Pavanan

2022-01-21T04:36:50Z

49.205.151.222: Early days and family

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Pavanan
| image = Pavanan.jpg
| birth_name =Puthan Veetil Narayanan Nair
| native_name = പവനൻ
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|10|26}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|06|22|1925|10|26}}
| birth_place = [[Thalassery]], [[Kerala]], India
| occupation = Atheist, journalist, politician, author, activist
| spouse = Parvathi Pavanan
}}
'''Puthan Veetil Narayanan Nair''', fondly called and popularly known by his [[pen name]] '''Pavanan''' (പവനൻ) who was born on 26 October 1925 and died on 22 June 2006, was a well-known [[rationalist]], [[literary]] critic and [[left wing]] political activist from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name="HinduObit">{{Citation | url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/23/stories/2006062312790400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124065906/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/23/stories/2006062312790400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 January 2010 | title=Writer-journalist Pavanan dead | date=23 June 2006 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=17 August 2009 }}</ref> He was also a well-accomplished author and journalist, who had won the [[Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award]] in 1965 and the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1979. He was the secretary of the [[Kerala Sahithya Academy]] (1977-84) and the General Secretary of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists, and a member of [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] and [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy]].<ref>https://www.oneindia.com/2006/06/22/renowned-writer-pavanan-dead-1150959923.html</ref> Pavanan was the editor of Malayalam Encyclopedia. He had authored more than a dozen books. Pavanan Foundation Award was constituted by Pavanan Foundation to recognize and honour literary works. In 2011 [[M. K. Sanu]], Malayalam critic and writer had received this award.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/pavanan-award-for-malayalam-critic-sanu/articleshow/14214211.cms</ref>
==Early days and family==
Pavanan was born on 26 October 1925 at Vayalalam, [[Thalassery]], Kerala, India. His father was Kuttamath Kunniyur Kunhisankara Kurup and mother, Puthan Veetil Devaki Amma. He had his education at Raja's High School, [[Nileshwaram]], [[Kasaragod district|Kasaragod]] and at Brennen College High School, Thalassery.

Pavanan married Parvathy in 1954 in Ottapplam. They have three children: CP Rajendran (geoscientist), CP Surendran (poet; author) and CP Sree Rekha (writer in Malayalam)
==Career==
During 1944–46, Pavanan served in the [[Indian Army]] of [[British India]]. Later, after leaving the army, he worked as an Inspector in Co-operative Department in north Kerala.

Since 1949, Pavanan took up journalism as his career along with his [[left-wing]] political activism. He first stint as a journalist was as an editorial board member of the [[Malayalam]] journal, ''Jayakeralam'', published from [[Chennai]] then known as Madras. During 1952–53 he worked as a sub-editor of ''Pourashakthi'' before becoming a staff-reporter with ''Deshabhimani'', the Malayalam organ of the undivided [[Communist Party of India]]. During 1965–67, he worked as the editor of ''Navayugam'' and as correspondent of [[India Press Agency]]. He was a style editor with [[Soviet Information Office]], Chennai during 1970–75 and General Editor with ''Manorajyam'' group of publications during 1984–86. He then, during 1988–94, worked as Director-in-Charge of ''Vishwa Vijnana Kosham'', an Encyclopedia published by the Government of Kerala.
Pavanan was Assistant Secretary of [[Kerala Sahitya Academy]] between 1975–78 and its Member Secretary during 1978–84.

==A rationalist==
As a [[rationalist]], Pavanan was the founder-Chief-editor of ''Yukthirekha'', the organ of [[Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham]], a well-known rationalist group in Kerala. He was the organization's president for a long time before he was afflicted with [[Alzheimer's disease]] from which he had been suffering for the last 4–5 years of his life.<ref name="HinduObit"/>
==Awards and honours==
Pavanan was awarded the [[Sovietland-Nehru Award]] (twice), Kerala Sahitya Akademy Award, G. Sankara Kurup Award, Puthezhan Memorial Award, Vailoppally Memorial Award, [[M.C. Joseph]] award as well as V.T. Bhattathrippad Memorial Award for his contribution in the fields of journalism and literature. He received Emeritus Fellowship (1989–93) from the Human Resource Department, Government of India.
==Death==
Pavanan died on 22 June 2006 at Trissur at 7:15 am, after a prolonged illness.<ref name="HinduObit"/>

After his death, his eyes were donated to an eye bank. Following his wishes, he was cremated without any religious ceremonies thus upholding his rationalist ideal until his death.
==Books by Pavanan==
Pavanan wrote more than 40 books in [[Malayalam]] and [[English language]]s. Some of the titles are:
===In Malayalam===
#''Keralam Engane Jeevikkunnu'' (1967)
#''Parichayam'' (1968)
#''Soviet Unionanil Krushchevinu Sesham'' (1965)
#''Mahakavi Kuttamath'' (1980)
#''Pavanante Thiranjedutha Prabhandangal'' (1988)
#''Adyakala Smaranakal'' (1990)
#''Sahitya Nirupanam''
#''Yathra Vivaranam''
#''Thathva Chintha''
#''Yukthivadam''
#''Jeevacharithra Smaranakal''
#''Yukthi Darsanam'' (editor) (Published by [[Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham]])
#''Brahmananda Shivayogi'' (Biography)
#''Matham, Marxism, Mathetharatwam''
#''Peristroicayum Socialisavum (1992)''
===In English===
#A journey through Moscow and Georgia
#What happened in China
#Buddhist influence in Malayalam Literature
==References==
{{reflist}}

# ''[[Deshabhimani]]'' Daily dated 23 June 206.
# ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'' Daily, dated 23 June 2006.
# ''[[Malayala Manorama]]'' Daily, dated 23 June 2006.
==External links==
**[http://www.newkerala.com/news3.php?action=fullnews&id=12350 Journalist and author Pavanan passes away]: Obituary at www.newkerala.com
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20060621100008/http://www.deshabhimani.com/news/k3.htm Obituary in Deshabhimani Malayalam Daily] This link does not work
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pavanan}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian materialists]]
[[Category:Indian atheists]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:People from Thalassery]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

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Pavanan