Sara Joseph

Sarah Joseph (born 1946) is a novelist and short story writer in Malayalam. She won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Aalahayude Penmakkal (Daughters of God the Father). She also received the Vayalar Award for the same novel. Sarah has been at the forefront of the feminist movement in Kerala and is the founder of Manushi (organisation of thinking women). She and Madhavikutty are considered among the leading women writers in Malayalam. She has recently joined the Aam Aadmi Party and is contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Thrissur.

Early and personal life

Sarah Joseph was born into a conservative Christian family at Kuriachira in Thrissur city in 1946 to Louis and Kochumariam. She attended the teacher's training course and began her professional career as a school teacher. Later, she received her M.A. inMalayalam and joined the collegiate service in Kerala. She served as a Professor of Malayalam at Sanskrit College, Pattambi. She has since retired from government service and lives at Mulamkunnathukavu in Thrissur district.

Sarah Joseph is also a well-known social activist and was at the forefront of several agitations in Kerala. She was an ardent left-sympathiser but joined the Aam Aadmi Party in January 2014 and has been fielded by the party as a candidate from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 parliament elections.

Literary career

Sarah Joseph's literary career began very early, when she was in high school. Many of her poems appeared in Malayalam weeklies. She was also good at reciting her poems at poets' meets which was much appreciated by poets like Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon andEdasseri Govindan Nair. After a short period of uncertainty she took to fiction and began writing short stories. Her collection of short stories Paapathara is considered a milestone in feminist writing in Malayalam.

She has published a trilogy of novels which includes Aalahayude Penmakkal, Mattathi, and Othappu. Her works are essentially liberalistic and convey the sentiments of various oppressed groups. The novel Othappu is about a woman's yearning for a true understanding of spirituality and her own sexuality. Othappu has been translated into English by Valson Thampu under the title "Othappu: The Scent of the Other Side". Her novel Aalahayude Penmakkal won her three major awards – the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Vayalar Award. In 2011, Sarah won the Muttathu Varkey Award for her collection of short stories titled Papathara.

She has won much critical acclaim for her Ramayana Kathakal, a subversive reading of the Ramayana. An English translation of this work has been published by the Oxford University Press.

Selected works

Short stories

• Manassile Thee Matram (1973)
• Kadinte Sangeetham (1975, anthology of short stories)
• Paapathara
• Oduvilathe Suryakanthi
• Nilavu Nirayunnu
• Puthuramayanam
• Kaadithu Kandaayo Kaanthaa
• Nanmathinmakalude Vriksham (anthology of short stories)

Novels

• Thaikulam
• Aalahayude Penmakkal
• Maattaathi
• Othappu
• Aathi
• Ooru Kaval
• Aalohari Anandam

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (Malayalam: തകഴി ശിവശങ്കര പിള്ള) (17 April 1912 – 10 April 1999)^[1] was a novelist and short story writer of Malayalam language. He is popularly known as Thakazhi, after his place of birth. He focused on the oppressed classes as the subject of his works, which are known for their attention to historic detail. He wrote several novels and over 600 short stories. His most famous works are Kayar (Coir, 1978) and Chemmeen(Prawns, 1956). He was awarded India's highest literary award, the Jnanpith in 1984 for the epic novel Kayar

Born in the village of Thakazhy, in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district of Kerala, he started to write stories when he was a schoolboy. His literary taste was nurtured by his high school headmaster Kainikkara Kumara Pillai (1900–1988) who exposed him to Indian literature. He met Kesari A Balakrishna Pillai (1889–1960) while pursuing his law studies inTiruvanantapuram. He introduced Thakazhi to modern European literature and thought.

His novels and short stories addressed various facets of society in Kerala in the mid-20th century. His novel Thottiyude Makan (Scavenger's Son, 1947) is considered a pioneer work in Malayalam realistic novel. The novel portrays three generations of a working class family engaged in Alleppey as scavengers. The novel challenges the rationale of the caste system, that one's profession should depend on pedigree.

His political novel, Randidangazhi (Two Measures, 1948), projected the evils of the feudal system that prevailed in Kerala then, especially in Kuttanad. The film adaptation, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam from a screenplay by Thakazhi himself, received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards in 1958.^[3]

His love epic Chemmeen (Prawns, 1956), which was a departure from his earlier line of realism, met with immense popularity. It told a tragic love story against the backdrop of a fishing village in Alappuzha. The novel and its film adaptation, also titled Chemmeen (1965), earned him national and international fame. Chemmeenwas translated into 19 world languages and adapted into film in 15 countries. Chemmeen won for Thakazhi the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award in 1958. The film adaptation, directed by Ramu Kariat, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1965.^[4]

Despite the popularity of Chemmeen, his novel Kayar (Coir, 1978) is quite widely considered his masterpiece. The novel extends to over 1000 densely printed pages and deals with hundreds of characters over four generations, bringing back to life an axial period (1885–1971) during which feudalism, matriliny, and bonded labour gave way to conjugal life and to universal access to land ownership, and later, to decolonisation and the industrial revolution of the 1960s.

Another famous novel, Enippadikal (Rungs of the Ladder, 1964), traces the careerism of an ambitious bureaucrat whose lust for power and position becomes his own undoing. The novel was adapted into a movie in 1973 by Thoppil Bhasi.^[5] He is also known as Kerala Mopasang.

Novels

• Thottiyude Makan (Scavenger's Son, 1947; translation into English, New Delhi, 1975)
• Randidangazhi (Two Measures, 1948; film adaptation, 1958)
• Thendivargam (The Beggar Clan, 1950)
• Chemmeen (Prawns, 1956; film adaptation, 1965; transl. into English, London, 1962, into French, Paris, 1965, etc.)
• Ouseppinte Makkal (The Sons of Ouseph, 1959; transl. into English, New Delhi, 1984)
• Enippadikal (Footsteps, 1964; transl. into English sub titles. Rungs of the Ladder, New Delhi, 1976)
• Anubhavangal Palichakal (Experiences and Failures, 1967; film adaptation, 1971)
• Chukku (Chukku Film adaptation, 1973)
• Kayar (Coir, 1978; transl. into English, New Delhi, 1997)
• Erinhadangal (Extinguishing, 1990)

Short stories

• Teranjedutta Kathakal (Selected Short Stories, 1965)
• Inquilab (1952)
• Pativrata (Chaste Wife, 1946)
• Njan Piranna Nadu (The Land Where I was Born, 1958)
• Kure Kathapatrangal (A Number of Characters, 1980)

See the anthology by K.M. George ed. The Best of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, New Delhi, 1999, including English translations of in the Flood; The Tahsildar's Father; Under the Mango Tree; A Faithful Wife; The Soldier; An Orphan's Burial; The White Baby; The Story of Kalyani; From Karachi; Death of Gandhiji; The Boundary Dispute; the Farmer; The Story of Kettuthali; The Handbag.

Autobiographies

• Ente Balykala Katha (My Childhood Story, 1967)
• Ormayude Theerangalil (On the Shores of Memory, 1985)
• Oru Kuttanadan Katha (A Story of Kuttanad, 1992)
• Jeevitathinte Oru Edu (A Page of Life, 1993)

M. T. Vasudevan Nair

M. T. Vasudevan Nair, one of the most respected Indian writers today, was born on 15th july 1933 in Kudallur, a small village in Palakkad district, Kerala. He rose to eminence through his well-crafted novels and short stories in Malayalam whose romantic poignancy and tender portrayal of the human condition endeared the author to his readers. He captured in subtle detail the pain and anguish that marked the ebb of feudalism in Kerala in many of his novels. A master storyteller, M.T made his way up to be honored with the highest literary award the nation confers on a writer, the Jnanpith in 1995. Prior to that, he had received many awards and accolades like both state and center Sahitya Akademi Awards. He occupied and continues to occupy many important and powerful positions in various literary bodies including the presidentship of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the chairmanship of Tunchan Memorial Trust. The Library of Congress has in its collection sixty-two books, mostly by M.T and some on him. Also, some of them are translations of his works into English. 

Novelist and Film Maker M.T. Vasudevan Nair and journalist N.P. Damodaran during the shashtipoorthy celebrations of Edasseri in Ponani, in the year 1966. M.T. Vasudevan Nair has been the Editor of Mathrubhoomi Weekly for over two decades. 

The essence of his work is self-suffering and its emotional intensity and rhythms of love hold the readers sticking to him.The story of Koodalloor village and Bharathapuzha are the most repeated and favourite themes of M.T. Most of his stories show the wretched state of the Nair families 'Nalukettu', 'Kaalam', 'Asuravithu', 'Manju', 'Randamoozham', 'Vilapayathra', 'Arabipponnu'(written with N.P. Muhammed), 'Pathiravum Pakal Velichavum' are his novels. Around 18 short story collections are in his name of which the most important are 'Olavum Theeravum','Kutyedathi', 'Ninte Ormakku', 'Nashtapetta Dinangal', 'Iruttinte Aatmavu', 'Varikkuzhi', 'Dar-s-Salaam, 'Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam'. He acted as the Chief Editor of the weekly Mathrubhumi and as the editor of the Mathrubhumi periodicals. Won the Jnanapeedam award in 1996. On the 2nd of June 1996 he was bestowed with honourary D.Lit degree by the Calicut University. 'Randamoozham' bagged the Vayalar award in 1985. 'Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam' bagged the Kerala Sahithya Academy award in 1986. 'Kalam' gained the Kendra Sahithya Academy in 1970 and 'Nalukettu' the Kerala Sahithya Academy award. M.T. also gained the Padmarajan prize for short story. The films 'Nirmalyam', 'Bandhanam', 'Varikkuzhi', 'Manju' and 'Kadavu' were written and directed by him. Of these 'Nirmalyam' had gained the national award for best film. The other four movies bagged the state awards. Bagged the award for best screenplay writer several times. 

List of Creations

Novels Nalukettu Bandhanam Manju Kaalam Varikuzhi and Kadavu Screenplays Olavum Theeravum Nirmalyam Murappennu Nagarame Nandi Asuravithu Pakalkkinavu Iruttinte Atmavu Kuttiyedathi Oppol Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha Evideyo Oru Shatru Vellam Panchagni Nakhakshatangal Amritam Gamaya Aaroodam Allkottathil Thaniye Adiyozhukkukal Uyarangalil Rithubhedam Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. AWARDS v Iruttinde Atmavu - winner of President's Silver Medal v Literary Criticism v Parinayam - Best Film - J.C. Daniel Award - 1994 v Kadavu - Best Film - 1991 v Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaadha - Best Film - 1989 v Purushartham - Best Film - 1987 v Oridathu - Best Film - 1986 v Chithamparam - Best Film - 1985 v Ente Mamattikuttyammakku - Best Film - 1983 v Elippathayam - Best Film - 1981 v Oppol - Best Film 1980 v Nirmaalyam - Best Film - 1973 Olavum Theeravum - Best Film - 1970

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)