https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=V._V._K._ValathV. V. K. Valath - Revision history2026-10-31T04:44:31ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=V._V._K._Valath&diff=543155&oldid=prevGurushivam: new some entry from scratch.2025-11-29T17:45:36Z<p>new some entry from scratch.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Malayalam writer and historian}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}<br />
{{COI|date=June 2022}}{{Like resume|date=June 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox writer<br />
| name = Vadakke Valath Krishnan<br />
| image = VVK Valath.jpg<br />
| imagesize =<br />
| caption =<br />
| pseudonym = V. V. K. Valath<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1918|12|25}}<br />
| birth_place = Valam, [[Cheranallur]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], India<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2000|12|31|1918|12|25}}<br />
| death_place = [[North Paravur]], Ernakulam<br />
| occupation = Historian, writer, poet, [[toponymist]]<br />
| nationality = Indian<br />
| period = <br />
| genre = Novel, poem, [[toponymy]]<br />
| subject = Social aspects, history<br />
| parents = Velu Ashan (Father), Paru (Mother)<br />
| movement = <br />
| influences = <br />
| influenced =<br />
| awards = {{ubl|[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]]|[[Pandit Karuppan]] Award|Place Names Society Fellowship}}<br />
| notableworks= {{ubl|''Rigvedathilude''|''Keralathile Stalacharitrangal''|''Idimuzhakkam''|''Minnal Velicham''}}<br />
| signature =<br />
| website = {{url|http://vvkvalath.blogspot.com|vvkvalath.com}}<br />
}}<br />
'''Vadakke Valath Krishnan''' (25 December 1918 – 31 December 2000), commonly known as '''V. V. K. Valath''', was an Indian writer, poet, toponymist and historian of [[Malayalam language]]. One of the pioneers of [[toponymy]] in Kerala, he focused on the origin of place names in the state as the subject of his works which are known for their attention to historic detail. He wrote poems, short-stories, novels, and over 400 historical articles and his most notable works are ''Rigvedathilude'' (a study of ''[[Rigveda]]''), ''Keralathile Stalacharitrangal'' (History of Places in Kerala), and poetry anthologies, ''Idimuzhakkam'' (The Thunder Rumble) and ''Minnal Velicham'' (The Thunder Flash). [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] awarded him their [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions|annual award for overall contributions]] in 1999. He was also a fellow of the Place Names Society and a recipient of the Pandit Karuppan Award.<br />
<br />
== Biography ==<br />
V. V. K. Valath was born on the [[Christmas Day]] of 1918 at Valam, a small hamlet between South Chittoor and [[Cheranellore]], near [[Edapally]] in [[Ernakulam district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to Vadakke Valath Velu Asan and Paru.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/VVKValath/Html/VVKValathgraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=30 April 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> After early schooling at Little Flower Upper Primary School, Cheranellore, he passed the tenth standard examination from [[St. Albert's HSS, Ernakulam|St. Albert's High School, Ernakulam]] before completing the teachers' training course. His career started as a civilian clerk in Indian Army, stationed in [[Whitefield, Bangalore]] and on his return to Kerala, he taught at his alma mater, Little Flower Upper Primary School, for a short period, before joining Al Farookiya High School, Cheranellore where he spent the rest of his teaching career spanning 27 years until his superannuation from service.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /><br />
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Valath was married to Krishodhari and the couple had three sons, [[Mopasang Valath]], a painter,<ref name="http://en.artscad.com/@/MopasangValath">{{Cite web |url=http://en.artscad.com/@/MopasangValath |title=Mopasang Valath Artworks |date=1 May 2019 |website=en.artscad.com |access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> [[Einstein Valath]], a writer<ref name="Angabhangam - Einstein Valath">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pratilipi.com/story/അംഗഭംഗം-60nw5sq5gzr9 |title=Angabhangam - Einstein Valath |date=30 April 2019 |website=www.pratilipi.com |language=ml |access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> and [[Socrates K. Valath]], a writer<ref name="Madanelloorile penpannikal">{{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=86623&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Madanelloorile penpannikal |last=Socrates Valath |date=2010 |publisher=Sahithyapravarthaka Sahakaranasangham |isbn=9780000170446 |location=Kottayam}}</ref> as well as a screenwriter. He died on the last day of 2000, at his rented house in [[North Paravur]], at the age of 82.<ref name="വി.വി.കെ.വാലത്ത് അന്തരിച്ചു">{{Cite web |url=https://malayalam.oneindia.com/news/2001/01/01/ker-vvk.html |title=വി.വി.കെ.വാലത്ത് അന്തരിച്ചു |last=Staff |date=1 December 2001 |website=malayalam.oneindia.com |language=ml |access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref><br />
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== Legacy and honours ==<br />
Though not involved in active politics, Valath was attracted to communist ideals and his works focused mainly on the effects of [[capitalism]] and poverty.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> He published a poem on [[Mahatma Gandhi]], titled ''The Light of the 20th Century'' in [[Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu]] while serving as a civilian clerk in [[British Military]] at Bangalore for which he was dismissed from British service. Later, going against the normal practice followed in the 1940s, he pioneered [[free verse]] in Malayalam poetry, by writing poems without following poetic rules, [[Metre (poetry)|metre]], or rhythms.<ref name="Das2005">{{cite book |author=Sisir Kumar Das |title=History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&pg=PA530 |year=2005 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=530–}}</ref> ''Idimuzhakkam'', ''MinnalVelicham'', ''Chakravalathinapuram'', ''Randu Mazha Veenalo'' and ''Aarkkariyanam'' were written in free verse.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/VVKValath/Html/VVKValathPage.htm |title=List of works |date=1 May 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> In late 1960s, he shifted his attention to Kerala history and its links to [[Sangam literature]] and published his first book on Kerala history, ''Keralathile Stalacharitrangal'', in 1969. Later, he furthered his research with assistance from [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]], and published four books on [[toponymy]] viz. ''Keralathile Stalacharitrangal: Thrissur'',<ref name="A valuable study of Thrissur's history">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/a-valuable-study-of-thrissurs-history/article2918405.ece |title=A valuable study of Thrissur's history |last=Santhosh |first=K. |date=22 February 2012 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> ''Keralathile Stalacharitrangal: Ernakulam'', ''Keralathile Stalacharitrangal: Palakkad''<ref name="Palakkad fort – A reminder of Mysore's campaigns in Malabar">{{Cite web |url=https://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/getting-about-kerala/palakkad/2018/10/03/palakkad-fort-a-reminder-of-mysores-campaigns-in-malabar.html |title=Palakkad fort – A reminder of Mysore's campaigns in Malabar |website=OnManorama |language=en |access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> and ''Keralathile Stalacharitrangal: Trivandrum''.<ref name="Padinjarae Kotta, a gateway to Thiruvananthapuram’s past">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/padinjare-kotta-serves-as-a-gateway-to-thiruvananthapurams-past/article23850789.ece |title=Padinjarae Kotta, a gateway to Thiruvananthapuram's past |last=Rajeev |first=Sharat Sunder |date=11 May 2018 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> His work, ''Rigvedathilude'',<ref name="Rigvedathilude">{{Cite web |url=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__OKothvYs7I/TKf6005fu4I/AAAAAAAAAB8/zCiiKNuAuPs/s1600/3.jpg |title=Rigvedathilude |date=1 May 2019 |website=Blog image |access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> is an attempt to relate the [[Rigveda]] to the history of the land and the book detailed the customs and culture of [[vedic age]] India.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /><br />
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Valath, who wrote ''Lumumbaye Taracha Kurish'' (The Cross on which [[Patrice Lumumba]] was Crucified), ''Avar Nammude Rosenberg Dambadikale Konnu Kalanju'' (They killed our [[Julius and Ethel Rosenberg|Rosenberg couples]]), based on global themes, was honoured for his [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions|overall contributions]] by the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] in 1999.<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=30 April 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> He was also a fellow of the Place Names Society of India and a recipient of the Pandit Karuppan Award.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> A road in Cheranellore has been named after him as ''V. V. K. Valath Road''.<ref name="V. V. K. Valath Road - Kochi">{{Cite web |url=http://wikimapia.org/street/16390861/vvk-valath-road |title=V. V. K. Valath Road - Kochi |date=30 April 2019 |website=wikimapia.org |access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Selected bibliography ==<br />
<br />
=== Poems ===<br />
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=48974 |title=Idumuzhakkam |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1984 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=35322 |title=Minnal Velicham |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1947 |publisher=Mangalodayam |location=Thrissur}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=41760 |title=Njan Iniyum Varum |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1974 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=65107 |title=Chakravalathinappuram |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. }}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=84358&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=V V K Valathinte kavithakal |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=2002 |publisher=Current books |isbn=9788124012154 |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=64146 |title=Bhavasramkhala |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |publisher=P. K. Brothers |location=Kozhikode}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=64183 |title=Vallaki |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. }}<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
<br />
=== Short stories ===<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=12374&query_desc=au%3A%22V.%20V.%20K.%20Valath%22 |title=Ini Vandi Illa |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1955 }}<br />
*''Ayakkanja Kathu'' (The Mail that was Never Sent)<br />
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=== Novel ===<br />
*''Ivide Oru Kamukan Marikunnu'' (Here Dies a Lover)<br />
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=== Biography ===<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=45791&query_desc=au%3A%22V.%20V.%20K.%20Valath%22 |title=Pandit Karuppan |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1985 |publisher=Kerala History Association }}<br />
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=== Scholarly works ===<br />
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=212968&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Rigvedathiloode |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1969 |publisher=N.B.S |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=76390&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Charithra kavadangal |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1977 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangam |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=7326 |title=Sabaimala, Sholayar, Moonar |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1978 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangam |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=291576&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Keralathile sthala charithrangal |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1969 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85463&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Keralathile sthalacharithrangal: Thrissur Jilla |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=2003 |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Academy |isbn=9788176900515 |location=Thrissur}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85464&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Keralathile sthalacharithrangal: Palakkad Jilla |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=2005 |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Academy |isbn=9788176900737 |location=Thrissur}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85465&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Keralathile sthalacharithrangal: Ernakulam Jilla |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=2006 |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Academy |isbn=9788176901055 |location=Thrissur}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85466&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520valath |title=Keralathile sthalacharithrangal: Thiruvananthapuram jilla |last=Valath |first=V. V. K. |date=1998 |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Academy |location=Thrissur}}<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}<br />
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors by category]]<br />
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
{{Portal|India|Literature|History}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
== Further reading ==<br />
* {{Cite web |url=https://ajaysekher.net/2009/12/26/kallil-surviving-relic-jainism-central-kerala/ |title=Kallil: The Last Surviving Relic of Jainism in Central Kerala |last=Ajay |date=26 December 2009 |website=Ajaysekher.net |language=en-US |access-date=1 May 2019}}<br />
* {{cite book |author=Bardwell L. Smith |title=Religion and Social Conflict in South Asia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xNAI9F8IBOgC&pg=PA26 |year=1976 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-04510-4 |pages=26–}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/VVKValath/Html/VVKValath.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=23 April 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=23 April 2019}}<br />
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/VVKValath/Html/VVKValathScript.htm |title=Handwriting |date=23 April 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=23 April 2019}}<br />
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_TXcIhAygE |title=VVK Valath Interview |last=Doordarshan |date=6 January 2011 |website=YouTube |access-date=30 April 2019}}<br />
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{{Malayalam Literature}}<br />
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{{authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Valath, V. V. K.}}<br />
[[Category:1918 births]]<br />
[[Category:2000 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:People from Ernakulam district]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian essayists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian scholars]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]</div>Gurushivam