2402:3A80:51A:18AC:0:37:8F18:2401: The spelling of vidwan vidwaan

2021-08-20T03:30:19Z

The spelling of vidwan vidwaan

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{{short description|Indian writer and activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Ponkunnam Varkey<br>പൊൻകുന്നം വർക്കി
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1910|07|01}}
| birth_place = [[Edathua]], [[Alleppey]], [[Travancore]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2004|7|2|1910|7|1}}
| death_place = [[Pampady]], [[Kottayam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
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| occupation = Writer, activist, teacher, [[Indian freedom struggle|freedom fighter]]
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| nationality = Indian
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| genre = Short story, play, screenplay, poem, essay
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| awards = {{awd|Vallathol Award|1994}}
{{awd|[[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]]|1997}}
{{awd|Lalithambika Sahitya Award|2002}}
{{awd|Muttathu Varkey Award|2002}}
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'''Ponkunnam Varkey''' ({{lang-ml|പൊൻകുന്നം വർക്കി}}; 1 July 1910 – 2 July 2004) was a writer and activist from [[Kerala]], India. He authored more than 120 short stories and 16 plays and is widely acclaimed as a writer who had always upheld social relevance in his works. Varkey combated many evils that existed in society during his days. His stories heightened the values of freedom and democracy. His name was synonymous with protest and he used his literary prowess to launch an uncompromising struggle against social injustice. Varkey was one of the pioneers of the progressive writers' forum and literary writers' co-operative in Kerala. He was the president of [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] and [[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]].

==Biography==
Varkey was born on 1 July 1910, in a Syrian Christian family of [[Edathua]] village in Kuttanad, [[Alappuzha district]] (Alleppey), to Kattappuram Varkey Joseph and Annamma Joseph. After his father's death Varkey went to his mother's house at [[Ponkunnam]] in [[Kottayam]]. As Varkey himself had said, his childhood was not a protected one, but based on the dictum of the survival of the fittest.<ref name="The Hindu">[https://web.archive.org/web/20040824062043/http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/03/stories/2004070307820500.htm "Ponkunnam Varkey dead"]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 4 July 2013.</ref> While studying in school, he was attracted to [[Indian independence movement]] and the subject matter of his early writings was related to this theme. After high school studies he passed the Malayalam 'Vidwaan' examination; the then prevalent qualifying test for language teachers and joined a Catholic school, near Ponkunnam. But his relationship with the management was unpleasant and he left the institution when he was appointed teacher at the Vernacular Middle School in Pampady in 1942. Soon he resigned this job and jumped into the freedom struggle and was imprisoned.<ref name="The Hindu"/>

He was associated with the [[Communist Party]] for some time and was the secretary of [[Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham]] (progressive writers' forum) for five years.

He died on 2 July 2004, a day after his 94th birthday. His wife Claramma had died in 1991. They had four sons and three daughters.<ref>[http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july022004/update12.asp "Ponkunnam Varkey passes away"]. ''Deccan Herald''. Retrieved 4 July 2013.</ref>

==Literary career==
Varkey entered the literary field in 1939 with ''Thirumulkazhcha'', a collection of poems that got rave reviews from the stalwarts of the time.<ref name="The Hindu"/> It won the award of the [[Madras]] government in 1939. Varkey soon changed his track and chose prose, finding that drama and short story were the most effective vehicles to bring the written word close to the spoken one. He was already in the vortex of the great churning that was taking place in Kerala's social arena; he used his literary prowess to launch an uncompromising struggle against social injustice. This brought him in direct conflict with the then Diwan. His short stories ''Manthrikkettu'' and ''Model'' were banned in 1946 by the government of the princely state of [[Travancore]] (now forming southern Kerala) on the charge of treason and Varkey was imprisoned for six months.<ref>Sahithyakara Directory ; Kerala Sahithya Academy,Thrissur</ref>

In 1944, Varkey started the National Book Stall, with the support of people like [[D. C. Kizhakemuri]]. But the venture was a total failure; after a few years, it merged with the [[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]] (SPCS), world's first writer's publishing cooperative and Varkey functioned as its president.<ref name="The Hindu"/> This was one of the most creative periods in his life.

Varkey has published 24 volumes of short stories, 16 volumes of plays, two collection of poems one collection of essays (profiles of some politicians and public figures) and a volume of autobiography.<ref>Akhilavijnanakosam; D.C.Books; Kottayam</ref> His short story ''Sabdikkunna Kalappa'' has always been considered as one of the best short stories in Malayalam
literature. It describes the close relationship between a farmer and his ox.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130703201850/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-07-02/thiruvananthapuram/27144861_1_malayalam-films-magnum-opus-kerala-sahitya-academy "'Ponkunnam' Varkey passes away"]. ''The Times of India''. Retrieved 4 July 2013.</ref>

His dramas were noted not only for its social criticism but with its artistic beauty. The dramas when staged his messages were bringing closer to the masses. His left oriented philosophy and relentless fight against feudalism, its decadent values and institutionalised church made him darling of the downtrodden and, simultaneously a thorn in the eye of the powerful.

The recurrent themes of Varkey's writings are the decadence in the echelons of power and the corruption among the clergy. His style is direct, simple and unostentatious and the characters of his stories are ordinary rural folk, mostly farmers and workers.<ref>Cherukadha Innale Innu Naale ; M.Achuthan ; S.P.C.S. Kottayam</ref> The focus of his works was on human relationships and man's relationship with nature.<ref name="The Hindu"/> Varkey's writing expedited the evolution of a congenial atmosphere for social change in the first half of the 20th century in India.

In 1973 Varkey was nominated as the president of [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]]. In 1997, [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]], the highest literary honour of the Kerala government was awarded to Varkey.<ref name="The Hindu"/>

==Film career==
He wrote screenplays for several films and produced two films. His entry into the film industry was through ''Navalokam'', for which he penned the story and dialogue. The screenplay was heavily loaded with pro-labour dialogues and the film received heavy cuts from the Censor Board.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130703201825/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/05/24/stories/2008052452401300.htm "NAVALOKAM 1951"]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 4 July 2013.</ref> He also worked for films like ''Asha Deepom'', ''[[Snehaseema]]'',<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120626132721/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/07/stories/2008060752701300.htm "SNEHASEEMA 1954"]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 4 July 2013.</ref> ''[[Bharya (1962 film)|Bharya]]'', ''Vidhithanna Vilakku'', ''School Master'' and many others. He also produced two films – ''Makam Piranna Manka'' and ''Chalanam''. Varkey was an honorary member of Malayalam Cine Technicians' Association (MACTA).<ref name="The Hindu"/>

== Major works ==

===Short stories===
*''Kunakiriyam''
*''Aniyara''
*''Anthithiri''
*''Veliyil Enikku Sthalamilla''
*''Nivedanam''
*''Idivandi''ailil ninnu''
*''model"
*"Ezhakal''
*''Pottiya Izhakal''
*''Nattuvelicham''
*''Daham''
*''Daivathekkal Njan pedikkunnathu''
*''Hridayanadam''
*''Sabdikkunna Kalappa''
*''Democracy''

===Plays===

*''Kathirukanakkili''
*''Bharthavu''
*''Jethakkal''
*''Premaviplavam''
*''Swargam Nanikunnu''
*''Pooja''
*''Njan oradhikappattanu''
*''Vazhi Thurannu''
*''Visarikku Kattu Venda''
*''Karnan''
*''Manushyan''
*''Althara''
*''Irumpumara''
*''Chalanam''
*''Thrumulkazhcha'' (Poetry)
*''Neeravi''
*''Ente Vazhithirivu '' (Autobiography)

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/7581 Negation in the works of Ponkunnam Varkey]
{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}
{{Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varkey, Ponkunnam}}
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]
[[Category:People from Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian male short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Malayalam short story writers]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Malayalam screenwriters]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam film producers]]
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Film producers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:People of the Kingdom of Travancore]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]

Ponkunnam Varkey - Revision history

2402:3A80:51A:18AC:0:37:8F18:2401: The spelling of vidwan vidwaan