Balachandran Chullikkadu

Balachandran Chullikkadu is a renowned Malayalam poet from Kerala, India. He was born on July 30, 1957 in Paravur. He completed his graduation in English literature from Maharajas College, Ernakulam. 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 memmoirs, Chidambarasmarana (2001). He married the Malayalam poetess Vijayalaksmi. He 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.He is also an actor

Changampuzha Krishna Pillai

Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (1911-1948) was a writer of Malayalam poetry.He is from Kerala,India. He is most famous for his pastoral elegy Ramanan, written in 1936, which sold over 100,000 copies. [1] It is a play writtern in the form of verse.Ramanan, written in the romantic tradition, remains a best seller. It is a long romantic poem based on the life of Changampuzha's friend Edappally Ragahavan Pillai.



Changampuzha attended the Government Upper Primary School at Edappally.

One of his famous Quotes is as follows:

" My biggest failure,

is having a honest heart,

in this faulty world."

Published works : Ramanan (1936) Vaazhakkula (1937) Divyageetham (1945) Devageetha (1945) Bashpanjali Spandikkunna Asthimaadam Kalithozhi Rekthapushpangal Madirolsavam Padunna Pisachu

Poonthanam

Poonthanam (1547-1640) was an ardent devotee of Guruvayoorappan (Krishna). He was born near Perinthalmanna in the present Malappuram district of Kerala, to a Nambudiri Brahmin family, and was known as a contemporary of Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, the celebrated author of Narayaneeyam. Poonthanam is renowned for his devotional composition of Jnanappana (Song of Wisdom)

M. Mukundan

M Mukundan is one of the pioneers of modernity in Malayalam literature. He was born on 10 September 1942 at Mayyazhi in Mahe, a former French territory in Kerala. He is the current President of Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

He is known in Kerala as 'Mayyazhiyude Kadhakaaran'(Story teller of Mayyazhi) - Mayyazhi figures in his early works; 'Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil', 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal', 'Appam Chudunna Kunkiyamma' and 'Lesli Achante Kadangal'.

His first literary work was a short story published in 1961. Mukundan has so far published 12 novels and 10 collections of short stories. Mukundan's latest four novels 'Adithyanum Radhayum Mattu Chilarum', 'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha','Kesavante Vilapangal' and 'Nirtham ' carries a change in structure and approach.

'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha' reveals how Vasundhara, an actress has been insulted in the course of acting due to some unexpected situations. It proclaims the postmodern message that martyrs are created not only through ideologies, but through art also.

'Kesavante Vilapangal' one of his most recent works tells the story of a writer Kesavan who writes a novel on a child named Appukkuttan who grows under the influence of E. M. S. Namboodiripad. 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal' bagged the Kendra Sahithya Academy award and NV Prize. 'Ee Lokam Athiloru Manushyan' bagged the Kerala Sahitya Academy award. Daivathinte Vikrithikal has been translated into English and published By Penguin Books India.

In 2008, Mukundan's magnum opus Mayyazhi Puzhayude Theerangalil fetched him the award for the best novel published in the last 25 years. Three of his novels were made into feature films in Malayalam . Mukundan wrote the script and one of them bagged a state film award.

Mukundan's latest novel is "Pravasam" (which literally means Journey) and tells the story of a Malayali whose journeys carry him around the world. The novel was officially released on August 23, 2008 by Mr. Binoy Viswam, a minister in the Kerala Government, during the 6th World Malayali Conference held in Singapore on August 22-24, 2008. Fitting, because this conference brought together Malayalis from all parts of the world for a 3-day business/social networking event.

The French government conferred on him the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1998 for his contribution to literature

M. N. Vijayan

M.N. Vijayan (also known as Vijayan Mash) (8 June 1930 – 3 October 2007) was an Indian writer, orator and academic. Prof. M.N.Vijayan was born in Lokamaleshwaram, Kerala, India. He was educated in Pathinettarayalam L.P. School, Kodungallur Boys High School, Ernakulam Maharajas College, and Ernakulam Law College. He was awarded a Master of Arts in Malayalam Language and Literature from Madras University.

Political and journalism careerVijayan worked as the editor of the cultural weekly Desabhimani owned by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) on the request of its leaders. He was a long-term President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (Progressive Association for Art and Letters) and Adhinivesha Prathirodha Samithi (Council for Resisting Imperialist Globalisation), a leftist think-tank based in Kerala which collaborated occasionally with the CPI(M). He was removed from the editor post at Deshabhimani when leaders of the provincial Communist Party felt he was not supportive to the party line. He opposed the policy of some state level leaders and other leftist intellectuals to accept foreign funding of political work. He was also for a time the editor of the controversial periodical Padom, notably criticising a Kerala state government program called People's Campaign for Decentralised Planning and its propagator Thomas Isaac .Vijayan and Prof.Sudheesh's articles in Padom against the "people’s plan", a programme aimed at decentralisation of power, became a controversial issue. Later a Kerala court ruled that the allegations of foreign funding of the KSSP had been proven by Sudheesh and Vijayan. Vijayan and Sudheesh had started Padom in 2000, after resigning from the CPI(M). Vijayan's resignation was considered to be the first manifestation of the bitter ideological war to take place within th CPI(M) in later years. This resignation was in disagreement with M. A. Baby, then cultural in-charge of the CPI(M). The cultural programme Manaveeyam of CPI(M)-led LDF government of Kerala was criticised for the extravagance of the programmes and the elitist audience whose sensibilities were ostensibly catered to in these programmes, and also for the fact that the "people’s art and culture" gave way to bourgeois concepts under the influence of neoliberalism. Vijayan also led an ideological debate against social democratic deviations. When the leader of Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (a pro-CPI(M) Science forum) M.P.Parameswaran went ahead with his “theory of the fourth world” campaign, it was alleged that a theory that had been opposed by the late ideologue of the party, E. M. S. Namboodiripad, was now being resurrected after his death. Noted CPI(M) intellectual P. Govinda Pillai's controversial critical remarks against A. K. Gopalan, Namboodiripad and others were also resisted by Vijayan and his followers on ideological grounds. Though, initially, CPI(M) leadership was forced to expel Parameswaran and depromote Pillai from the state committee because of the high reputation that Vijayan enjoyed among the party supporters, writers and the literate, later the Social Democrats group got control over the CPI(M) organization.

Vijayan did not attend many public meetings during his last years for health reasons, but continued to write weekly columns in Samakalina Malayalam, an Indian Express group of publications, Janashakthi and Maruvakku. The column was originally published weekly in Desabhimani until he parted ways with the paper. He is also the editor of the monthly Maruvaakku.

Uroob

Uroob (original name: P C Kuttikrishnan)along with writers like Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Thakazhi, Kesavadev, Pottekat formed the progressive writers in Malayalam during the twentieth century.

One of the most progressive novels in Malayalam, Sundarikalum Sundaranmarum (The beautiful and the handsome) was authored by Uroob. His other works include Ummachu, Aniyara etc.

Uroob is the pen name of P.C. Kuttikrishnan. He was a prominent member of the literary circle that had formed in the 30s in Ponani. Others in the group are eminent critic Kuttikrishna Marar, E. Narayanan , E. Kumaran, Akkitham, Kadavanad Kuttikrishnan, T. Gopala Kurup, Padmanabhan Master, E.P. Sumithran, Moothedath Narayanan Vaidyar, and T.V. Shoolapani Warriyar.

Kottarathil Sankunni

Kottarathil Sankunni is a well known author of Malayalam literature, born in 1855 in Kottayam, Kerala, south India. He made huge contributions in both poetry and prose. He died in 1937. He started compiling the legends of Kerala in 1909 and completed the work in eight volumes over a quarter of a century. The “Garland of Legends”, "Aithihya Mala", 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, DC 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:

Ithihya Mala, a collection of legendary stories including those about Kadamuttathu Kathanar, Kayamkulam Kochunni, etc Aassannamarana chintasathakam Sreerama pattabhishekam (Kathakali) Adhdhyathmaramayanam (Translation)

K. N. Panikkar

Dr. K.N. Panikkar (born 1936), is an Indian marxist historian . He was appointed Vice Chancellor of Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University, Kalady, Kerala, India for a brief period.

Influenced by Marxism, his methods and his expressed positions in public life have evoked harsh criticism from right-wing intelligentia and political parties. Panikkar has been active in criticising the rise of communalist history in India. His books include 'Against Lord and State: Religion and Peasant Uprisings in Malabar'; 'Culture and Consciousness in Modern India'; 'Culture, Ideology and Hegemony – Intellectuals and Social Consciousness in Colonial India' and 'Before the Night Falls'. He has also edited a number of books including 'A Concerned Indian’s Guide to Communalism' and the ICHR volume on 'Towards Freedom, 1940, A Documentary History of the Freedom Struggle' (suppressed and withdrawn from press by the former BJP-led regime, now forthcoming). He is currently engaged in preparing a monograph on the intellectual history of colonial India for which he has been awarded Homi Bhabha Senior Fellowship. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2007

Nitya Chaitanya Yati

Nitya Chaitanya Yati (Nithya Chaithanya Yati) (2 November 1923 - May 14, 1999) was an Indian philosopher.

He was born in vakayar, near Konni, Pathanamthitta (district),Kerala, India, as the first son to Pandalam Raghava Panicker, a poet & Vamakshi Amma. His original name was Jayachandran Panicker. He has one brother late Mr.Balacnhadra Panicker and 3 sisters Mrs.Subhashini Amma, Late Enakshi Amma (passed before completing 1 yr old) and Dr. Sumangala Amma.

After completing matriculation (the equivalent of today's high school education), Yati toured exstensively over what is now India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, befriending and subjecting himself to different religious figures. He met all the great people of the subcontinent including great leaders like Mohandas Gandhi and poets of high repute. He sat at the feet of several spiritual masters, including Sufi fakirs, Jain munis and Buddhist monks, and Hindu teachers such as Ramana Maharshi and Nityananda.

He returned to Kerala in 1947 and joined Union Christian (UC) College, Aluva to study Philosophy and Psychology. He later taught these subjects in different universities.

In 1951, he accepted Nataraja Guru as his spiritual preceptor and after Nataraja Guru died, Yati became the Head of Narayana Gurukula. As Narayana Gurukula is a world community, Yati had to liaison between all members of the Gurukula at an interpersonal level in the teacher-student context and to make the Gurukula work in unison.

Nitya Chaitanya Yati published over 120 books in Malayalam and 80 books in English, as well as a number of articles on philosophy, psychology, social ethics and aesthetics. He was the founder-chairperson of the East-West University of Brahmavidya. He also worked as the Commissioner for World Education and as a sponsor of the World Government of World Citizens. World citizenship is a unique concept that Yati tried to give life to, in his own words:

"The term 'world citizen' can be better understood with a negative definition than with a positive one. If a citizen of a state with political frontiers is expected to pay allegiance to the government of the state to which he or she belongs and is expected to take arms against aliens who might invade the territory of the state, a world citizen recognizes the entire world as one's state and in principle does not recognize any member of one's own species as an alien to the world community to which oneself belongs. Such a person recognizes the earth as one's sustaining mother, the innate inviolable laws of nature as one's protecting father, all sentient beings as one's homes. The world citizen's allegiance is to the foundation of truth, the universality of knowledge and the fundamental ground of all values." In later days, he spent his time in Fernhill 'Ashram' (hermitage) in Ooty, in Tamil Nadu, India.His relative Yogarshi Guru Dileepji hails from a South Indian family (kavil)with a lineage of yogis, ayurvedic vaidyas, kalari (martial arts) experts, and spiritual leaders. He is the head of International Gurukulam, an organization celebrating fifty years of dedication to promoting peace and happiness through yoga, interfaith dialogues, universal family values, alternative healing methods, and caring for the environment. He travels often giving lectures, satsangs, and workshops at international conferences and interfaith programs. He is a life member of the World Yoga Council, IYF delegate to the United Nations, and International Ambassador for World Yoga Community and Parliament

M. T. Vasudevan Nair

M. T. Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, is a renowned Malayalam author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born on July 15, 1933 in Kudallur, a small village in Palakkad district, in the Indian state of Kerala. He is one of the most prolific and versatile writers in modern Malayalam literature. His novels, short stories and screenplays speak of the pain and anguish of the Kerala society in the post independence India. He has won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay four times.

The essence of his work is self-suffering and its emotional intensity holds the readers captivated. The story of Kudallur village and Bharathapuzha are the most repeated and favourite theme. He explores the silences in life, in the folk tales of forgotten heroes and in the legends of warriors from epics forever retoldMT was awarded the highest literary award in India, the Jnanpith in 1995. He is also the recipient of:

State Sahithya Academy and Sahithya Academy National Award for Best Screenplay (five times) National Award and for Best Film & Actor (1973/Nirmalyam/PJ Anthony) Kerala State Award for Best Film & Screenplay (1978/Bandhanam) Kerala State Award for Best Film (1991/Kadavu) MT's oeuvre consists of novels, short-stories, film scripts and non-fiction works on literary themes. The US Library of Congress has in its collection sixty-two books by MT or on him. His close friendship with the giant of Malayalam literature, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer was well chronicled. MT was severely criticised by artist Devan for his 'alleged hunger for power' and 'haste in getting to the chair in Delhi' when the celebrations of Nalukettu were going on.

NovelsManju (Mist) Kalam (Time) Nalukettu (Ancestral House) Asuravithu (Seed of the Demon) Vilapayathra (The Funeral Procession) Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum (Midnight and Daylight) Arabipponnu (The Gold of Arabia, written with N. P. Muhammed) Randamoozham (Second Turn) Varanasi (BenaresStoriesIruttinte Atmavu (The Soul of the Darkness) Olavum Theeravum (Ripple and Shore) Kuttyedathi Varikkuzhi (The Trap) Pathanam (The Fall) Bandhanam (The Binding) Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam (The Time When Heaven Opens) Ninte (Yours) Vanaprastham Dar-es-salam Raktham Puranda Mantharikal Veyilum Nilavum (The Sunlight and Moonlight) Kaliveedu Vedanayude Pookkal (The Flowers of Sorrow) Sherlock ScreenplaysOlavum Theeravum Murappennu Nagarame Nanni Asuravithu Pakalkkinavu Iruttinte Atmavu Kuttiyedathi Oppol Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha Evideyo Oru Shatru Ennu Swantham Janakikkuttikku (based on the short story Cheriya cheriya bhookampangal) Vellam Panchagni Nakhakshatangal Amritam Gamaya Aaroodam Allkottathil Thaniye Adiyozhukkukal Uyarangalil Rithubhedam Vaishaali Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha Utharam Perunthachan Sukrutham Parinayam Teerthadanam (based on his story Vanaprastham) Aaranyakam Pazhassi Raja Sadayam Oru cheru punjiri

Leela Devi

Dr. R. Leela Devi was an Indian writer, translator, and teacher. Her work includes books in English, Malayalam, and Sanskrit languages. She was from the state of Kerala.

Dr. R. Leela Devi has written and translated more than three hundred books along with her husband V. Balakrishnan. The majority of her work involves books written in English or Malayalam, or translations of Sanskrit, English and Malayalam books.

The translation of "Naganadam"( Naganandam by Harshavardhana), the only drama in Sanskrit about Buddhism[citation needed], received great critical acclaim[citation needed]. She also translated the Marthandavarma, Narayaneeyam, and Vidur Gita (Mahabharata), among others. She has contributed the English language section of the book Contribution of Writers to Indian Freedom Movement (see Indian independence movement).

Her drama New Horizon is the first drama[citation needed] on the subject of Panchayatiraj

From Representation to Participation – the first book on Panchayatiraj- Sri Satguru Publications (Delhi) Sarojini Naidu – biography Blue Jasmine – fantasy novel Saffron – a novel about the myths and legends of Kashmir Mannatthu Padmanabhan and the Revival of Nairs in Kerala – the renaissance of the Nairs and their history 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 Congress Centenary. A Handbook of English Teaching Ethics(In various Religions of the World)- Sri Satguru Publications (Delhi) Vedic Gods and Some Hymns- Sri Satguru Publications (Delhi) Vidura Gita- Text & English Translation- Sri Satguru Publications (Delhi) Naganandam by Harshavardhana- Sri Satguru Publications (Delhi)

M. V. Devan

Madathil Vasudevan (M.V. Devan) (born January 15, 1928) is a painter, sculptor, writer, and orator. He was born in Panniyannur village in Thalassery in northern Kerala, south India—. After completing high school in 1946, he left for Madras to study painting. He learned the basics of painting at the Chennai Govt School of Arts and Crafts under the likes of DP Roy Choudhary and KCS Panikker.

These stalwarts influenced his life and painting to a large extent. At this time, he came into to contact with M Govindan, who helped in changing his perspective on life and thinking.

After coming back from Madras, he joined as staff artist at the Mathrubhumi daily. From 1952 to 1961 he worked there. Again, he went back to Madras and soon joined the 'Southern Languages Book Trust' as art consultant. He worked there from 1961 to 1962.

He continued his pursuit of the art with Madras Lalit Kala academy from 1962 to 1968, New Delhi Lalit Kala Academy (66 to 68), FACT (as art consultant from 68 to 72). He was made the Chairman of Kerala Lalit Kala Academy from 74 to 77.

During this time, he established an organization called Perunthachan, which dealt with the consultancy in the housing sector.

He is also the founder member and present Chairman of Kerala Kalapeedom. He is associated with Navashakti, Gopuram, Sameeksha, Kerala Kavita and Gwala. All of them are literary publications.

The Collection of Critical Essays Devaspandanam is his Magnum Opus.

Kamala Das

Kamala Suraiya (born Kamala Das on March 31, 1934), is a well-known Indian writer who writes in English as well as Malayalam, her native language. She is considered to be one of the outstanding Indian poets writing in English, although her popularity in Kerala is based chiefly on her short stories and autobiography. Much of her writing in Malayalam came under the pen name Madhavikkutty. She was born in Malabar in Kerala, India. She is the daughter of V. M. Nair, a former managing editor of the widely-circulated Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi, and Nalappatt Balamani Amma, a renowned Malayali poetess. Kamala Das is probably the first Hindu woman to openly and honestly talk about sexual desires of Indian woman, which made her an iconoclast of her generationKamala Das spent her childhood between Calcutta, where her father was employed as a senior officer in the Walford Transport Company that sold Bentleys and Rolls Royce, and the Nalappatt ancestral home at Ponnayoorkulam in south Malabar region. Her husband often played a fatherly role for both Kamala and her sons. Because of the great age difference between Kamala and her husband, he often encouraged her to associate with people of her own age.

Like her mother, Kamala Das also excelled in writing. Her love of poetry began at an early age through the influence of her great uncle, Nalappatt Narayana Menon, a prominent writer. However, she did not start writing professionally till she was married and became a mother. When Kamala wished to begin writing, her husband supported her decision to augment the family's income. Being the housewife, she could not use the morning-till-night schedule enjoyed by her great uncle. She would wait until nightfall after her family had gone to sleep and would write until morning: "There was only the kitchen table where I would cut vegetables, and after all the plates and things were cleared, I would sit there and start typing" ("Warrior" interview). This rigorous schedule took its toll upon her health, but she views her illness optimistically. It gave her more time at home, and thus, more time to write.

She is famous for her many Malayalam short stories as well as many poems written in English. This Keralite is recognized as one of the foremost poetesses of India. She is also a syndicated columnist. She has moved away from poetry because she claims that "poetry does not sell in this country (India)", but fortunately her forthright columns do. Her columns sound off on everything from women's issues and child care to politics.

Her eldest son M D Nalapat is married to a princess from the Travancore Royal House. He holds the UNESCO Peace Chair and Professor of geopolitics at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He was the former resident editor of Times of India. Her second son Chinem is placed in Bangalore and she presently lives with her youngest son Jayasuriya and his family in Pune

V. Balakrishnan

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, Sanskrit and English. He participated in the Indian independence movement, which resulted in his expulsion from college

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 rouge elephant, Ottayan' ('ഒറ്റയാന്‍'), won first prize in the contest held by Southern Language Book Trust (ദക്ഷിണഭാഷാ ബുക്ക്‌ ട്രസ്റ്റ്‌). It was later translated to all South 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 Encyclopeadia 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 and Bhagavatam 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.

P. K. Balakrishnan

P. K. Balakrishnan (1926-1991) Malayalam novelist critic historian.

P K Balakrishnan is one of the greatest intellectuals 20th century Kerala has produced. His multifaceted interests took him through politics, journalism, public speaking and creative writing. He was a great patriot who gave up his studies for the freedom of the country. His uncompromising integrity showed that he was unfit for politics, created a turbulent journalistic career, made him a fiery public speaker and resulted in literary creations that were masterpieces in their respective field.

Balakrishnan was an intense personality. He was truthful to himself. Standing by what he thought was right brought him into confrontation with people and the establishment. While his uncompromising convictions earned him very few friends in the real sense, he was understood and appreciated by a close circle of people whom he valued. Though the man has passed on to the realms of history, his books stand testimony to the great intellectual that he was and the power of his writings.

S. K. Pottekkatt

Sankaran Kutty Pottekkatt, Popularly known as S. K. Pottekkatt, (March 14, 1913–August 6, 1982) was a famous Malayalam writer. He is the author of several novels and travelogues. Pottekat won the Jnanpith Award in 1980 for the novel Oru Desattinte Katha

S. K. Pottekkat was born in Kozhikode as the son of Kunchiraman Pottekkatt, an English schoolteacher. After graduating from Zamorin’s College, Kozhikode he went on to work as a teacher in a Gujarati local school for a year. At this time he became keenly interested in travelling and began an odyssey that would ultimately take him to many parts of the globe including destinations in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

As a first step he travelled to Bombay in 1939 where he worked for some years punctuated by extensive travels across the country. This Bombay trip (described in his travelogue and memoir Ente Vazhiyambalangal) broadened his horizons and was a turning point in his literary life. While in Bombay, he involved himself in the India’s freedom struggle and worked alongside freedom fighters like Mathai Manjooran.

While in Bombay,Pottekkatt wrote his first novel Naadanpremam (1939) which was followed by Yavanikakku Pinnil (a collection of short stories) in 1940, followed by the second novel Vishakanyaka which received a prize from the Madras government in 1949.

Besides his extensive travels and literary works, Pottekkatt also dabbled in politics. In 1957, he contested the parliamentary election from Tellicherry but lost by 1000 votes. In 1962, he won the parliamentary election from the same constituency with a majority of 66,000 votes against his fellow littérateur Sukumar Azhikode.

Oru Theruvinte Katha won the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award. His biographical novel Oru Desattinte Katha won the Kerala Sahithya Academy in 1972, the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award in 1977, and the Jnanpith Award in 1980.

Thomas Kuzhinapurath

Kuzhinapurath has published articles in both English and Malayalam. He has served as student-chief editor of the philosophical journal, Mathavum Chinthayum. The University of Kerala has selected one of his articles for the pre-degree syllabus.

Kuzhinapurath served as a contributor of Bhasha Thilakam, an anthology of poems and literary essays consisting of poems by Kumaranasan, Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, Vallathol Narayana Menon, G. Sankara Kurup, Edasseri Govindan Nair, Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon, Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Vayalar Ramavarma, O.N.V. Kurup, Sugathakumari, and literary essays by Ullattil Govindhankutti Nair, N.V. Krishna Warrier, M. K. Sanu, Dr. D. Benjamin, Dr. George Onakkur, K.S. Ravikumar, Seeri, Achyuthsankar S. Nair, Kozhikodan, Thomas Kuzhinapurath, Nitya Chaitanya Yati, S. Chandrasekharan Nair (University of Kerala Press, ISBN-81-86397-13-2).

Kuzhinapurath has authored Daivajanam and Salvific Law, each of which has been published in two editions. Daivajanam is a collection of essays in Malyalam on socio-theological issues. His article within the volume argued that the juridical status of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (which was as a Metropolitan) is incompatible with its jurisdictional history. In 2005, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church. Daivajanam presents the complex theological works of Karl Rahner, Jürgen Moltmann, Teilhard de Chardin, and Ladislas Orsy in ordinary unstrandable language without losing the depth of their thought. Daivajanam was reviewed in various journals, and on the fifth anniverssary of its publication, Daniel Poovannathil published a collection of five studies on Daivajanam in the volume Daivajanapadhanangal

Lalitambika Antarjanam

Lalitambika Antarjanam (b. 1909, Kottarakara, Kerala - d.1987), is an author in Malayalam. She was born to a literary family - both her parents were poets - but she herself had little formal education. In 1927, she was married to Narayanan Nambudiri. She became a political activist and a social reformer, participating in the Indian National Congress and later with the Kerala Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M). Her published oeuvre consists of nine volumes of short stories, six collections of poems, two books for children, and a novel, Agnisakshi (1980) whih won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the best literary work of that year.

Her writing reflects a sensitivity to the women's role in society, and the tension between the woman as a centre for bonding and the woman as an individual. She was concerned particularly the nature of the sexual contract. In her story Revenge Herself (English translation anthologized in The Inner Courtyard, she highlights the moral and sexual choices faced by uppercaste Nambudiri women, who were secluded in the inner house, through the story of the "fallen woman" Tatri. This is especially sensitive in Kerala, where Nayar women are relatively free sexual lives in their matriarchal culture. In her story Mulappalinte Manam she highlights the woman's role as the central cohesive force in society, and she supports artificial birth control, so long as it does not contradict this basic womanly qualities of healing the schisms opened up by individualism