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{{Short description|19th-century Malayalam-language poet and journalist}}
{{Given name hatnote|Kunhikrishna Menon|Oduvil|lang=Malayali}}{{Infobox writer
| name = Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menon
| image = Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menon.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name = ഒടുവിൽ കുഞ്ഞിക്കൃഷ്ണമേനോൻ
| native_name_lang = ml
| pseudonym =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1869|10|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Enkakkad]], [[Wadakkancherry]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1916|05|18|1869|10|26|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Ernakulam]], Kingdom of Cochin
| resting_place =
| occupation = Writer, poet, civil servant
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| education = Bachelor of Arts
| alma_mater =
| period =
| genre = Poem, story, literary criticism
| subject =
| movement = [[Venmani School]]
| notable_works =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| years_active =
}}

'''Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menon''' (26 October 1869 – 18 May 1916) was a [[Malayalam]]–language poet, short-story writer, journalist and literary critic from [[Kerala]], India. Menon was associated with the [[Venmani School]] of Malayalam poetry and was also a major figure in early prose literature. Along with [[Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar]], [[Moorkoth Kumaran]], [[Chenkulath Cheriya Kunhirama Menon]] (M. R. K. C.), [[C. S. Gopala Panicker]] and [[Ambadi Narayana Poduval]], Kunhikrishna Menon is regarded as a pioneer of the short story in [[Malayalam literature]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=A Brief Survey of Malayalam Literature: History of Literature |author=[[K. M. Tharakan]] |publisher=National Books |date=1990 |page=72 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3nhkAAAAMAAJ |quote=The pioneers of the short-story in Malayalam were Vengayil Kunju Raman Nayanar, Oduvil Kunjukrishna Menon, C. S. Gopala Panikkar, Ambadi Narayana Poduval, Chakulath Kunjirama Menon (M. R. K. C.) and Murkoth Kumaran.}}</ref>

==Biography==
===Early life and career===
Kunhikrishna Menon was born on 26 October 1869 as the son of Alathur Manakkal Parameswaram Namboothiripad (Kunjunni) and Oduvil Kunjikuttiyamma in [[Enkakkad]] village near [[Wadakkancherry]] in the present-day [[Thrissur district]] of [[Kerala]] state.<ref name="Ulloor">{{Cite book |title=Kerala Sahithya Charithram |author=[[Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer]] |chapter= 52.6 ഒടുവിൽ കുഞ്ഞിക്കൃഷ്ണമേനോൻ (1045–1091) |url=https://archive.org/details/kerala-sahitya-charitram-vol-1-ulloor-1953-ku |chapter-url= http://ax.sayahna.org/ulloor/ulloor-4-52.html |publisher=University of Travancore |date=1953 |language=ml}}</ref> Kunhikrishna Menon got his family name, ''Oduvil'', through [[matrilineal succession]].

He was educated at Wadakkancherry Grant School and Trichur Mission School. He completed his [[Intermediate of Arts|FA]] degree from [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]] and Madras. He then worked as the headmaster at Wadakkanchery Middle School for two years. In 1898, he obtained his [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] degree from [[University College Thiruvananthapuram|Trivandrum University College]].<ref name="Ulloor" /> He was the first BA degree holder among the Malayalam language poets. His family was not financially well at this time, so he completed his studies by working and with the help of his friends. He also got the support of [[Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran]]. To support himself, he wrote articles in ''[[Malayala Manorama]]'' and edited the magazine ''Ramarajan'' which was started under the ownership of Sankarayar, a bookseller in Trivandrum.<ref name="Ulloor" />

After completing his studies, he joined the Cochin government service as a clerk in [[Ernakulam]] Huzur Cutchery.<ref name="Ulloor"/> Later, he served in [[Chittur]], [[Thalappilli]] and [[Trichur]] taluks as deputy and rose from that position to become Tehsil Magistrate in [[Kodungallur]].<ref name="Ulloor"/> Although Menon had already attained fame as a [[Venmani School|Venmani poet]] by this time, it was only then he became personally close with the [[Kodungallur Kovilakam]] who pioneered the [[Venmani School]].<ref name="Ulloor"/> Later Menon served as the magistrate in [[Irinjalakkuda]], [[Cochin]] and [[Ernakulam]] taluks.<ref name="Ulloor"/>

===Personal life and death===
Ittyanath Mookambika Amma (sister to the Cochin king) was his first wife. After her death, he married Alathu Puthan Veettil Chinnammu Amma, and after her death, he married Achatil Kochukutti Amma. He had three daughters and one son from these three marriages.<ref name="Ulloor"/> His younger brother Oduvil Sankarankutty Menon (1883–1945), who was born blind, was also a noted poet in Malayalam.<ref name="Ulloor"/> He also had a younger sister, Ammukutty amma, who was married to the poet [[Pandalam Kerala Varma]], Ammalu Amma, and Lakshmikutty Amma (who was the first principal of the school run by their family: later taken over by the Government). Writers Alathur Anujan Namboothiripad (1882–1943) and Paliath Cheriya Kunjunni Achan (1880–1943) were his stepbrothers.<ref name="Ulloor"/> Film actor [[Oduvil Unnikrishnan]] (1943–2006) was his niece’s son.<ref>[http://wadakanchery.com/famous-persons-from-wadakanchery/ "വൈഭവച്ചേരി: Famous persons from Wadakanchery"]. Wadakanchery.com. Retrieved 16 January 2023.</ref>

Menon died of diabetes on 18 May 1916. He was the Magistrate of [[Ernakulam]] taluk at the time of his death.<ref name="Ulloor"/>

==Writing==
Menon wrote poetry, short story, novel, farce and criticism. A gradual growth can be seen in his literature, starting from the traditional poetic style like praise poems, through the stylistic and linguistic innovation started by the [[Venmani School|Venmani movement]], reaching the modern literary movements such as short stories and novels.<ref name="Ulloor"/> The Sanskrit influence in his early works can be seen gradually decreasing and the English influence growing.<ref name="Ulloor"/>

===Poetry===
Menon started writing poetry at a very early age. Even though he never had the opportunity to formally learn Sanskrit, he was able to excel as a scholar and poet.<ref name="Ulloor"/> In 1893, he won the prize in the [[Bhashaposhini]]sabha poetry conference held in Calicut.<ref name="Ulloor"/> Menon wrote poetry in both Sanksrit metres and Malayalam metres. ''Vinodini, Lakshmivilasa Satakam, Antarjanathinte Aparadham, Oru Police Inspectorude Vadham, Oru Pathivrathayude Katha, Kumbakona Yatra'' and ''Madirashi Kadalkara'' are the major works composed in Sanskrit metres.<ref name="Ulloor"/> ''Ajamilamoksham Vanjippattu'' is an important work composed in Malayalam metres.<ref name="Ulloor"/> Works like ''Upakosa, Panchangi'',''Chandalimoksham'' and ''Devayani Parinayam'' were written in collaboration with other poets.<ref name="Ulloor"/> ''Devayani Parinayam'' (Quilon: E. V. R. Unnithan, 1914) was co-authored with [[Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer]], Kundoor Narayana Menon and [[Pandalam Kerala Varma]].{{sfn|Govi|1973|p=45}} 23 of his poems are compiled and published in the book ''Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menonte Krithikal: Part 1'' (Kottakkal: Lakshmi Sahayam, 1926), with an introduction by P. V. Krishna Warrier and a biographical note by Puthezhath Govinda Menon.<ref name="Bib">{{Cite book |title=Malayala Grantha Soochi: A Retrospective Bibliography of Malayalam Books |volume=1 |editor-last=Govi |editor-first=K. M. |publisher=[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]]|date=1973|page=45}}</ref> 23 other poems are compiled in ''Part 2'' (Kottakkal: Lakshmi Sahayam, 1927), with an introduction by [[Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer]].<ref name="Bib"/>

Menon did not write any long poems yet was regarded as a great poet. Most of his poems have an element of humour in them. Although he followed the tradition of his predecessors, the influence of western culture can be observed in his poems at many points. According to Ulloor, among the poets of the time, Menon is the one truly deserving to be called a "''Sarasakavi''" (meaning humour poet).<ref name="Ulloor"/>

===Prose===
{{Quote box|width=35%|align=right|"Otuvil Kunju Krishna Menon's stories are not really short, and it is rather difficult to bring them within the limits of the short story proper. All of them have love themes ending in happy marriages, whatever the difficulty in between. They were mainly meant to be read to while away the time."|source=''A survey of Malayalam literature'', [[K. M. George (writer)|K. M. George]].<ref>{{cite book |author=[[K. M. George (writer)|K. M. George]] |title=A survey of Malayalam literature |date=1968 |publisher=Asia Publishing House |location=Bombay |page=183 |edition=1st}}</ref>}}
Short stories were published in Malayalam 1890s onwards. ''[[Vasanavikriti]]'' published in ''[[Vidyavinodini]]'' is a detective story. Following that, stories like ''Menokkiye Konnatharanu'', ''Dwaraka'', ''Pathalarajavu'' (all by [[Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar]]) and ''Ente Aadyathe Piece'' etc. also came out through the same magazine. A few more short stories emerged when ''[[Bhashaposhini]]'' started circulating as a magazine in 1897. ''Rasikaranjini'' magazine emerged around this time with the intention of publishing good stories. Menon was one of the first to write stories with a social theme. He remarkably succeeded in the narrative style and characterisation of his stories.<ref name="Ulloor"/> His stories were not without some flaws. But the short story as a genre of literature had only developed so much then. The longest among his stories is "Malathi" which runs into eight chapters.<ref name="Ulloor"/> The stories "Kalyanikutty", "Janu", "Narayanikutty" and "Kelunni Moopil Nair" have been compiled and published in a book titled ''Naalu Kathakal'' (Trichur: Mangalodayam, 1925).{{sfn|Govi|1973|p=592}} "Sarojini Bhai", "Vicharam Thetti", "Oru Rathri", "Sathyam Thelinju", "Kaumudi" and several other stories were published in various magazines of the time. The story "Janu" was included in the book ''100 Varsham 100 Katha'' (''100 Years 100 Stories''), published by [[DC Books]].<ref>[https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/indepth/readers-day/2018/06/17/history-of-malayalam-story.html "125 വർഷം പഴക്കമുള്ള കഥ"]. ''[[Malayala Manorama]]''. Retrieved 17 January 2023.</ref> Kunhikrishna Menon was regarded as the successor of Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar in Malayalam short story writing.<ref name="Ulloor"/> He also wrote a farce called ''Kalyanikalyanam'' (Trichur: Jnanasagaram, 1923).{{sfn|Govi|1973|p=331}}

Menon also made a mark in the field of journalism as the editor of the magazine ''Ramarajan''.<ref name="Ulloor"/> Imitating ''[[Malayala Manorama]]'', Menon introduced a column for poetry in ''Ramarajan'' and many major poets published their poems in it.<ref name="Ulloor"/> He also published scholarly reviews of several books including [[Kottarathil Sankunni]]'s ''Raja Kesavadasan'' in ''Ramarajan''.<ref name="Ulloor"/> Menon wrote a series of articles in ''Manorama'' under the name ''Kora Prabhu''. This series was a humorous take on the state affairs of Cochin and was very popular at the time.<ref name="Ulloor"/> Menon was actively involved in the debates that took place in the newspapers of that time based on [[Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker]]'s ''Kaviramayanam''. He even adopted a pen name ''Hanuman'' just to criticise Muloor's work.<ref name="Ulloor"/>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://archive.org/details/NaluKadhakal/ ''Naalu Kathakal'']. Collection of four stories (Read online).

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Harisharma |first=A. D. |title=Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menon |publisher=Vidya Vilasam |location=[[Trivandrum]] |date=1932 |language=ml}}
* {{Cite book |author=Kunhikrishna Menon Smaraka Vayanashala |title=Oduvil Smaraka Grantham |publisher= |location=[[Enkakkad]] |date=1969 |language=ml}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Menon, Oduvil Kunhikrishna}}

[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:1869 births]]
[[Category:1916 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Malayalam short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian male short story writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Writers from Thrissur]]
[[Category:People from Thrissur district]]

Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menon - Revision history

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