Authors Archive | Page 11 of 51

BALACHANDRAN CHULLIKKAD

Balachandran Chullikkad was born in Paravur in 1957. He graduated from Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. In 1997, he was a member of the ten-member Indian literary delegation that visited Sweden at the joint invitation of the Swedish government, the Swedish Writers’ Union and the Nobel Academy. He represented Indian poetry at the International Literary Conference held in Gothenburg, Sweden, around the same time period. In 1998, he participated in the ‘Focana’ literary conference held in Rochester, USA. Balachandran Chullikkad’s Poems, published in 2000, was nominated for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2001, but did not accept the award. His notable works include Amavasi, Chidambarasmarana, and Hiranyam

BEEYAR PRASAD

Beeyar Prasad (1961–2023), Real name B. Rajendra Prasad, is a writer, scriptwriter, playwright, theatre activist, director, lyricist, Kathakali scholar, organiser, presenter and orator. Born on 18 March 1961 in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district. He is a Malayalam literature graduate. His spouse is Vidhu Prasad, and his children are Ila and Kavi. He wrote songs for many films, including Kilichundan Manpazham, Vettam, and Jalotsavam. Beyond cinema, Beeyar Prasad was a published author, with his novel Chandrolsavam receiving widespread acclaim upon its release by Mathrubhumi Books. He is also noted for his work Priyamaanasam. He scripted the movie Johny, directed by Sangeeth Sivan, it won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Children’s Film that year. He passed away in 2023.

PK BHAGYALAKSHMI

P.K. Bhagyalakshmi was born in Eripuram near Pazhayaangadi in Kannur district. She is acclaimed as a teacher, writer and painter. She retired as a UP school teacher in 2017 and has created a world of creativity around herself by writing several books, painting hundreds of paintings, and travelling. In addition, she has built her own ‘art gallery’ next to her home in Eripuram, ‘Karthika’. Also, obtained a postgraduate degree in Malayalam and Gandhian studies and a doctorate from Kannur University. She has written about 20 books, including novels, stories, studies, poetry, children’s literature, and biographies. Some of her works are Neeralichoonda, Carpets of Cold, Yogi Community in North Malabar, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. She has received many awards, including the Prof. Joseph Mundassery Award, Bheema Bala Sahitya Award, S.B.T. Award, and Pala K.M. Mathew Award.

JOY ALUKKAS

Joyalukkas is the founder and chairman of Joyalukkas Jewellery, a global retail brand under his own name. Born and raised in Thrissur, Kerala. Credited with modernising Indian jewellery retailing in the world. Branching out from his family business, he disrupted the traditional model of a single jewellery store and created a global chain of 160 showrooms in India, the Middle East, South East Asia, the UK and the US. His diverse business interests include a foreign exchange business called Joyalukkas Exchange and a clothing business called Jolly Silks. He is listed in Forbes’ list of India’s richest people and the World’s Billionaires and is considered one of the most prominent merchants in the Arab world. He has authored the authobiography, Spreading Joy : How Joy Alukkas Became The World’s Favourite Jeweller

BIJURAJ R K

R.K. Bijuraj was born in 1977 in Pinarayi, near Thalassery, to M.R. Radhakrishna Menon and K. Sarojini. He is a journalist and translator. He has a postgraduate degree in history and commerce and a postgraduate diploma in journalism. He is currently the chief sub-editor of the weekly Madhyamam. His notable works include: Naxal Dinangal: Keralathile Naxalite/Maoist Prasthanathinte Samagra Chaithra and
Kerala Ketta Viplavaprasangangal

C RAVICHANDRAN

Ravichandran C. is an independent thinker and lecturer. Born in 1970 in Pavithreswaram village, Kottarakkara taluk. He has a postgraduate degree in English, Economics, Politics, History, Sociology, Philosophy, Commerce, Malayalam and Public Administration from the University of Kerala. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Govt. Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram. He has served in the Kerala Public Service Commission for 11 years. He is a recipient of the Joseph Mundassery Award for the best writer who propagates scientific thought (2016) and the Free Thought Award for the best independent thinker (2017).

C.GANESH

C. Ganesh is a story writer, novelist, and teacher. He was born in Mathur, Palakkad district. He began his writing journey with contributions to the Mathrubhumi children’s series and has since published ten works, including story collections and novels. With the support of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, he studied the Tholpaavakoothu traditions of both Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. His works include Banga and Changathipinar.

He holds a doctorate from Kalady Sanskrit University and was a research fellow on a project documenting the Kalpathi Ratholsavam. He also created a documentary on Onam Thallu under the guidance of the renowned anthropologist Bruce Kapferer. He has received the Nehru Yuva Kendra Award, the Mundoor Krishnankutty Award of the Alochana Sahitya Vedi, the Kochu Bava Award of the Anganam Samskriti Vedi, the Suryakanthi Novel Award of the Sahrudaya Vedi and the 2022 Sanskrit Short Story Award. He has published twenty-five works in various fields. Member of the Authors Guild of India and O.V. Vijayan Smaraka Samiti. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. He is married to Dr Sunita Ganesh and has a daughter, Tamburu.

CHEF LATHA K

Chef Latha K was born on 4th April 1967, to Kuniyil Ramachandran Nair and Kuzhikandamthil Chandramathi Amma. After schooling, she studied cooking at Kozhikode Food Craft Institute and Mysore Centre Food Technology Institute. Later, she started her own catering business for 10 years. She worked at Saj Earth Resort, Sea Ship Restaurant, Food Sagar Restaurant, Al-Kaif Restaurant (Dubai) and Ravis, Kozhikode. Since 2017, she has been working as the Master Chef of Malabar Cafe at Grand Hyatt, Kochi. Her work includes Lathapachakam: Nattinpurathinte Thanathu Ruchi.

CHANDRAMATHI

Chandramathi’s real name is Chandrika Balan. She has a doctorate in English literature. She was a professor of English at All Saints College, Thiruvananthapuram. She has received the Saint Burkmans Award for outstanding college teachers and the Sivaprasad Foundation Award. Her other works include Swayam, Swatanam, Thattarakudyile Vigrahangal, Vethala Kathagal (novelette), Perilla Prashanam (collection of essays) and Njan Oru Veedu (memoir). She was the joint editor of the collection Madhyakaala Malayalam Kavitha. She has received fifteen awards for her short story collections, including the Thoppil Ravi Foundation Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Keli Award, Katha National Prize, Odakuzhal Award, Padmarajan Award, and O. V. Vijayan Award.

CIVIC JOHN

Civic John is a native of Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district. He holds an engineering degree in polymer science from Mahatma Gandhi University College. He has published a collection of stories titled Athisundaram Oru Maraam. His work includes Season Finale, Shanghai.