, Kollam
Occupation	Film Director, Writer
Spouse(s)	Sreelatha Chandran
Children	Sreekanth Chandran, Parvathy Chandran

P. Balachandran (born 2nd February, 1952, in Sasthamkotta), is a Malayalam writer, screenwriter, and director.[1] He is best known for critically acclaimed movies such asPunaradhivasam , Ulladakkam , Pavithram etc. His directorial debut is Ivan Megharoopan.

Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode

Born	26 May 1926 Azhikode, Kannur, Kerala, India
Died	January 24, 2012 (aged 85) Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation	Writer, Social Critic, Orator, Pro Vice Chancellor & Acting vice chancellor (1974–1978)
Nationality	Indian
Notable work(s)	Tatvamasi, Aasante Seetakavyam, Ramananum Malayalakavitayum, Mahatmavinte Margam, Malayala Sahityavimarsanam
Notable award(s)	Sahitya Akademi Award 1985 Tatvamasi Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award 1985 Tatvamasi Vayalar Award 1985 Tatvamasi
Relative(s)	Father-Vidvan Panankavil Dhamodharan, Mother-Koloth Thattarath Madaviyamma

Sukumar Azhikode (26 May 1926 – 24 January 2012) was an Indian writer, critic andorator , acknowledged for his contributions to Malayalam language and insights on Indian philosophy.[1] He was a scholar in Sanskrit, Malayalam, and English languages.[2]

Azhikode was a bachelor and lived in Eravimangalam near Thrissur, Kerala state. He died on 24 January 2012 at the age of 85 at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, in Thrissurdue to cancer.

Awards
Azhikode's most famous work is Tatvamasi (1984, Malayalam), a book on Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads. Thathvamasi won twelve awards, including theKendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and theRajaji Award.

Azhikode had served as chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT) and as member of the executive councils of Kerala and Kendra Sahitya academy.[citation needed]

He did not confine himself to scholastic themes and expressed his views and concerns on a wide range of topics of contemporary concerns including the day-to-day politics and politicians.

A Gandhian till the end of his life, Azhikode was close to the Indian National Congress in his early life and in the 1960s[vague] unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls as its candidate. But later, he distanced himself from the Congress and moved close to the Left camp without compromising on his Gandhian convictions and the Nehruvian vision of a liberal and just social order.

Azhikode headed the Malayalam department of Calicut University and later retired as its pro-vice chancellor.

He was involved a legal tiff with cine actor Mohanlal following heated exchanges in the backdrop of the ban on actor Thilakan as a fallout of a feud in the Malayalam filmdom.[citation needed] Azhikode then came to defend Thilakan incurring the wrath of superstars. After Azheekode fell ill, a truce was worked out between the writer and the actor to withdraw the defamation case.[citation needed]

A recipient of literary honours including the Kendra Sahitya Academy award.[citation needed] In January 2007, Azhikode refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him stating that Such honours are against the Constitution. "The Constitution says everyone should be treated as equal. Giving such honours at different levels, the State discriminates between people. I see the Padma Shri conferred on me as an opportunity to expose this discrimination.

He also won the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Sahithya Puraskaram lifetime achievement award.

Death
Azhikode died on 24 January 2012, at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences in Thrissur. He was suffering from cancer and had been hospitalized since 7 December 2011.[4] He was 85 years old.

Major works
His concerns were wide and touched upon progressive literature (Purogamanasahityavum Mattum), Gandhism (Mahatmavinte Margam), Kumaran Asan (Aasaante Seethaakavyam), the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru (Guruvinte Dukham) and literary aesthetics (Sankara Kurup Vimarshikkapedunnu)
Aasaante Seethaakaavyam (Asan's Sita Kavya)
Ramananum Malayalakavitayum (Ramanan and Malayalam Poetry)
Shankarakkuruppu Vimarshikkappedunnu (Sankara Kurup Critiqued)
Mahatmavinte Margam (Way of the Mahatma)
Purogamanasahityavum Mattum (Modern Literature and Others)
Malayala Sahityavimarsanam (Criticism of Malayalam Literature)
Vayanayute Swargattil (In the Paradise of Reading)
Tatvamasi
Malayala Sahitya Patanangal (Studies on Malayalam Literature)
Tatvavum Manushyanum (Philosophy and Humans)
Khandanavum Mandanavum (Destructive Criticism and Constructive Criticism)
Entinu Bharatadare
Azhikodinte Prabhashanangal (Speeches of Azhikode)
Azhikodinte Falitangal (Jokes of Azhikode)
Guruvinte Dukham (Sorrow of the Teacher)
Aakasam Nashtapetunna India (India Losing Horizon)
Pathakal Kazhchakal (Routes and Sights)
Mahakavi Ulloor (The Great Poet Ulloor)

A. Ayyappan

For the anthropologist of the same name, see A. Ayyappan (anthropologist).

A. Ayyappan (27 October 1949 – 21 October 2010) was a Malayalam poet in the modernist period. Born in a wealthy goldsmith's family, in Nemom, Thiruvanathapuram,Kerala, he became a non-conformist member of reading Malayali families. He had a very tragic childhood. His father, Arumukham, died when he was only one year old, perhaps due to poison. He lost his mother, Muthammal, when he was 15. Ayyappan was supported by his sister Subbalakshmi and his brother-in-law V. Krishnan.[1]

Life

Ayyappan started writing poetry when he was a student. He became involved in the Communist Party and joined the staff ofJanayugam, the party newspaper. Ayyappan is well known for his heart touching poems and his bohemian lifestyle. He can also be considered as the last remaining icon of anarchism in Kerala. He was a close friend of the late filmmaker John Abraham. Ayyappan is also famous as a great lover of sunlight ('veyil' by malayalam language) and a passionate adherent of Communism.

"Though a bohemian in the tradition of P. Kunhiraman Nair, Malayalam's celebrated poet of yesteryear, Ayyappan was amazingly rigorous in his poetic expression. Often, the street was his home, for homes seldom welcomed the poet in. But few writers in these times can claim to have had so vast a circle of loving and adoring friends, a large majority of them young men and women."[2]

Awards
He won the Asan Puraskaram (Asan Poetry Prize),[3] one of the highest literary awards in Malayalam literature, for the year 2010. Ayyappan was also a recipient of Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award in 1999.[2]

Death
His body was found abandoned in the streets of Thampanoor, Thiruvanathapuram on 21 October 2010. Without recognising the poet, police took his body to General Hospital. His body was kept in hospital mortuary without anybody recognizing who he was and later identified by noon on 22 October 2010.[2][4] He was on his way to Chennai to accept the Asan Puraskaram on Saturday, 23 October 2010.[5] According to other news papers like "Gulf News", "Gulf Times", "The Times of India", "Hariyana News"and "Indian Express", he died in a local general hospital after being found unconscious at a roadside.

Important works
Mulamthandinu Rajayakshmaavu
Yangjam
Ente shavapetti chumakunnavarodu
Veyil Thinnunna Pakshi
Greeshmame sakhee
Karuppu
Budhanum Aattinkuttiyum
Chitharogaaspatryile Dinangal
Malamillaatha Pambu
Greeshmavum Kanneerum
Tettiyodunna SeconduSoochi
Kalkkariyude Niramullavar (Collection of Poems)
Sumangali

Nileena Abraham

Nileena Abraham (née Dutta) (born 27 July 1925) is a writer and translator from Kerala, India. She was born in Pabna (now inBangladesh ).[1] After taking Masters degrees in Bengali language, Political Science and History she moved to Kerala and worked as a professor of Bengali at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and as the Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterji Professor of Bengali at International School of Dravidian Linguistics, Thiruvananthapuram. She has translated more than eight Bengali works into Malayalam and ten Malayalam works into Bengali. She has won the Sahitya Academy award for translation in 1989 for Bengali translation of Pathummayude Adu and Balyakalasakhi, a collection of Malayalam short stories by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.[2] She lives in Ernakulam and is married to Abraham Tharyan.[3][4]
Partial bibliography
Translations into Malayalam
Arogyaniketanm
Ezhu Chuvadu
Irumpazhikal(In 2 parts)
Midhunalagnam
Avan Varunnu