Vaisakhan
Vaisakhan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | വൈശാഖൻ |
| Born | M.K. Gopinathan Nair 27 June 1940 (age 84) Muvattupuzha, India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Alma mater | |
| Genre | Short stories, screenplays |
M.K. Gopinathan Nair, popularly known as Vaisakhan, is an Indian short story writer, playwright, and screenwriter. As of 2016[update], he is the President of Kerala Sahitya Akademi.[1] His stories are known for their simplicity in style and freshness in theme. Many of his stories feature the Indian Railways as the backdrop.
Early life, education and career
[edit]Vaisakhan was born in 1940 as Gopinathan to A.V. Krishna Kurup and Narayani Amma in Muvattupuzha.[2] He did his education from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam,[3] Nirmala College,[4] and St. Albert's College.
In 1964, he was appointed in the Southern Railway (India) as the station master. After 20 years of service, Vaisakhan took a voluntary retirement to pursue a full-time career in writing.[2]
Vaisakhan was married to Padma, who died in 1998. They have three children - Praveen, Pradeep, and Poornima. He currently lives in Paravattani, in Thrissur district.
Literary career
[edit]Vaisakhan's most notable work is Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar, a story that has won multiple awards and critical acclaim. His other published books include:[5]
Short story collection
[edit]- Appeal Anyayabhagam (അപ്പീൽ അന്യായഭാഗം)
- Athirukalillathe (അതിരുകളില്ലാതെ)[6]
- Akalathil Vasantham (അകാലത്തിൽ വസന്തം )[7]
- Bommidippoondiyile Palam (ബൊമ്മിഡിപുണ്ടിയിലെ പാലം)[6]
- Yamakam (യമകം)[6]
- Kathakal (കഥകൾ)
- Priyappetta Kathakal (പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട കഥകൾ)
- Silencer (സൈലൻസർ)
Children's literature
[edit]- Meen Kaykkunna Maram (മീന് കായ്ക്കുന്ന മരം)
- Kathakalude Albhuthalokam (കഥകളുടെ അത്ഭുതലോകം)
Memoirs
[edit]- Vaisakhante Jeevithachinthakal (വൈശാഖന്റെ ജീവിതചിന്തകൾ)
- Oru Manassinte Rasathanthram (ഒരു മനസ്സിന്റെ രസതന്ത്രം)
- Ormayude Choottuvettam (ഒര്മ്മയുടെ ചൂട്ടുവെട്ടം)
- Ormayude Palangalil Pathinanju Sthreekal (ഒര്മ്മയുടെ പാളങ്ങളിൽ പതിനഞ്ചു സ്ത്രീകൾ)
Major awards
[edit]- 1989: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story – Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar
- 1992: Cherukad Award – Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar[8]
- 1993: Abu Dhabi Shakthi Award
- 2010: M.C. Joseph Award[9]
- 2010: Kamala Surayya Award – Silencer (Short story collection)
- 2013: Ayanam - C.V. Sreeraman Katha Puraskaram[10]
- 2017: Prof. Joseph Mundasserry Award
- 2021: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship[11]
Positions held
[edit]- President, Kerala Sahitya Akademi (August 2016 – present)[12]
- President, Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (2013–2018)
- Member, Thunchan Smaraka Samithi ( - present)
- Former Chairman, Kunchan Nambiar Smarakam - Killikurissimangalam[13]
- Former Advisor, Sahitya Akademi
- Former Administration team member, Kerala Sahitya Akademi
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "KERALA SAHITYA AKADEMI - About". Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ a b tommattam (5 January 2011), Interview with Vaisakhan-writer-Mattathil Thodupuzha., retrieved 7 December 2016
- ^ "A special get-together at Maharaja's college". 17 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.
- ^ "Nirmala Alumni Association". www.nirmalaalumni.org. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ "കെ.പി.എ.സി. ലളിത സംഗീതനാടക അക്കാദമി അധ്യക്ഷ" – via The Big 14 News.
- ^ a b c "Centralized OPAC Catalog › VAISAKHAN". central.tnopac.gov.in. Retrieved 7 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ AKALATHIL VASANTHAM - Koha Online Catalog (1 ed.). VIMA.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Cherukad Award". Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ "KOCHI TODAY". 28 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.
- ^ "Award presentation". 12 January 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.
- ^ "State Sahitya Akademi fellowships for Vaisakhan, K.P. Sankaran". The Hindu. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ Praveen, S.R. (31 July 2016). "Vaisakhan to head Sahitya Akademi". Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Thiruvananthapuram.
- ^ "Kuncham Nambiar Smarakam - Killikurissimangalam". www.kunchannambiarsmarakam.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
