M T VASUDEVAN NAIR
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M T VASUDEVAN NAIR
M. T. Vasudevan Nair is a renowned short story writer, novelist, screenwriter, and film director, born on July 15, 1933, in Kudallur near Ponnani. He began his career as a teacher and later worked as the associate editor and then editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly (1956–1981). He also served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Periodicals from 1988 to 1999. His literary brilliance earned him numerous accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Kaalam, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Naalukettu, the Vayalar Award for Randamoozham, the Odakkuzhal Award for Vanaprastham, and the prestigious Jnanpith Award. As a screenwriter, he won several Kerala State and National Film Awards, including the National Award for Best Film for Nirmalyam in 1974. He has been conferred honorary D.Litt degrees by both the University of Calicut and Mahatma Gandhi University. In 2004, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan.
VAIKOM MUHAMMAD BASHEER
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908–1994) was born on January 21, 1908, in Thalayolaparambu in the Vaikom taluk. He received his early education at a Malayalam school in his village and later at the English school in Vaikom. He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha held in Kozhikode as part of the Indian independence movement. For this, he endured police brutality and was imprisoned. He spent nearly ten years travelling across India, and later journeyed to countries like Africa and Arabia.
Basheer is renowned for his literary works such as Balyakalasakhi, Pathummayude Aadu, and Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu!, which have been translated and published in all major Indian languages. Other notable works include Mathilukal, Shabdangal, and Premalekhanam. A collection of 16 short stories, including Poovan Pazham, was published in English by Orient Longman. He was honored with fellowships from both the Sahitya Akademi and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri for his contributions to literature. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer passed away on July 5, 1994.
BHATTATHIRIPAD V T
V. T. Bhattathiripad (1896–1982) was born on March 26, 1896, in Vellithiruthithazhe Illam, Merathur village in the former Ponnani taluk. While still in school, he published a student magazine titled Vidyarthi, printed using a stone lithograph under his own editorship. Even before appearing for his Fifth Form examination, he actively engaged in India’s national freedom movement and later in social reform activities, particularly aimed at reviving and transforming his own community. At the 22nd annual session of the Yogakshema Sabha, he staged the pioneering social reform play Adukkalayilninnu Arangaththakku (“From the Kitchen to the Stage”), which marked a revolutionary step in community reform. He was a bold leader in initiating progressive changes within the Brahmin community.
His autobiography Kanneerum Kinavum won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972, and he was honoured with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1976. V. T. Bhattathiripad passed away on February 12, 1982. His notable works include Rajaneerangam (short stories), Pomvazhi (short stories), Karinchanda (unpublished play), Sathyamennathu Ivide Manushyanaakunnu, Vedivattam, Kaalathinte Saakshi, Ente Mannu (all essays), Kanneerum Kinavum, Dakshinaayanam (autobiographies), Karmavipakam (collection of autobiographical sketches), V. T. yude Theranjedutha Kathakal (Selected Stories), and V. T. yude Sampoorna Krithikal (Complete Works).
UROOB
Uroob (P. C. Kuttikrishnan) (1915–1979) was born on June 8, 1915, in Paruthulli Chalappuram House in Pallippuram village near Ponnani. After completing his high school education, he wandered across various parts of South India without a clear direction, taking on diverse jobs such as compounder, teacher, clerk, supervisor in a banyan company, reader at K. R. Brothers, and editorial board member of Mangalamodayam magazine. From 1950 to 1975, he worked at All India Radio, Kozhikode, as a staff artist and producer. Later, he served as the editor of Kumkumam weekly and then the Malayala Manorama weekly magazine. His novel Sundarikalum Sundaranmarum received the Sahitya Akademi Award. Uroob authored around forty works, spanning novels, short stories, poems, plays, children’s literature, and essays. He also wrote the story and screenplay for Neelakkuyil, the first Malayalam film to win a national award. Uroob passed away on July 10, 1979, while serving as the editor of the Malayala Manorama weekly.
KOCHUBAVA T V
T. V. Kochubava (1955–1999) was born in 1955 in Kattur, Thrissur district. A prolific writer, he authored 23 works across genres such as novels, short story collections, and translations. Some of his notable works include Onnangane Onningane, Veetippol Nishabdhamanu, Bhoomishastram, Prachchannam, Avatharika Bhoopadangalekku, Villanmar Samsarikkumbol, Prarthanakalode Nilkkunnu, Kathayum Jeevithavum Onnaytheerunnathineppatti, Vriddhasadanam, Perungaliyattam, and Virunnumeshayilekku Nilavilikalode. His acclaimed work Vriddhasadanam received the Cherukad Award in 1995 and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1996. He passed away on November 25, 1999.
SUGATHAKUMARI
Sugathakumari (1934–2020) was born in January 1934 and earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy. She served as the Principal of Jawahar Balabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, editor of the children’s magazine Thalir, and Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission. She was also the founding secretary of both the Prakriti Samrakshana Samithi (Nature Conservation Society) and Abhaya, a shelter for women and the mentally ill. A celebrated poet and activist, she received numerous awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Pathirappookkal, the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Sahitya Pravarthaka Award for Rathrimazha, the Odakkuzhal Award, Asan Prize, Vayalar Award for Ambalamani, the Asan Memorial Committee (Madras) Award for Kurinjippookkal, the Vishwadeepam Award for Thulavarshappacha, Vallathol Award, Balamani Amma Award, P. Kunhiraman Nair Award, Lifetime Achievement Award for Children’s Literature, Basheer Award, V.T. Sahitya Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, Panampilly Pratibha Award, Sreesakthi Award, Abu Dhabi Malayali Samajam Award for Radhayevide?, Janmashtami Award for Krishnakavithakal, the Bhattia Award for social service, the Sacred Soul International Award, and India’s first Vrikshamitra Award from the Government of India for her work in environmental conservation. She also received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, Durga Bai Deshmukh Award (as secretary of Abhaya), the prestigious Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, and the Saraswati Samman. In 2006, the Indian government honored her with the Padma Shri. She passed away on December 23, 2020.
Prof. A. Sreedhara Menon
Prof. A. Sreedhara Menon (1925-2010)
Born on December 18, 1925 at Eranakulam. Completed his M. A. Degree in History as a private candidate from the University of Madras with first rank in 1948. Went to Harvard University on a Fullbright Travel Grant and a Smith-Mund Scholarship and secured Masters degree in Political Science from there with specialisation in International Relations. Worked in various capacities such as Professor of History, State Editor of the Kerala Gazetteers, Registrar of the University of Kerala and UGC visiting Professor in the University of Calicut. Held many other positions during his eventful career. Apart from compiling eight District Gazetteers of Kerala he has written more than 25 books in English and Malayalam. Died in July 2010.
K. SARASWATHY AMMA
K. Saraswathy Amma (1919–1975) was born on April 4, 1919, in the village of Kunnappuzha near Thiruvananthapuram, to Karthyayani Amma and Padmanabha Pillai. She passed the E.S.L.C. examination in 1936 with first rank and graduated with a B.A. from Government Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram, in 1942. Although she enrolled for M.A. at University College, she could not continue her studies. Her first short story, Seethabhavanam, was published in the Mathrubhumi weekly in March 1938. Her first book, the novel Premabhajanam, was published in March 1944, followed by the short story collection Ponnmukudam and the play Devadoothi in 1945. Subsequent works included Sthreejanmam (1946), Keezhjeevankari, Kalamandiram (1949), Vivahasammanam (1950), Penbuddhi (1951), Kanatha Mathil (1953), Chuvanna Pookkal, Premapareekshanam (1955), Ellam Thikanja Bharya, Cholamarangal, Idivettu Thailam, and Purushanmarillatha Lokam (1958). Saraswathy Amma remained unmarried and passed away on December 26, 1975.
S. K. Pottekkatt
S. K. Pottekkatt (1913–1982) was born on March 14, 1913, in Kozhikode. He was a celebrated travel writer, novelist, and short story author. In 1949, he undertook his first foreign journey by sea and went on to visit most countries across Europe, Africa, America, South Asia, and East Asia, often interacting closely with local communities. He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1962 for his novel Oru Theruvinte Katha and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973 for Oru Desathinte Katha, which also earned him the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1980. The University of Calicut honored him with a doctorate. Other notable works include Nadan Premam and Vishakanyaka. He passed away on August 6, 1982.
P PADMARAJAN
P. Padmarajan (1945–1991) was born on May 23, 1945, at Njavarakkal House in Muthukulam, Alappuzha district, to Anantha Padmanabha Pillai and Devakiyamma. He studied at Muthukulam Boys High School and M.G. College, Thiruvananthapuram, earning a degree in Chemistry in 1963. He then spent two years studying Sanskrit under the great scholar Cheppad Achyutha Varrier. In April 1965, he joined All India Radio, Thrissur, as a program announcer and continued there until 1986. His first published work was the short story Lola Milford, the American Girl, which appeared in Koumudi in 1965. He went on to write around fifteen novels and over a hundred short stories. His debut novel Nakshathrangale Kaaval won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972. In 1974, he entered the world of cinema through the film Prayaanam, marking the beginning of his work as a screenwriter and director. Padmarajan wrote 36 screenplays, including those for films he directed himself, and earned numerous national and international accolades as a filmmaker. He passed away on January 23, 1991, in Kozhikode.