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{{Short description|Indian Malayalam language poet and literary critic (1931–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Mathew Ulakamthara
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = V. Mathew
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|6|6}}
| birth_place = Arattukulam, [[Vaikom]], [[Travancore]], [[British India]]
| death_place = Thellakam, Kottayam district
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|2|24|1931|6|6}}
| alma_mater = [[University of Kerala]]<br>[[University of Madras]]
| nationality = Indian
| citizenship = [[India]]
| occupation = writer, academic
| genre = poetry, literary criticism
| movement =
| notableworks =
| parents = Ulakamthra Varkey <br> Anna
| spouse = Thresiamma
| children = 4
| notable_works = Christu Gadha
| awards = Sabha Rathnam
| influences =
| signature =
}}
'''Mathew Ulakamthara''' was a [[Malayalam language]] writer, literary critic and academic from [[Kerala]], India. He received several awards including ''Sabha Rathnam'', the highest honour of the [[Syro-Malabar Church]].

==Biography==
Mathew Ulakamthara was born on 6 June 1931, in Chungam Ulakamthara house in present-day Arattukulam in [[Vaikom]], [[Kottayam district]] of Kerala to Anna of Varkey of the Ulakamthara family.<ref name="Mathrubhumi daily">{{cite news |title=പ്രൊഫ. മാത്യു ഉലകംതറ അന്തരിച്ചു |work=Mathrubhumi daily |date=25 February 2022|language=ml}}</ref> In 1954, he obtained a degree in Malayalam from the [[University of Kerala]] and later did his Post Graduate Degree from the [[University of Madras]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/> He served as Malayalam lecturer at [[Sacred Heart College, Thevara|Thevara SH College]] for three decades and retired as head of the department in 1986.<ref name="Manorama"/> After retirement he worked as teacher at [[Mananthavady]] Newman's College.<ref name="Deepika daily">{{cite news | first=Kurian | last=Jibin |title= അറിവ് നിറച്ചാർത്തണിയിച്ച ഗുരുഭൂതൻ |work=Deepika daily |date=25 February 2022|language=ml}}</ref> He was later appointed Honorary Professor of [[Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |title=പ്രൊഫ. മാത്യു ഉലകംതറ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/literature/news/prof-mathew-ulakamthara-passes-away-1.7292565 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=ml}}</ref> He also served as the sub-editor of ''Thananthu'' magazine and Editor-in-Chief of Deepika Weekly (1988-1990).<ref name="Manorama"/><ref name="Sathyadeepam"/>

Mathew has also served as the Chief Examiner, Chairman of the Examination Board, Textbook Committee Member, Oriental Faculty and chairman of the Board of Studies of Kerala and [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala|MG]] Universities.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

===Personal life and death===
Mathew was an [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Rite Catholic]] affiliated with the [[Syro-Malabar Church]].<ref name="DD">{{Cite news |date=11 March 2012 |title=പ്രൊഫ. ഉലകംതറ സഭയുടെ മുതൽക്കൂട്ട്: മാർ ആലഞ്ചേരി |language=Malayalam |work=Deepika daily}}</ref> He and his wife Thresiamma have four children.<ref name="Mathrubhumi2">{{Cite web |date=2015-06-15 |title=ആയിരം പൂര്‍ണചന്ദ്രന്മാരെ കണ്ട നിറവില്‍ പ്രൊഫ. മാത്യു ഉലകംതറ |url=https://archives.mathrubhumi.com/kottayam/news/--1.280555 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227025257/https://archives.mathrubhumi.com/kottayam/news/--1.280555 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He died on 24 February 2022, at a private hospital in Thellakam, Kottayam district.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

==Literary contributions==
When he was 12 years old, his first work was published in Deepika Weekly Children's page.<ref name="Deepika daily"/> At the time of writing the articles in ''Kerala Pamkthi'' magazine under the name Vaikkom V. Mathew, its editor, Father C. K. Mattam, suggested that the family name be added to his name.<ref name="Deepika daily"/> After that he started writing under the name Mathew Ulakamthara.

Mathew has authored over fifty works in various genres including Literary Criticism, Poetry, Drama, Biography and Religious Thought.<ref name="Manorama">{{cite news |title=പ്രഫ. മാത്യു ഉലകംതറ ഇന്ന് നവതിയിലേക്ക് |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/06/06/prof-mathew-ulakamthara.html |work=www.manoramaonline.com |date=6 June 2020}}</ref> His introductions to the works of many authors including [[Vaikom Muhammad Basheer]], [[Pala Narayanan Nair]] and [[Mary John Thottam]] are also noteworthy.<ref name="Manorama"/> These will be published in book form soon.<ref name="Manorama"/>

Mathew's main literary work is the epic ''Christugatha'' (meaning: The Story of Christ), which is a poem that gives a comprehensive and aesthetic account of the life and teachings of [[Jesus Christ]] from his birth to his ascension to heaven.<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/> Six editions of this book have been released.<ref name="Deepika daily"/> He has also authored several Christian devotional songs.<ref name="Sathyadeepam">{{cite web |title=പ്രൊഫ. മാത്യു ഉലകംതറയ്ക്കു സ്മരണാഞ്ജലി |url=https://www.sathyadeepam.org/news/kerala/tribute |publisher=Sathyadeepam Weekly |language=ml |date=25 February 2022}}</ref> His literary criticism books have been made textbooks by three universities in Kerala.<ref name="Manorama"/> The books used as texts were ''Vimarshasopanam'', ''Alochanamritham'', and ''Sahithyapeedika''.<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>

Mathew has been a member of the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]], Secretary of the [[Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad]] and a member of the advisory board of the [[Kerala Bhasha Institute]].<ref name="Deepika daily"/>

==Selected works==
===Christian philosophy===
*{{cite book |last1=Pianius |first1=Clement |last2=Ulakamthara |first2=Mathew |title=Samshepavedartham |date=1980 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |oclc=10752451 |edition=2 |language=Malayalam}}

===Poetry===
*''Christugatha''
*''Velichathinte Makal'' (meaning: Daughter of Light)<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>
*''Adyathe Maranam'' (meaning: First Death)<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>

===Literary criticism===
*''Vimarshasopanam''
*{{cite book |last1=Ulakamthara |first1=Mathew |title=Alochanamrutham |date=1971 |oclc=31122740 |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Sahityapeedika |date=1984 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/207813 |language=Malayalam}}

===Religious===
*{{cite book |last1=Ulakamthara |first1=Mathew |title=Vishwaprakasam: padyanatakam |date=1970 |oclc=39769351 |language=Malayalam}} (meaning: Universal light). Poetic Drama on life of Jesus Christ.
*''Veerambana Kathakal''<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>
*{{cite book |last1=Ulakamthara |first1=Mathew |title=Haindavam Christavam |date=2001 |publisher=Merit Books |oclc=51264368 |edition=2 |language=Malayalam}} (meaning: Hinduism and Christianity)<ref name="Sathyadeepam"/>
*''Mar Apreminte Mariya Geethangal''<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>
*''Christu Bimbangal Malayalathil'' (meaning: Christ Images in Malayalam)<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>
*{{cite book |title=Bharatham:Karnaparvam |date=1984 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society|location=Kottayam |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/212527 |language=Malayalam}}

===Biography===
*{{cite book |title=I.C. Chacko |date=1995 |publisher= Department of Culture, Government of Kerala |location=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=978-8186365441 |oclc=35743099 |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Arnos Pathiri |date=1982 |publisher=Kerala History Association |location=Thiruvananthapuram |oclc=17608738 |language=Malayalam}} Based on life of [[Johann Ernst Hanxleden]].
*{{cite book |last1=Thomma Kattanar |first1=Paremmakkal |last2=Kariyatti |first2=Ausep |last3=Ulakamthara |first3=Mathew |title=Varthamana Pusthakam athava Roma Yathra |date=1983 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |oclc=14240329 |language=Malayalam}}
*''Indira Gandhi'', life of former Indian Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]]<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>

===Essays===
*{{cite book |title=Kaippum Maduravum |date=1981 |publisher= DC Books |location=Kottayam |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/77550 |language=Malayalam}} (meaning: Bitter and Sweet)<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>

===Others===
*{{cite book |title=Ulkkazhchakal |date=1992 |publisher=Janatha|location=Thevara |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/209675 |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Bheerukkalude Swargam |date=1982 |publisher= Prathibha publication |location=Vaikom |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/78754 |language=Malayalam}} (meaning: Heaven of Cowards)<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>

==Awards and honours==
*K. V. Simon Award<ref name="Mathrubhumi daily"/>
*A.K.C.C. Award<ref name="Akademi">{{Cite book |last=Dutt |first=Kartik Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QA1V7sICaIwC&dq=mathew+ulakamthara+awards&pg=PA730 |title=Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M |date=1999 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0873-5 |language=en}}</ref>
*Athansius Award<ref name="Akademi"/>
*Marthoma Award<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>
*Vanisseri Award<ref name="Mathrubhumi2"/>
*[[Ulloor Award]]<ref name="Mathrubhumi daily"/>
*Mahakavi Kattakkayam Gold Medal<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*KCBC Award<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*Catholic Congress Award<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*KCYM Award<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*Kudumbadeepam Award<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*LRC Award<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*Sr Mary Baneenja Award<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*IC Chacko Award<ref name="Deepika daily"/>
*Syro-Malabar Research Center Award 2011<ref name="DD"/>
*In 2019, he received the title ''Sabha Rathnam'' (meaning: gem of the church) the highest honor of the Syro-Malabar Church.<ref name="Mathrubhumi daily"/>

==Works on him==
*{{cite book |last1=Manalil |first1=Paul |title=Ulakamtara, kaviyum nirupakanum: patanangal |date=2001 |oclc=48870951 |language=Malayalam}} (meaning: Ulakamthara, poet and critic:studies). Study on works of Mathew Ulakamthara.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulakamthara, Mathew}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Catholic Church and minority language rights]]
[[Category:Eastern Catholic poets]]
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]
[[Category:Malayalam literary critics]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kottayam district]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:University of Kerala alumni]]
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholics]]

Mathew Ulakamthara - Revision history

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