Sooranad Kunjan Pillai - Revision history

Indiabulez: basic adjust structure after review and added references

2026-02-12T02:49:50Z

basic adjust structure after review and added references

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:19, 12 February 2026
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			{{Short description\|Indian writer and academic (1911–1995)}}
			{{family name hatnote\|Sooranad\|Kunjan Pillai\|Indian name\|lang=Toponymic}}
			{{Indian patronymic\|Kunjan Pillai\|Payikkattu Neelakanta}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2018}}
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	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	~~\| native_name = ശൂരനാട് പി എൻ കുഞ്ഞൻപിള്ള~~
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1911\|06\|24\|df=yes}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1911\|06\|24\|df=yes}}
	\| birth_place = [[Sooranad]], [[Travancore\|Kingdom of Travancore]], [[British India]] (present day [[Kollam district\|Kollam]], [[Kerala]], India)		\| birth_place = [[Sooranad]], [[Travancore\|Kingdom of Travancore]], [[British India]] (present day [[Kollam district\|Kollam]], [[Kerala]], India)
	~~\| nationality = [[India]]n~~
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1995\|03\|08\|1911\|11\|26\|df=yes}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1995\|03\|08\|1911\|11\|26\|df=yes}}
	\| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram district\|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India		\| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram district\|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
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	\| awards = {{ubl\|Sahithya Nipunan\|1976 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]]\|1984 [[Padmashri]]\|1992 [[Vallathol Award]]\|1993 [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]]}}		\| awards = {{ubl\|Sahithya Nipunan\|1976 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]]\|1984 [[Padmashri]]\|1992 [[Vallathol Award]]\|1993 [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]]}}
	}}		}}
	'''Sooranad ~~P. N.~~ Kunjan Pillai''' (24		'''Sooranad Payikkattu Neelakanta Kunjan Pillai''' (24 June 1911 {{endash}} 8 March 1995) was an Indian researcher, [[lexicographer]], poet, essayist, literary critic, orator, [[Linguist\|grammarian]], educationist, and scholar of the [[Malayalam language]], best remembered for his contributions in compiling ''Malayala Maha Nighantu'', a lexicon. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the [[Padmashri]] in 1984 for his contribution to [[Malayalam literature]] and education. He was also a recipient of the [[Vallathol Award]] in 1992 and when the Government of Kerala instituted the [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]], their highest literary honour in 1993, he received the inaugural award.
	June 1911 {{endash}} 8 March 1995) was an Indian , researcher, [[lexicographer]], poet, essayist, literary critic, orator, [[Linguist\|grammarian]], educationist, and scholar of the [[Malayalam language]], best remembered for his contributions in compiling ''Malayala Maha Nighantu'', a lexicon. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the [[Padmashri]] in 1984 for his contribution to [[Malayalam literature]] and education. He was also a recipient of the [[Vallathol Award]] in 1992 and when the Government of Kerala instituted the [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]], their highest literary honour in 1993, he received the inaugural award.

	==Biography==		==Biography==
	[[File:University College , Trivandrum.jpg\|thumb\|left\|University College , Thiruvananthapuram, Pillai's alma mater]]		[[File:University College , Trivandrum.jpg\|thumb\|left\|University College , Thiruvananthapuram, Pillai's alma mater]]
	~~Sooranad~~ Kunjan Pillai was born on 26 November 1911 in [[Sooranad]], near [[Sasthamkotta]] in the present day [[Kollam district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to Payikkattu Neelakanta Pillai and Karthiyani ~~Pillai~~ Amma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranarKPillaigraphy.htm \|title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal \|date=2019-04-20 \|website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> After initial studies under his father, he did his formal education at a local elementary school, [[Thevalakkara]] Primary School and Chavara High School where he studied under noted teacher, Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup, and passed the 10th standard examination in 1927. Subsequently, he joined the [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]] for his under-graduate studies with English as the optional subject and Sanskrit as subsidiary and graduated in 1933 and earned a master's degree in English in 1933.<ref name="Sooranad Birth Centenary Fete Inaugurated">{{Cite web \|url=~~http~~://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2011/jun/21/sooranad-birth-centenary-fete-inaugurated-264763.html \|title=Sooranad Birth Centenary Fete Inaugurated \|website=The New Indian Express \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> Continuing his education, he secured two more master's degrees, in Sanskrit in 1934 and in Malayalam in 1935.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />		Kunjan Pillai was born on 26 November 1911 in [[Sooranad]], near [[Sasthamkotta]] in the present day [[Kollam district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to [[Nair\|Nair parents]] Payikkattu Neelakanta Pillai and Karthiyani Amma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranarKPillaigraphy.htm \|title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal \|date=2019-04-20 \|website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> After initial studies under his father, he did his formal education at a local elementary school, [[Thevalakkara]] Primary School and Chavara High School where he studied under noted teacher, Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup, and passed the 10th standard examination in 1927. Subsequently, he joined the [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]] for his under-graduate studies with English as the optional subject and Sanskrit as subsidiary and graduated in 1933 and earned a master's degree in English in 1933.<ref name="Sooranad Birth Centenary Fete Inaugurated">{{Cite web \|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2011/jun/21/sooranad-birth-centenary-fete-inaugurated-264763.html \|title=Sooranad Birth Centenary Fete Inaugurated \|website=The New Indian Express \|date=16 May 2012 \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> Continuing his education, he secured two more master's degrees, in Sanskrit in 1934 and in Malayalam in 1935.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

	Pillai started his professional career as an [[English language\|English]] teacher in [[St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram\|St. Joseph School, ~~Trivandrum~~]] and retired from government service in 1971 as the [[Chief Editor]] of Malayalam Lexicon, [[University of Kerala]], a position he held from 1953.<ref name="Suranad Kunjan Pillai (ed.): Malayalam lexicon: a comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles. Vols. I [a]-II [ā-au]">{{Cite journal \|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-the-school-of-oriental-and-african-studies/article/suranad-kunjan-pillai-ed-malayalam-lexicon-a-comprehensive-malayalammalayalamenglish-dictionary-on-historical-and-philological-principles-vols-i-aii-aau-clxxviii-902-105-pp-xl-1380-50-pp-trivandrum-university-of-kerala-19651970/7729F95A98A7F8F28CFFB07E10A2215A \|title=Suranad Kunjan Pillai (ed.): Malayalam lexicon: a comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles. Vols. I [a]-II [ā-au] \|last=Asher \|first=R. E. \|date=1972 \|~~website~~=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies \|pages=378–379 \|language=en \|doi=10.1017/S0041977X00109590 \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> In between, he served in various positions such as the Secretary of Text Book Committee, as an assistant to Sadasya Tilakam T. K. Velu Pillai in the preparation of Travancore State Manual,<ref name="About Mali - Mali Foundation">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.malifoundation.org/about_mali.php \|title=About Mali - Mali Foundation \|date=2010-02-12 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212070653/http://www.malifoundation.org/about_mali.php \|access-date=2019-04-20\|archive-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> as the assistant secretary of education to the Government of Kerala, as the honorary director of the Kerala University Manuscripts Library, as a member of Indian Historical Records Commission and [[University of Kerala]] Faculty of Oriental Studies, as the editor of Kerala Archives News Letter Board, as the chief advisor of Navasahithi Biographical Encyclopedia, as a member of the Phd Evaluation Board of University of Kerala, as the president of Sahithya Parishad, as an executive council member of the [[Sahitya Akademi\|Kendra Sahitya Akademi]], [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] and History Association,<ref name="Important Personalities ">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralawindow.net/imp_k.html \|title=Important Personalities \|date=2019-04-20 \|website=www.keralawindow.net \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> as the president of Kanfed, as the editor of the Journal of Indian History and as a member of the first [[Jnanpith]] Award Committee. He also presided over the fourth Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists held in Chennai in 1974.<ref name="Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.ijdl.org/Html/Confrence.htm \|title=Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists \|date=2019-04-20 \|website=www.ijdl.org \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>		Pillai started his professional career as an [[English language\|English]] teacher in [[St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram\|St. Joseph School, Thiruvananthapuram]] and retired from government service in 1971 as the [[Chief Editor]] of Malayalam Lexicon, [[University of Kerala]], a position he held from 1953.<ref name="Suranad Kunjan Pillai (ed.): Malayalam lexicon: a comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles. Vols. I [a]-II [ā-au]">{{Cite journal \|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-the-school-of-oriental-and-african-studies/article/suranad-kunjan-pillai-ed-malayalam-lexicon-a-comprehensive-malayalammalayalamenglish-dictionary-on-historical-and-philological-principles-vols-i-aii-aau-clxxviii-902-105-pp-xl-1380-50-pp-trivandrum-university-of-kerala-19651970/7729F95A98A7F8F28CFFB07E10A2215A \|title=Suranad Kunjan Pillai (ed.): Malayalam lexicon: a comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles. Vols. I [a]-II [ā-au] \|last=Asher \|first=R. E. \|date=1972 \|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies \|volume=35 \|issue=2 \|pages=378–379 \|language=en \|doi=10.1017/S0041977X00109590 \|s2cid=161861578 \|access-date=2019-04-20\|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In between, he served in various positions such as the Secretary of Text Book Committee, as an assistant to Sadasya Tilakam T. K. Velu Pillai in the preparation of Travancore State Manual,<ref name="About Mali - Mali Foundation">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.malifoundation.org/about_mali.php \|title=About Mali - Mali Foundation \|date=2010-02-12 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212070653/http://www.malifoundation.org/about_mali.php \|access-date=2019-04-20\|archive-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> as the assistant secretary of education to the Government of Kerala, as the honorary director of the Kerala University Manuscripts Library, as a member of Indian Historical Records Commission and [[University of Kerala]] Faculty of Oriental Studies, as the editor of Kerala Archives News Letter Board, as the chief advisor of Navasahithi Biographical Encyclopedia, as a member of the Phd Evaluation Board of University of Kerala, as the president of Sahithya Parishad, as an executive council member of the [[Sahitya Akademi\|Kendra Sahitya Akademi]], [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] and History Association,<ref name="Important Personalities ">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralawindow.net/imp_k.html \|title=Important Personalities \|date=2019-04-20 \|website=www.keralawindow.net \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> as the president of Kanfed, as the editor of the Journal of Indian History and as a member of the first [[Jnanpith]] Award Committee. He also presided over the fourth Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists held in Chennai in 1974.<ref name="Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.ijdl.org/Html/Confrence.htm \|title=Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists \|date=2019-04-20 \|website=www.ijdl.org \|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>

	Kunjan Pillai was married to C. Bhagavathi Amma (of the Panniyarathala family in [[Jagathy]], d. 2007), the marriage taking place in 1935. He died on 8 March 1995, at the age of 83, survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />		Kunjan Pillai was married to C. Bhagavathi Amma (of the Panniyarathala family in [[Jagathy]], d. 2007), the marriage taking place in 1935. He died on 8 March 1995, at the age of 83, survived by his wife, three daughters and a son, the eminent neurologist [[K. Rajasekharan Nair\|Dr. K. Rajasekharan Nair]].<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

	== Legacy ==		== Legacy ==
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	* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]		* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]
	{{div col end}}		{{div col end}}
			{{Portal\|India\|Literature}}

	==References==		==References==
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	* {{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranadKunjanPillai.htm \|title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi \|date=2019-04-15 \|website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi \|access-date=2019-04-15}}		* {{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranadKunjanPillai.htm \|title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi \|date=2019-04-15 \|website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi \|access-date=2019-04-15}}
	* {{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranatScript.htm \|title=Handwriting \|date=2019-04-15 \|website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi \|access-date=2019-04-15}}		* {{Cite web \|url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranatScript.htm \|title=Handwriting \|date=2019-04-15 \|website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi \|access-date=2019-04-15}}
	* {{Cite web \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmIo6gTA5s0#action=share \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/SmIo6gTA5s0 \|archive-date=2021-12-15 \|url-status=live\|title=Centinary Celebrations of Sooranad Kunjan Pillai \|last=Oommen Chandy \|author-link=Oommen Chandy \|date=2011-08-02 \|access-date=2019-04-20}}{{cbignore}}		* {{Cite web \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmIo6gTA5s0#action=share \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/SmIo6gTA5s0 \|archive-date=2021-12-15 \|url-status=live\|title=Centinary Celebrations of Sooranad Kunjan Pillai \|last=Oommen Chandy \|website=[[YouTube]] \|author-link=Oommen Chandy \|date=2011-08-02 \|access-date=2019-04-20}}{{cbignore}}

	{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}		{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Sooranad Kunjan}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Sooranad Kunjan}}
	~~[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]~~
	[[Category:Malayali people]]		[[Category:Malayali people]]
	[[Category:1911 births]]		[[Category:1911 births]]
	~~[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education]]~~
	[[Category:1995 deaths]]		[[Category:1995 deaths]]
	[[Category:Malayalam literary critics]]		[[Category:Malayalam literary critics]]
	[[Category:People from Kollam district]]		[[Category:People from Kollam district]]
	[[Category:Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award]]		[[Category:Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award]]
	[[Category:University of Kerala ~~faculty~~]]		[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Kerala]]
	[[Category:Indian lexicographers]]		[[Category:Indian lexicographers]]
	[[Category:20th-century Indian linguists]]		[[Category:20th-century Indian linguists]]
	[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]		[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
	[[Category:Malayalam novelists]]		[[Category:Malayalam-language novelists]]
	[[Category:Indian male essayists]]		[[Category:Indian male essayists]]
	[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]		[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]

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← Older revision		Revision as of 19:05, 14 August 2023
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	* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]		* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]
	{{div col end}}		{{div col end}}
	~~{{Portal\|India\|Literature}}~~

	==References==		==References==

->Rlink2: /* External links */Fixing archives for YouTube videos (WP:Link_Rot, WP:CEFC#Pre-emptive_archiving, phab:T294880)

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External links: Fixing archives for YouTube videos (WP:Link_Rot, WP:CEFC#Pre-emptive_archiving, phab:T294880)

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sooranad P. N. Kunjan Pillai
| image = Sooranad Kunjan Pillai.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| native_name = ശൂരനാട് പി എൻ കുഞ്ഞൻപിള്ള
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1911|06|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Sooranad]], [[Travancore|Kingdom of Travancore]], [[British India]] (present day [[Kollam district|Kollam]], [[Kerala]], India)
| nationality = [[India]]n
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|03|08|1911|11|26|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram district|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], India
| education = MA(Eng), MA(Mal), MA(San), D.Litt.
| occupation =
| spouse = C. Bhagavati Amma
| parents = {{ubl|Neelakanta Pillai|Karthiyani Pillai Amma}}
| children = 4
| awards = {{ubl|Sahithya Nipunan|1976 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]]|1984 [[Padmashri]]|1992 [[Vallathol Award]]|1993 [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]]}}
}}
'''Sooranad P. N. Kunjan Pillai''' (24
June 1911 {{endash}} 8 March 1995) was an Indian , researcher, [[lexicographer]], poet, essayist, literary critic, orator, [[Linguist|grammarian]], educationist, and scholar of the [[Malayalam language]], best remembered for his contributions in compiling ''Malayala Maha Nighantu'', a lexicon. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the [[Padmashri]] in 1984 for his contribution to [[Malayalam literature]] and education. He was also a recipient of the [[Vallathol Award]] in 1992 and when the Government of Kerala instituted the [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]], their highest literary honour in 1993, he received the inaugural award.

==Biography==
[[File:University College , Trivandrum.jpg|thumb|left|University College , Thiruvananthapuram, Pillai's alma mater]]
Sooranad Kunjan Pillai was born on 26 November 1911 in [[Sooranad]], near [[Sasthamkotta]] in the present day [[Kollam district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to Payikkattu Neelakanta Pillai and Karthiyani Pillai Amma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranarKPillaigraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-04-20 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> After initial studies under his father, he did his formal education at a local elementary school, [[Thevalakkara]] Primary School and Chavara High School where he studied under noted teacher, Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup, and passed the 10th standard examination in 1927. Subsequently, he joined the [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]] for his under-graduate studies with English as the optional subject and Sanskrit as subsidiary and graduated in 1933 and earned a master's degree in English in 1933.<ref name="Sooranad Birth Centenary Fete Inaugurated">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2011/jun/21/sooranad-birth-centenary-fete-inaugurated-264763.html |title=Sooranad Birth Centenary Fete Inaugurated |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> Continuing his education, he secured two more master's degrees, in Sanskrit in 1934 and in Malayalam in 1935.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

Pillai started his professional career as an [[English language|English]] teacher in [[St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram|St. Joseph School, Trivandrum]] and retired from government service in 1971 as the [[Chief Editor]] of Malayalam Lexicon, [[University of Kerala]], a position he held from 1953.<ref name="Suranad Kunjan Pillai (ed.): Malayalam lexicon: a comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles. Vols. I [a]-II [ā-au]">{{Cite journal |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-the-school-of-oriental-and-african-studies/article/suranad-kunjan-pillai-ed-malayalam-lexicon-a-comprehensive-malayalammalayalamenglish-dictionary-on-historical-and-philological-principles-vols-i-aii-aau-clxxviii-902-105-pp-xl-1380-50-pp-trivandrum-university-of-kerala-19651970/7729F95A98A7F8F28CFFB07E10A2215A |title=Suranad Kunjan Pillai (ed.): Malayalam lexicon: a comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles. Vols. I [a]-II [ā-au] |last=Asher |first=R. E. |date=1972 |website=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies |pages=378–379 |language=en |doi=10.1017/S0041977X00109590 |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> In between, he served in various positions such as the Secretary of Text Book Committee, as an assistant to Sadasya Tilakam T. K. Velu Pillai in the preparation of Travancore State Manual,<ref name="About Mali - Mali Foundation">{{Cite web |url=http://www.malifoundation.org/about_mali.php |title=About Mali - Mali Foundation |date=2010-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212070653/http://www.malifoundation.org/about_mali.php |access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=12 February 2010 }}</ref> as the assistant secretary of education to the Government of Kerala, as the honorary director of the Kerala University Manuscripts Library, as a member of Indian Historical Records Commission and [[University of Kerala]] Faculty of Oriental Studies, as the editor of Kerala Archives News Letter Board, as the chief advisor of Navasahithi Biographical Encyclopedia, as a member of the Phd Evaluation Board of University of Kerala, as the president of Sahithya Parishad, as an executive council member of the [[Sahitya Akademi|Kendra Sahitya Akademi]], [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] and History Association,<ref name="Important Personalities ">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralawindow.net/imp_k.html |title=Important Personalities |date=2019-04-20 |website=www.keralawindow.net |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> as the president of Kanfed, as the editor of the Journal of Indian History and as a member of the first [[Jnanpith]] Award Committee. He also presided over the fourth Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists held in Chennai in 1974.<ref name="Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ijdl.org/Html/Confrence.htm |title=Annual Conference of Dravidian Linguists |date=2019-04-20 |website=www.ijdl.org |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>

Kunjan Pillai was married to C. Bhagavathi Amma (of the Panniyarathala family in [[Jagathy]], d. 2007), the marriage taking place in 1935. He died on 8 March 1995, at the age of 83, survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

== Legacy ==
Kunjan Pillai was known to have written books in Malayalam, English and Sanskrit his oeuvre covered such genres as novels, short stories, poems, biographies, history, essays, lexicon and grammar.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranadBooks.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-04-20 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> He also had some knowledge of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]]. He published his first work Smashanadeepam (Collected Poems) in 1925 when he was still in school. He has prepared more than 150 textbooks for high school classes. He has written more than 1000 forewords for the books of many contemporary writers of Malayalam. He led a team which compiled a ''Malayala nikhandu'' (Malayalam Dictionary),<ref name="Malayalam lexicon : a comprehensive Malayalam--Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles">{{Cite book |url=https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/5248068 |title=Malayalam lexicon : a comprehensive Malayalam--Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles |date=1965 |publisher=London: Distributed by Books from India |editor-last=Suranad Kunjan Pillai |language=ml}}</ref> though the work could not be completed during his time.<ref name="Semantics, Phonetics and the Lexicographer’s art">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/semantics-phonetics-and-the-lexicographers-art/ |title=Semantics, Phonetics and the Lexicographer's art |date=2018-09-15 |website=Times of India Blog |language=en-US |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> The work, started in 1953 and by the time the first and second volumes were published bu 1970, the team of scholars had examined all important available texts from eleventh century to 19th century.<ref name="Suranad Kunjan Pillai (ed.): Malayalam lexicon: a comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles. Vols. I [a]-II [ā-au]" /> He also compiled the Malayalam translation of [[Kathasaritsagara]], a book of fables and legends in Sanskrit.<ref name="Kathasarithsagaram">{{Cite web |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com:443/books/kathasarithsagaram?t=1 |title=Kathasarithsagaram |date=2019-04-20 |website=onlinestore.dcbooks.com |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==
The [[Kingdom of Cochin|Rajah of Cochin]] honoured Kunjan Pillai with the title ''Sahithya Nipunan''.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> In 1984 he was honoured with [[Padmashri]] by [[Govt. of India]].<ref name="Padma Awards - Interactive Dashboard">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Award=Padma%20Shri&Year=1984-1984&Field=Literature%20and%20Education |title=Padma Awards - Interactive Dashboard |date=2019-04-20 |website=www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in |language=en |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> He was inducted as a distinguished fellow by the History Association and by the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] in 1976.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Fellows/Html/HonoraryList.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship |date=2019-04-20 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> He received the [[Vallathol Award]] in 1992<ref name="Winners of Vallathol Literary Awards">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pscnet.in/7574/vallathol-puraskaram-awards-winners/ |title=Winners of Vallathol Literary Awards |date=2019-04-20 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> and the Government of Kerala awarded him the inaugural [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]], their highest literary award, in 1993.<ref name="Literary Awards">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |title=Literary Awards |publisher=kerala.gov.in |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-date=24 May 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="Ezhuthachan award for M Mukundan">{{Cite web |url=https://www.keralakaumudi.com/en/news/kerala/general/ezhuthachan-award-for-m-mukundan-9190 |title=Ezhuthachan award for M Mukundan |website=Keralakaumudi Daily |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> He was also honoured by two Indian universities with [[D.Litt]]; by [[Meerut University]] in 1991<ref name="Important Personalities " /> and [[University of Kerala]] in 1992.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

An annual award, ''Sooranad Kunjan Pillai Award'', has been instituted for recognizing excellence in Malayalam literature and [[M. Leelavathy]] is among the writers who have received the award.<ref name="2015 Sooranad Kunjan Pillai Award for M Leelavathi">{{Cite web |url=http://currentaffairsnews365.blogspot.com/2016/01/2015-sooranad-kunjan-pillai-award-for-m.html |title=2015 Sooranad Kunjan Pillai Award for M Leelavathi |website=Current Affairs for Exams |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>

== Selected bibliography ==
=== Novels ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* Amba Devi (Novel) 1930
* Kalyana Sowdam (Novel) 1936
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=43695 |title=Pushpanjali |publisher=V V Book Depot |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranadu |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
{{div col end}}

=== Poems ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* Smashanadeepam (Collected poems) 1930
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=4999300 |title=Vathil thurappathukal |date=1954 |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranadu |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=50136 |title=Kuchelavrutham |date=1956 |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranadu |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=64522 |title=Unniyatee charitam |date=1956 |publisher=Manuscript Library |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranadu |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=50097 |title=Sabhapravesampan |date=1957 |publisher=Author |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranadu |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
* Hridayarpanam (Collected poems) 1971
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=224344&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Sooranad%2520Kunjan%2520Pillai |title=Ramayanam irupathnalu vrutham |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranattu |date=1962 |publisher=Vidhya vilasini |location=Vidhya vilasini}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=91185&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Sooranad%2520Kunjan%2520Pillai |title=Leelathilakam |date=2011 |publisher=Kerala Bhasha Institute |isbn=9788176389860 |editor-last=Kunjan Pillai |editor-first=Sooranadu |edition= 3rd |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
{{div col end}}

=== Short stories ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=63579 |title=Sourabhan |date=1947 |publisher=P. Govinda Pillai |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranadu |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
* Ratnasamragyam (Stories) 1948
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=223622&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Sooranad%2520Kunjan%2520Pillai |title=Ponnirathalkadha |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranattu |date=1968 |publisher=University of kerala |location=University of kerala}}
* Panchathantrakathamanigal (Stories)
{{div col end}}

=== Biography ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* Prachinakeralam (Biographies)1931
* Veeraraghavashasanam (Biography) 1954
* Thiruvuthankoorile Mahanmar (Biographies) 1946
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=133698&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Sooranad%2520Kunjan%2520Pillai |title=Sree swati thirunal Rama Varma Maharajavu |last=Kunjan pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1989 |series=Kendreeya Mahatmakkal |location=Trivandrum, Govoernment of Kerala |language=en}}
* Sree Sankaracharyar (Biography) 1945
{{div col end}}

=== Lexicon ===
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/5248068 |title=Malayalam lexicon : a comprehensive Malayalam--Malayalam-English dictionary on historical and philological principles |date=1965 |publisher=London: Distributed by Books from India |editor-last=Suranad Kunjan Pillai |language=ml}}

=== Drama ===
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=37274 |title=Asokavanikankam |last=Kunjan pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1957 |publisher=Manuscript Library |location=Trivandrum, Government of Kerala |language=ml}}

=== Essays and literary criticism ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* Thiruvuthankoor - Kochi Charithra Kathakal, 1932
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=63286 |title=Thirumulkazcha |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1938 |location=Trivandrum}}
* Jeevithakala, 1939
* Malabar in the Eyes of Travellers, 1940
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=15378 |title=Varnavidhikal |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1954 |location=Trivandrum}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=36927 |title=Alankarasamkshepam |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1954 |location=Trivandrum}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=37230 |title=Kalarividya |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1955 |series=Bhasha Grandhavali|location=Trivandrum}}
* Bhashadeepika, 1955
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=36897 |title=Nhaanmuthumaala |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1956 |series=Bhasha Grandhavali|location=Trivandrum}}
* Pushpanjali (Collected Essays) 1957
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=65717 |title=Malayala kavya ratnakaram |date=1962 |publisher= Kerala Sahitya Akademi |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranadu |location=Thrissur}}
* Kairali Pooja (Collected Essays) 1962
* Hridayaramam, 1966
* Malayala Lipi parishkaram- Chila Nirdeshangal, 1967
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=15161 |title=Mathrupooja |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1954 |location=Trivandrum}}
* Kairali Samaksham (Literary Criticism)1979
* Bharathapooja, 1983
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=133457&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Sooranad%2520Kunjan%2520Pillai |title=Kairalee Samaksham Adhava Agrapooja |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |date=1979 |location=Trivandrum, Jaya Printets}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=15156 |title=Sahitya pravesika |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |publisher=Govinda Pillai |location=Trivandrum}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=15238 |title=Veera raghava sasanam |last=Kunjan Pillai |first=Sooranad |publisher=Vidyavilasini |location=Trivandrum}}
* Sahithyabhooshanam (Collected Essays)
* Krisishastram
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors by category]]
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]
{{div col end}}
{{Portal|India|Literature}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=33147 |title=Sooranattu Kunjan Pilla: arivinte prakasa gopuram |date=2011 |publisher=State Institute of Languages |last=Sooranadu Rajasekharan |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=133249 |title=Arivu, anveshanam: sooranadu Kunjanpillayude sambhavanakal |date=2008 |publisher=Vallathol Vidyapeedam |last=Sooranadu Rajasekharan |location=Edappal}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranadKunjanPillai.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-04-15 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-15}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/SooranadKunjanPillai/Html/SooranatScript.htm |title=Handwriting |date=2019-04-15 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-15}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmIo6gTA5s0#action=share |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/SmIo6gTA5s0 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Centinary Celebrations of Sooranad Kunjan Pillai |last=Oommen Chandy |author-link=Oommen Chandy |date=2011-08-02 |access-date=2019-04-20}}{{cbignore}}

{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}
{{Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Sooranad Kunjan}}
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Malayalam literary critics]]
[[Category:People from Kollam district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award]]
[[Category:University of Kerala faculty]]
[[Category:Indian lexicographers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian linguists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:Malayalam novelists]]
[[Category:Indian male essayists]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian essayists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century lexicographers]]