imported>UrielAcosta: /* Biography */deleted "is survived by..." & other obituary-like material per MOS:BIO's "Out-of-date material" section

2021-08-05T12:54:26Z

Biography: deleted "is survived by..." & other obituary-like material per MOS:BIO's "Out-of-date material" section

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{infobox writer
| name = M. Krishnan Nair
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|3|3}}
| birth_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|2|23|1923|3|3}}
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| occupation = Literray critic, essayist, orator
| language = Malayalam
| nationality = Indian
| education =
| notableworks =
| spouse = Vijayamma
| relatives = {{ublist|V. K. Madhavan Pillai (father)|Sarada Amma (mother)}}
| awards = {{ublist|1979 B. D. Goenka Award|2000 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions|Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]}}
| website =
}}
'''M. Krishnan Nair''' (3 March 1923 – 23 February 2006) was an Indian academic, orator, literary journalist and [[literary critic]] of [[Malayalam literature]]. He was known for his ''Sahitya Varaphalam'', a weekly column he wrote first in Malayalanadu weekly, later in [[Kalakaumudi]] and finally in [[Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika]], which introduced world literature to Malayalam readers. He also published several books, including ''Saundaryathinte Sannidhanathil'', ''Adhunika Malayala Kavitha'' and ''Vayanakkara, Ningal Jeevichirikkunno?''. He was a recipient of the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]] and the B. D. Goenka Award for excellence in literary journalism.

== Biography ==
Krishnan Nair was born in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], the capital city of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] on March 3, 1923 to V. K. Madhavan Pillai and Sarada Amma.<ref name="Professor M. Krishnan Nair">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/ |title=Professor M. Krishnan Nair |date=2019-02-04 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref> He had his school education at [[Travancore]] and after graduating with honours from
the [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]] in 1945, he joined the government service to serve as a clerk at the [[Kerala Government Secretariat]] for the next five years.<ref name="Quintessential critic to the last">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/quintessential-critic-to-the-last/article3182914.ece |title=Quintessential critic to the last |date=2006-02-24 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref> He resigned from government service in 1950 to join the [[Government Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram]] as a lecturer and was transferred to his alma mater, the [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]] in 1969. Later, he served the [[Government Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram]] and [[Victoria College, Palakkad]] before moving to [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]] where he served as the head of the department of Malayalam and retired from academic service in 1978 holding the position of a first grade professor.<ref name="Professor M. Krishnan Nair" />

Nair, a hospitable person to those who knew him,<ref name="In pursuit of excellence">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/in-pursuit-of-excellence/article3217421.ece |title=In pursuit of excellence |date=2006-03-10 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> died on February 23, 2006, at the age of 82,<ref name="M. Krishnan Nair (writer) on Veethi">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/m._krishnan_nair_(writer)-profile-8488-25.htm |title=M. Krishnan Nair (writer) on Veethi |date=2019-02-05 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> at a hospital in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], succumbing to cardiac failure following [[pneumonia]].<ref name="M. Krishnan Nair on Sayahna">{{Cite web |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%82_%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%83%E0%B4%B7%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D_%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D |title=M. Krishnan Nair on Sayahna |date=2019-02-05 |website=Sayahna |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>

== Literary career ==
{{quotebox|align = right|width=21em|''I believe bad literature is a crime against society. True talent, a true genius does not depend on encouragement. It transcends all barriers. A truly talented writer cannot be made or marred by criticism,'' Krishnan Nair's reply on being asked "why was his criticism so sharp and harsh".<ref name="Quintessential critic to the last" />}}
Krishnan Nair was known to have been introduced into the world of literature by his father by reading the works of [[Kunchan Nambiar]] to him when he was a boy.<ref name="Quintessential critic to the last" /> He was also made to write commentaries on the books he was made to read. His first published work was an article tilted ''Vimarshanam'' (Criticism) which appeared in ''Navajeevan'' weekly run by [[C. V. Kunhiraman]],<ref name="Professor M. Krishnan Nair" /> a social reformer and journalist who would later found [[Kerala Kaumudi]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://keralakaumudi.com/ |title=Kerala Kaumudi Online |last=Online |first=Kerala Kaumudi |website=keralakaumudi.com |language=en |access-date=2019-02-05 |quote=Please read "About us"section"}}</ref> His first book, ''Adunika Malayala Kavitha'' (Modern Malayalam Poetry), published by P. K. Brothers, was the compilation of the articles he wrote in ''Kaumudi'' during his days at the [[Government Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="Professor M. Krishnan Nair" /> He also published several books, such as 'Adhunika Malayala Kavitha'', ''M. Krishna Nairude Prabhandangal'' and ''Prathibhayude Jwalagni''.<ref name="Professor M. Krishnan Nair" />

=== Sahithya Varaphalam ===
Krishnan Nair is best known as the critic who, after [[Kesari Balakrishna Pillai]], introduced world literature to Malayali reader and his weekly column ''Sahithya Vaaraphalam'', ran for 35 years.<ref name="Welcome to Kerala window">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralawindow.net/news_Feb.html |title=Welcome to Kerala window |website=www.keralawindow.net |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> He started writing the column in ''Malayalanadu'' weekly in 1969<ref name="M. Krishnan Nair on Sayahna" /> and it ran for a number of years before moving to [[Kalakaumudi|Kalakaumudi weekly]] when ''Malayalanadu'' closed down<ref name="Literary journalism at its best">{{Cite web |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060305/spectrum/book7.htm |title=Literary journalism at its best |date=March 5, 2006 |website=www.tribuneindia.com |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> and finally to [[Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika]] where it stayed until his death in 2006.<ref name="The Day Literary Criticism Died">{{Cite web |url=https://kerala.livejournal.com/76171.html |title=The Day Literary Criticism Died |last1=kerala |first1=The Incredulous Hulkwrote in |last2=kerala 2006-02-23 20:20:00 |first2=2006-02-23 20:20:00 The Incredulous Hulk quizling |website=kerala.livejournal.com |language=en-us |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> Though his column was criticised for its alleged superficiality, the column helped a very large section of readers of Kerala to the world of literature from the Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. His critique of works by Malayalam authors were said to be impartial irrespective of whether the writer was a novice or an established one; he also used the column to comment upon the society. Nair, himself, did not consider the column as literary criticism, but preferred to call it literary journalism.<ref name="The Day Literary Criticism Died" /><ref name="Literary journalism at its best" /> ''Sahithya Vaaraphalam'' has since been compiled as a book and is also available online.<ref name="M. Krishnan Nair on Sayahna" />

== Awards and honours ==
When the B. D. Goenka Award was instituted in 1979, Krishnan Nair was selected for the honour for excellence in [[literary journalism]].<ref name="Literary journalism at its best" /> [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] awarded him their [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions|annual honour for overall contributions]] to him 2000.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/total.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions |date=2019-02-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705154814/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/total.htm |archive-date=5 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Books by M.Krishnan Nair==
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZqqyxVkufQC&q=Adhunika+Malayala+Kavitha+m+krishnan+nair&pg=PA175|title=Adhunika Malayala Kavitha |last=M. Krishnan Nair |year=1972 |publisher=P. K. Brothers|isbn=9788126004133 }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%8F%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%86_%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%82 |title=Ekanthathayude Layam |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Prabhath Books|date=1984}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%9C%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B2%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D_%E0%B4%B1%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B8%E0%B4%82 |title=Magical Realism |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Prabhath Books|date=1985}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B6%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D_%E0%B4%92%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81_%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%97%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%82 |title=Prakashathinu Oru Sthuthigeetham |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Prabhath Books|date=1987}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%82_%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%83%E0%B4%B7%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D_%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%86_%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%AC%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A7%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%BE |title=M. Krishnan Nayarute Prabhandhangal |last=M. Krishnan Nair |date=1987}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4_%E0%B4%B6%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%AD%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%BE |title=Karutha Shalabangal |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Prabhath Books|date=1988}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%A5%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%99%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B2%E0%B5%86_%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B5%BC |title=Manorathangalile Yathrakkar |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Prabhath Books|date=1990}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%86%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%86_%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%BC%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%82 |title=Athmavinte Dharpanam |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Prabhath Books|date=1991}}
* {{Cite book |url= http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%B6%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF|title=Sarathkala Deepthi |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Prabhatham Printing and Publishing |date=1993}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%86_%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82_%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%B2%E0%B5%86 |title=Panineer Puvinte Parimalampole |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=H & C Books|date=1994}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%BE |title=Muthukal |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Neruda|date=1994}}
* {{Cite book |url= http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B6%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A6%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF;_%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%83%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A7%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF|title=Vishwasundhari, Vruddhrathi |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Imprint|date=1996}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BE,_%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%99%E0%B4%B3%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D_%E0%B4%9C%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8B%3F |title=Vayanakkara, Ningal Jeevichirikkunno |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=DC Books|date=1997}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ml.sayahna.org/index.php/%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B8%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B2%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%BE |title=Kalasankalppangal |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=MaluBen Publications|date=1999}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://kslc.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=45314&query_desc= |title=Sahithya Varaphalam |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Current Books|date=1999}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://kslc.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=45314&query_desc= |title=Soundharyathinte Sannidhanathil |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=H and C Books|date=2007}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=1601 |title=Mohabhangangal |last=M. Krishnan Nair |publisher=Olive Publications}}
* {{Cite book |title=Oru Shabdathil Oru Ragam |last=M. Krishnan Nair }}
{{div col end}}

=== Edited works ===
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.amazon.in/Malayalathinte-Suvarnakathakal-M-Krishnan-Nair/dp/B0086T8IDS/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549355733&sr=1-8 |title=Malayalathinte Suvarnakathakal |publisher=Green Books |year=2007 |editor-last=M. Krishnan Nair |isbn=979-8184230634}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.amazon.in/thirenjedutha-malayalakathakal-M-Krishnan-Nair/dp/B007E5FZ04/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549355551&sr=1-14&refinements=p_27%253AKrishnan+Nair |title=Thirenjedutha Malayalakathakal |publisher=Green Books |year=2008 |editor-last=M. Krishnan Nair |asin=B007E5FZ04}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chY2LQHc2lk |title=M. Krishnan Nair - Marikkatha Pranayam |date=January 25, 2014 |website=YouTube |publisher=ACV Channel |access-date=2019-02-04 |quote=M Krishnan Nair's family talks about the late writer and literary critic}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm-eHkSXmpE |title=Prof. M. Krishnan Nair |last=literarycriticm |date=October 6, 2008 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-02-05}}

{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, M. Krishnan}}
[[Category:Writers from Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Malayalam literary critics]]
[[Category:University College Thiruvananthapuram faculty]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Maharaja's College, Ernakulam faculty]]
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni]]

M. Krishnan Nair (author) - Revision history

imported>UrielAcosta: /* Biography */deleted "is survived by..." & other obituary-like material per MOS:BIO's "Out-of-date material" section