Friday, 18 January 2013

O. Abdurahman

O. Abdurahman is an Indian journalist, and author from Kerala. He is the Editor-in-Charge of Madhyamam, a Malayalam daily and one of the most widely circulated newspapers inMalayalam. He has authored many books on Islam and contemporary issues facing theMappila community in India. He has also been consulted by the Government of Kerala as an expert on issues related to social and educational affairs of the Muslims of Kerala.



Abdurahman was born to Odungat Moin Musliar and Mambekkatt Fatima in 1944 atChennamangalor in Kozhikode district, Kerala. He did his initial studies at Al Madrasathul Islamiya Chennamangalore (1960–64) and later joined the Prabodhanam Weekly, an official mouthpiece of the Kerala chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Later he moved to Qatar and pursued his higher studies at the Al Ma'had ul Deen, Qatar University, Qatar (1972–74).[1] After his education from Qatar, he worked for the Indian Embassy at Qatar and later joined the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Government of Qatar. He then moved back to India and joined the Chennamagalore Islahiya College as its Principal in 1982.[1]Family

His father Moinmusliyar, migrated from Cheruvadi looking for a job and got a small job at Al Madrasthul Islamiya. As an old Musliyar custom, he was staying at Mambekkatt Family and later married a girl from the same family and settled in Chennamangalur[citation needed]. Besides O Abdurhaman, he has six sons and two daughters namely Mohammed(Valiyon), Aboobacker, Ahmedkutty, Ali,Abdullah Abdurahman, Mariya and

He is married to Puthiyottil Aysha in Kodiyathur and they have five children including three daughters. Journalist and Columnist O.Abdullah is his elder brother.
Public life
Journalist and Orator

Presently Abdurrahman is the Editor of Madhyamam Daily, a Malayalam newspaper. He was the editor of Prabodhanam weekly during the period 1964-72.[1] He writes on Islam, minority politics,communal politics, education and media in various periodicals, journals and magazines. Abdulrahman is a noted activist of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind who is known for his speeches on different topics at various seminars, public meetings. He is a member of Board of Studies, Journalism Department, University of Calicut and General Council,Kerala Press Academy.[2]
Social and Educational activist

Abdurrahman is a prominent figure in the educational and social circles in Kerala. He was a member of Kerala Government Arabic Textbook Committee. He served as a member of the 15-member expert committee led by Dr. KN Panikker to advise the Government on the controversial Seventh Standard Social Sciences Textbook syllabus.[3] He also was a member of Paloli Committee appointed by Kerala government to study on the implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations in Kerala. He was the former secretary of the Kerala Chapter of the Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity (FDCA).

Friday, 2 December 2011

Dr. Kamala Suraiyya (Madhavikutty)



Kamala Suraiyya (formerly known as Kamala Das)

BornMarch 31, 1934
Punnayurkulam, Malabar District,Madras Presidency, British India
DiedMay 31, 2009 (aged 75)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Pen nameMadhavikkutty
OccupationPoet, short story writer
NationalityIndian
GenresPoetry, Short story
Notable award(s)Ezhuthachchan Puraskaram,Vayalar Award, Sahitya Akademi Award, Asan World Prize, Asian Poetry Prize, Kent Award

Dr. Kamala Das (Madhavikutty) the internationally renowned poet, short story writer and novelist was born in 1932 at Punnayoorkulam in Kerala. She is one of the very few writers from Kerala who writes effortlessly both in English and Malayalam, yet maintaining high standards in both. One of the most influential feminist writers of our times, her language exhibits liveliness and imaginative suggestions. She started writing in Malayalam under the pen name, Madhavikutty as early as in the 50's. But she became famous in the Malayalam literary world with her work 'Ente Katha' (My Story), which is said to be her real life story. 'Ente Katha' was translated to more than 15 Foreign Languages. She is a very open and self-righteous women and portrays human emotion, love and lust in her works.


She has received many awards for her literary contribution. Some of them are; Asian Poetry Prize for her work 'The Sirens', Kent Award for English Writing from Asian Countries for 'Summer in Calcutta', Asan World Prize, Sahitya Academy Award for 'Collected Poems' in English, Vayalar Rama Varma Sahitya Award, Kerala Sahitya Academy Award for best short story "Thanuppu". She has also held coveted positions as Vice chair person in Kerala Sahitya academy, chairperson in Kerala forestry Board and worked as editors in Poet magazine and Illustrated Weekly of India. Often criticized for her openness and her reluctance to live according to the societies norms, the latest controversy is her recent conversion to Islam. Her new name is Dr. Kamala Suraiyya. She has also established a political party of her own named Lok Seva Charitable Trust, to concentrate on humanitarian work as well as to provide asylum to orphaned mothers....


English

  • 1964: The Sirens (Asian Poetry Prize winner)
  • 1965: Summer in Calcutta (poetry; Kent's Award winner)
  • 1967: The Descendants (poetry)
  • 1973: The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (poetry)
  • 1976: My Story (autobiography)
  • 1977: Alphabet of Lust (novel)
  • 1985: The Anamalai Poems (poetry)
  • 1992: Padmavati the Harlot and Other Stories (collection of short stories)
  • 1996: Only the Soul Knows How to Sing (poetry)
  • 2001: Yaa Allah (collection of poems)
  • 1979: Tonight,This Savage Rite (with Pritish Nandy)


Malayalam

  • 1964: Pakshiyude Manam (short stories)
  • 1966: Naricheerukal Parakkumbol (short stories)
  • 1968: Thanuppu (short story, Sahitya Academi award)
  • 1982: Ente Katha (autobiography)
  • 1987: Balyakala Smaranakal (Childhood Memories)
  • 1989: Varshangalkku Mumbu (Years Before)
  • 1990: Palayan (novel)
  • 1991: Neypayasam (short story)
  • 1992: Dayarikkurippukal (novel)
  • 1994: Neermathalam Pootha Kalam (novel, Vayalar Award)
  • 1996: Chekkerunna Pakshikal (short stories)
  • 1998: Nashtapetta Neelambari (short stories)
  • 2005: Chandana Marangal (Novel)
  • 2005: Madhavikkuttiyude Unmakkadhakal (short stories)2x
  • 2005: Vandikkalakal (novel)

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer


Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Born
January 21, 1908
Thalayolaparambu, Vaikom,Kottayam
Died
July 5, 1994 (aged 86)
Beypore,
Occupation
Novelist, short story writer,
Language
Malayalam
Nationality
Indian
Genres
Novel, Short story
Subjects
Malayalam
Notable award(s)
Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer is regarded as one of the prominent literary figures ever existed in India. He was a legend in Kerala.

He was one of those outspoken figures who revolutionized Malayalam Literature, and Thus the World Literature itself with his dauntless sarcasm, satire, and black humor.

Often referred to as the Beypore Sultan (the king of Beypore) by the colleagues, he was one of the prominent figures behind the artistical, economical, and social reformation of the Kerala Culture.

His novel Shabdangal (The Voices) was once banned due to its echo that cyclonized a once feudalistic society.

He is also regarded as the translators nightmare. This is mainly because of the colloquial touch he added to his writings, which ethnically speaking would lose its humor and meaning when translated to other languages.

He was the sufi among the writers and and the greatest exponent of Gandhian Thought.

He was awarded with Padma Sri in 1982 for his overall contributions to nation as a freedom fighter, writer, and as a political activist.

Writing style

Language

Basheer is known for his unconventional style of language. He did not differentiate between literary language and the language spoken by the commons and did not care about the grammatical correctness of his sentences. Initially, even his publishers were unappreciative of the beauty of this language; they edited out or modified conversations. Basheer was outraged to find his original writings transcribed into "standardized" Malayalam, devoid of freshness and natural flow, and he forced them to publish the original one instead of the edited one. Basheer's brother Abdul Khader was a Malayalam teacher. Once while reading one of the stories, he asked Basheer, "where are Aakhyas and aakhyathas (related with Malayalam grammar) in this...?". Basheer shouted at him saying that "I am writing in normal Malayalam, how people speak. and you don't try to find your stupid 'aakhya and aakhyaada' in this"!. This points out to the writing style of Basheer, without taking care of any grammar, but only in his own village language. Though he made funny remarks regarding his lack of knowledge in Malayalam, he had a very thorough knowledge about Malayalam.
Basheer's contempt for grammatical correctness is exemplified by his statement Ninte Lodukkoos Aakhyaadam! ("Your 'silly stupid' grammar!") to his brother, who sermonizes him about the importance of grammar (Pathummayude Aadu).


Themes

An astute observer of human character, he skillfully combined humour and pathos in his works. Love, hunger and poverty are recurring themes in his works. There is enormous variety in them – of narrative style, of presentation, of philosophical content, of social comment and commitment. His association with India's independence struggle, the experiences during his long travels and the conditions that existed in Kerala, particularly in the neighbourhood of his home and among the Muslim community – all had a major impact on them. Politics and prison,homosexuality, all were grist to his mill. All of Basheer's love stories have found their way into the hearts of readers; perhaps no other writer has had such an influence on the way Malayalis view of love. The major theme of all Basheer stories is love and humanity. In the storyMuchittu Kalikkarente Makal (The Card Sharp's Daughter), when Sainaba comes out of the water after stealing his bananas, Mandan Muthappa says only one thing: "Sainaba go home and dry your hair else you may fall sick." This fine thread of humanism can be experienced in almost all his stories.

ജീവിതം യൌവന തീഷ്ണവും ,ഹൃദയം പ്രേമസുരഭിലവുമായിരുന്ന സാഹിത്യത്തിന്‍റെ-അസുലഭ കാലഘട്ടത്തില്‍ ജീവിച്ചിരുന്ന മഹാനായ "എഴുത്തുതൊഴിലാളിക്കു" പ്രണാമം....


Published works

Novels

#TitleTranslation in EnglishYear of Publishing
1PremalekhanamThe Love Letter1943
2BaalyakaalasakhiChildhood Companion1944
3ShabdangalThe Voices1947
4NtuppuppaakkoraanaendaarnnuMy Grandad Had an Elephant1951
5Maranaththinte NizhalilIn the Shadow of Death1951
6Muchcheettukalikkaarante MakalThe Daughter of the Cardshark1951
7Sthalaththe Pradhaana DivyanThe Principal Divine of the Place1953
8Aanavaariyum PonkurishumElephant Scooper and Golden Cross1953
9JeevithanizhalppaadukalThe Shadows of Life1954
10Pathummayude AaduPaaththumma's Goat1959
11MathilukalWalls1965
12Thaaraa Specials1968
13MaanthrikapoochchaThe Magic Cat1968
14PrempattaThe Loving Cockroach (Published posthumously)2006

Short Stories

#TitleTranslation in EnglishYear of Publishing
1JanmadinamThe Birthday1945
2OrmakkurippuJottings from Memory1946
3Anargha NimishamInvaluable Moment (See Anal Haq)1946
4Viddikalude SwargamFools' Paradise1948
5Paavappettavarudaey VaeshyaThe Prostitute of the Poor1952
6Vishwavikhkhyaathamaaya MookkuThe World-renowned Nose1954
7VishappuThe Hunger1954
8Oru Bhagavadgeethayum Kuraey MulakalumA Bhagavadgeetha and Some Breasts1967
9AanappoodaElephant-hair1975
10Chirikkunna MarappaavaThe Laughing Wooden Doll1975
11Bhoomiyudaey AvakaashikalThe Inheritors of the Earth1977
12ShinkidimunkanThe Fools' God Man1991
13Yaa Ilaahi!Oh God! (published posthumously)1997
14Jeevitham Oru AnugrahamLife is a Gift (published posthumously)2000