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{{Short description|Indian Malayalam-language writer and translator}}

{{Infobox writer
| name = C. G. Rajagopal
| image =
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| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1932|05|21|df=yes}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=രാജഗോപാല്‍. സി.ജി. |url=https://keralaliterature.com/malayalam-writers-മലയാളം-എഴുത്തുകാര്/rajagopal-c-g-രാജഗോപാല്‍-സി-ജി/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=Keralaliterature.com |language=ml}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Travancore]], [[British India]]
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| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Poet, Translator
| movement =
| notable_works = Malayalam translation of ''Tulasidasasa Ramayana''
| spouse =
| children =
| awards = [[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]] 2019
| influences =
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}}
'''C. G. Rajagopal''' is a polyglot, poet and translator from [[Kerala]], India. He received many awards including the [[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]] 2019, a literary honour in India, presented by [[Sahitya Akademi]], India's National Academy of Letters.

His main literary contribution is Malayalam translation of [[Hs3058795das]]'s [[Ramcharitmanas]] (Thulasidasa Ramayana), which has 26152 lines and 46 Sanskrit verses.

== Biography ==
Rajagopal was born on May 21, 1932 to C. S. Gopalakaimal and K. Parukutty Amma at Neeretupuram of [[Kuttanad]] Thalavadi in present-day [[Alappuzha district]] of Kerala, India.<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{Cite web |title=പ്രൊഫ. സി.ജി.രാജഗോപാലിന് നവതി |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/thiruvananthapuram/news/thiruvananthapuram-1.7580980 |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=[[Mathrubhumi]] |language=ml}}</ref><ref name="Janmabhumi">{{Cite web |title=തുളസീദാസമാനസന്‍ |url=https://www.janmabhumi.in/news/literature/c-g-rajagopal |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=[[Janmabhumi]] |language=ml}}</ref> He studied intermediate at SN College, Kollam.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> Although he enrolled for [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in Malayalam in [[University College Thiruvananthapuram]], he later switched to [[Hindi]].<ref name="Janmabhumi"/> He graduated from University College with first rank in Hindi and went to [[Lucknow]] for higher studies.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> He went to [[Lucknow University]] on a scholarship given by the Government of India to students from non-Hindi states to study Hindi, and passed [[Master of Arts|MA]] from there with a gold medal.<ref name="Janmabhumi"/>

===Personal life===
Rajagopal and his wife T. Vijayalakshmi have two daughters.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> He currently resides in his house called 'Shaleenam' on PRS Road, Thykkad, [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

== Career ==
Rajagopal, who returned from Lucknow after his higher studies, first became a lecturer at [[St. Thomas College, Palai|Pala St. Thomas College]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> Then he served as Hindi lecturer in [[Government Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Government Victoria College, Palakkad|Victoria College, Palakkad]] and then as Head of Department at [[Government Brennen College|Brennan College, Thalassery]] and University College Thiruvananthapuram.<ref name="Janmabhumi"/> In 1986 he retired as the Principal of Thrissur Govt. Arts College.<ref name="Manorama">{{Cite web |title=പ്രഫ. സി.ജി. രാജഗോപാലിന് കേന്ദ്ര സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്കാരം |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/02/25/prof-cg-rajagopal-won-central-sahitya-academy-award.html |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=ManoramaOnline |publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=[[Kerala Kaumudi]] |title=പ്രൊഫ. സി.ജി. രാജഗോപാലിന് കേന്ദ്രസാഹിത്യ അക്കാഡമി പുരസ്കാരം |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=252782&u=prof-cg-rajagopal |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=ml}}</ref> Later, from 1993 to 1996, he became the Dean of the Department of Non-Sanskrit Indian Languages at the [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit|Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University]].<ref name="Manorama"/>

Rajagopal, who was also a lover of [[Kathakali]], was the founder president of Drishyavedi, a Kathakali entertainment organization in [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> He also served as the president of Tapasya and Bharatiya Vicharakendra.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

== Literary Career ==
Rajagopal's main literary work is the Malayalam translation of Vishnu medpallidas's Hindi work ''Sri Ramacharitamanasam (Thulasidasa Ramayanam)''.<ref name="Manorama"/> Other contributions include ''Nadatrayam'' (Poetry Collection), ''Bharata Brihad Tarika'' (Translation), ''Bharathiya Samskarathinu Jaina Mathathinte Sambhavana'' (Contribution of Jain Religion to Indian Culture) (Study) and a Hindi-English-Malayalam Trilingual Dictionary.<ref name="Manorama"/> The [[ghazal]] he composed in 1958 was the first in that field in Malayalam.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> He is now writing ''Ayyappacharitam'' (story of lord [[Ayyappan]]) in the form of [[Aattakatha (performance)|Aattakatha]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=പ്രഫസര്‍ സി.ജി. രാജഗോപാലിന് ഇന്ന് നവതി; അയ്യപ്പചരിതം ആട്ടക്കഥയാക്കുക ലക്ഷ്യം |url=https://www.manoramanews.com/news/kerala/2022/06/06/professor-cgraajagopal-90th-birthday-story.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=www.manoramanews.com}}</ref>

Rajagopal completed the translation of Tulasidasasa Ramayana, which has 26152 lines and 46 Sanskrit verses, in five and a half years.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> Thulasidasasa Ramayana, written in verse by Rajagopal, was sung and recorded by eight singers including [[Kavalam Sreekumar]], G. Sreeram, and his elder brother's son and singer Suresh Thenmala.<ref name=":0" /> Composed by P Sushila Devi, it is a forty-six hours long poetry recitation.<ref name=":0" />

His book called ''Nadathrayam'' containing sixteen poems including ''Shilpi'' was a textbook for the Malayalam Vidwan course and Malayalam [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] course.<ref name="Janmabhumi"/>

==Awards and honors==
* 2019 [[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]] for the translation of Tulasidasasa Ramayana<ref name="Manorama" />
* 2020 Vivarthana Ratna Award by Bharat Bhavan, a cultural exchange center of the [[Government of Kerala]] for the translation of Tulasidasa Ramayana.<ref>{{Cite web |title=വിവർത്തന രത്ന പുരസ്കാരം പ്രഫ. സി.ജി. രാജഗോപാലിന്; ശൈലജ രവീന്ദ്രന് സ്പെഷൽ ജൂറി പുരസ്കാരം |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2020/02/01/barath-bhavans-vivarthana-ratnam-award.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=www.manoramaonline.com}}</ref>
* Prof. Thuravoor Vishwambharan Memorial Award of Tapasya Kala Sahityavedi, for his contributions to translation literature and creative writings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=പ്രഫ. തുറവൂർ വിശ്വംഭരൻ സ്മാരക പുരസ്‌കാരം സാഹിത്യകാരൻ പ്രഫ. സി.ജി.രാജഗോപാലിന് |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2020/10/08/prof-thuravoor-viswambharan-smaraka-award-to-prof-cg-rajagopal.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=www.manoramaonline.com}}</ref>
* Special award from the Vallathol Sahithya Samithi for the translation of Thulaseedasa Ramayanam to Malayalam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=M Mukundan wins Vallathol award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/sep/14/m-mukundan-wins-vallathol-award-1871738.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajagopal, C. G.}}
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]
[[Category:Translators to Malayalam]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Prize for Translation]]
[[Category:University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Government Victoria College, Palakkad]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]]
[[Category:University of Lucknow alumni]]

C. G. Rajagopal - Revision history

HarmanBajwa: Created an inspiring work.