Thirunalloor Karunakaran: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Hazel is rabbit
Last edited April 4, 2022
VisualWikitext
imported>Hazel is rabbit
m added spaces after punctuation
 
UpdateBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
22,126 edits
m robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Copy edit|date=June 2021}}
{{Lead too short|date=June 2021}}
{{Lead too short|date=June 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
Line 16: Line 15:
| nationality = {{IND}}
| nationality = {{IND}}
}}
}}
'''Thirunalloor Karunakaran''' (8 October 1924 – 5 July 2006) was a renowned poet, scholar, teacher and leftist intellectual of [[Kerala]], India.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=THIRUNELLUR&source=bl&ots=D8b9D-kbJm&sig=1_Y3uhPSRft80EZdnZ2dSRJa8Ls&hl=en&ei=Pyq6SuOKMZWWkQWf1ZnhBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=THIRUNELLUR&f=false A History of Indian Literature, 1911–1956, Sisir Kumar Das]</ref><ref>''Kairaliyude Kadha'', N. Krishna Pillai, SPCS, [[Kottayam]]</ref><ref>'' Malayala Kavithasahithya Charithram''; [[M. Leelavathy]], [[Kerala Sahithya Akademy]], [[Trichur]]</ref><ref>''Sahithya Varaphalam'': [[M. Krishnan Nair (author)|M. Krishnan Nair]].</ref><ref>''[[Mathrubhumi]]'' Daily(Editorial, 7 July 2006) ;Calicut</ref>
'''Thirunalloor Karunakaran''' (8 October 1924 – 5 July 2006) was a poet, scholar, teacher and leftist intellectual of [[Kerala]], India.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=THIRUNELLUR&source=bl&ots=D8b9D-kbJm&sig=1_Y3uhPSRft80EZdnZ2dSRJa8Ls&hl=en&ei=Pyq6SuOKMZWWkQWf1ZnhBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=THIRUNELLUR&f=false A History of Indian Literature, 1911–1956, Sisir Kumar Das]</ref><ref>''Kairaliyude Kadha'', N. Krishna Pillai, SPCS, [[Kottayam]]</ref><ref>'' Malayala Kavithasahithya Charithram''; [[M. Leelavathy]], [[Kerala Sahithya Akademy]], [[Trichur]]</ref><ref>''Sahithya Varaphalam'': [[M. Krishnan Nair (author)|M. Krishnan Nair]].</ref><ref>''[[Mathrubhumi]]'' Daily(Editorial, 7 July 2006) ;Calicut</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Early life===
===Early life===
Thirunalloor (variously spelt in English as Thiru''nelloor'', Thiru''nellur'' and Thiru''nallur'') Karunakaran – 'Thirunalloor', his family name, and 'Karunakaran', his given name – was born in the village of [[Perinad]] in [[Kollam]] ([[Quilon]]) district in [[Kerala]] to P.K.Padmanabhan and N.Lakshmy. He started learning [[Sanskrit]] in the traditional way before joining primary school and was associated with the working class political movement early in his life. He published his first book-the [[Malayalam]] translation of a poem by [[Oliver Goldsmith]]-  while in school. During student days he wrote several poems, [[lyrics]] and articles in periodicals and made his mark during the ''[[Pink Decade]]'' in Malayalam poetry. By the time of his joining college his close contacts with Communist leaders like [[R.Sugathan]] and [[M. N. Govindan Nair]] had made him a staunch sympathiser of the [[Communist party]].<ref name=" Obituary reports on ">Obituary reports on ''Thirunalloor Karunakaran'' published in various news papers on 6 July 2006</ref>
Thirunalloor (variously spelled in English as Thiru''nelloor'', Thiru''nellur'' and Thiru''nallur'') Karunakaran{{efn|name="name"|"Thirunalloor" is his family name, and "Karunakaran" is his given name}} was born in the village of [[Perinad]] in [[Kollam]] ([[Quilon]]) district in [[Kerala]] to P. K. Padmanabhan and N. Lakshmy. He started learning [[Sanskrit]] in the traditional way before joining primary school and he associated with the working-class political movement early in his life. He published his first book, the [[Malayalam]] translation of a poem by [[Oliver Goldsmith]], while in school. He wrote several poems while he was a student, as well as [[lyrics]] and articles in various periodicals. He made his mark during the ''[[Pink Decade]]'' in Malayalam poetry. By the time he began college, his close contacts with Communist leaders like [[R. Sugathan]] and [[M. N. Govindan Nair]] made him a staunch sympathiser of the [[Communist Party of India]].<ref name=" Obituary reports on ">Obituary reports on ''Thirunalloor Karunakaran'' published in various news papers on 6 July 2006</ref>


===Career===
===Career===
After taking his BA degree in History from S N College, Kollam, he worked as a tutor there for a brief stint. Soon he joined [[University college]] [[Trivandrum]] for post graduate studies in Malayalam where he did some advanced study of Kerala history under Prof. [[Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai]], famous historian and scholar who was a major influence in his intellectual life. After taking his MA in Malayalam he joined the [[government service]] as college lecturer and taught at Government Arts College and University College. He served as a member of the [[Kerala Public Service Commission]] for 6 years. Later he worked as the editor of [[Janayugam]], a weekly cultural magazine of the [[Communist Party of India]]. In 1973 he visited the [[Soviet Union]] as a member of the delegation of Indian writers who participated in the [[Afro-Asian Writers Conference]] held in [[Kazakhstan]].<ref name="Obituary reports on"/>
After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from S. N. College in Kollam, he worked as a tutor there for a brief period. Soon he joined a [[University college]] in [[Trivandrum]] for post-graduate studies in Malayalam, where he completed some advanced study of Kerala history under Professor [[Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai]], a famous historian and scholar who was a major influence on Thirunalloor's intellectual life. After completing his Master of Arts in Malayalam, he joined the [[government service]] as a college lecturer and taught at Government Arts College and University College. He served as a member of the [[Kerala Public Service Commission]] for 6 years. Later, he worked as the editor of ''[[Janayugam]]'', a weekly cultural magazine of the [[Communist Party of India]]. In 1973, he visited the [[Soviet Union]] as a member of the delegation of Indian writers who participated in the [[Afro-Asian Writers Conference]] held in [[Kazakhstan]].<ref name="Obituary reports on"/>


Awards conferred on him include Asan Award (1984), [[Vayalar Award]] (1988), Muloor Award (1992), Abudabi Shakthi Award, [[Kerala Sahitya Academy]] Award for lifetime contribution (2000) etc.<ref name=" Obituary reports on "/>
Awards conferred on him include the Asan Award (1984), [[Vayalar Award]] (1988), Muloor Award (1992), Abudabi Shakthi Award, and the [[Kerala Sahitya Academy]] Award for lifetime contributions (2000).<ref name=" Obituary reports on "/>


===Final years===
===Final years===
Though he lived in the city of [[Trivandrum]] for more than three decades he chose to spend the rest of his life in his native village [[Perinad]] on the banks of the scenic [[Ashtamudi lake]] which had been a constant source of inspiration for his poetry.
Though he lived in the city of [[Trivandrum]] for more than three decades, Thirunalloor chose to spend the rest of his life in his native village of [[Perinad]] on the banks of [[Ashtamudi lake]], which had been a constant source of inspiration for his poetry. He died on 5 July 2006 at his residence in [[Quilon]]. He was buried without any customary religious rites or ceremonies, as he had wished.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104070254/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/07/stories/2006070713540300.htm -Thirunellur laid to rest ]</ref> During his final years, he was engaged in writing a long poem titled 'Seetha' ([[Sita]]), reinterpreting the [[Ramayana]] legend.
[[Image:Ranipoem.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Painting based on the poem "[[Rani (poem)|Rani]]" by Thirunalloor Karunakaran. Artist:Chirayinkeezhu Sreekantan Nair]]


He died on 5 July 2006 at his residence in [[Quilon]]. He was buried without any customary religious rites or ceremonies, as he had wished.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104070254/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/07/stories/2006070713540300.htm -Thirunellur laid to rest ]</ref> During his last years he was engaged in writing a long poem titled 'Seetha' ([[Sita]]) reinterpretting the [[Ramayana]] legend.
A three-day-long cultural festival called '[[Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam]]' is held every year from 1 May ([[International Workers' Day]]) on the banks of the [[Ashtamudi lake]] in [[Quilon]] to perpetuate his memory.<ref>The 2008 and 2009 issues of ''Abhivaadanam''  the festival bulletin of ''Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam''</ref><ref>[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Thirunalloor+Kavyolsavam+from+today&artid=wuZIBOEO2eg=&SectionID=1ZkF/jmWuSA=&MainSectionID=1ZkF/jmWuSA=&SectionName=X7s7i xOZ5Y=&SEO= -Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam from today ]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
A three-day-long cultural festival called '[[Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam]]' is held every year from 1 May ([[International Workers' Day]]) on the banks of the [[Ashtamudi lake]] in [[Quilon]] to perpetuate his memory.<ref>The 2008 and 2009 issues of ''Abhivaadanam''  the festival bulletin of ''Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam''</ref><ref>[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Thirunalloor+Kavyolsavam+from+today&artid=wuZIBOEO2eg=&SectionID=1ZkF/jmWuSA=&MainSectionID=1ZkF/jmWuSA=&SectionName=X7s7i |xOZ5Y=&SEO= -Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam from today ]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
[[Image:Ranipoem.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Painting based on the poem "[[Rani (poem)|Rani]]" by Thirunalloor Karunakaran. Artist:Chirayinkeezhu Sreekantan Nair]]


==Writings and philosophy==
==Writings and philosophy==
Having studied [[Marxism]] and [[Indian philosophy]] in depth he formed a unique vision of his own combining the best aspects of both and this vision is the central illuminating force of all his poems. In many of his poems he depicts the physical and spiritual experience of collective human labour as a creative process of self-assertion and self emancipation of mankind. ''Tharisu nilangalilekku'' (To the barren fields), ''Parayudappukar''(The Granite crushers), ''Adyathe Theevandi'' (The First Train)''Kayamkulam Kayal''(Kayamkulam Lake) bear the stamp of this vision.<ref>''Grandhalokam'' Monthly;(April 2002)Kerala State Library council;Trivandrum</ref><ref>''[[Kerala Kaumudi]]'' Daily(Editorial, 6 July 2006);Trivandrum</ref>
Having studied [[Marxism]] and [[Indian philosophy]] in depth, Thirunalloor, worked to combine the best aspects of both; this vision is a central theme in all of his poems. In many of his poems, he depicts the physical and spiritual experience of collective human labour as a creative process of self-assertion and the self-emancipation of mankind. ''Tharisu nilangalilekku'' (To the barren fields), ''Parayudappukar''(The Granite crushers), ''Adyathe Theevandi'' (The First Train), and ''Kayamkulam Kayal''(Kayamkulam Lake) all bear the stamp of this vision.<ref>''Grandhalokam'' Monthly;(April 2002)Kerala State Library council;Trivandrum</ref><ref>''[[Kerala Kaumudi]]'' Daily(Editorial, 6 July 2006);Trivandrum</ref>


The [[Ashtamudi lake]] and the life on its shores was a key source of inspiration for his writings and his poetry abounds with varied themes, characters and imagery taken from this rich repository. He wrote, with equal ease, short [[lyrics]] dealing with soft transitory feelings and moods as well as long [[narrative poems]] having diverse characters and complex social situations.<ref>Sahithyalokam Trimonthly; January–March 1985;pp 41–45;Kerala SahithyaAcademy,Thrissur</ref><ref name="Articles and features on ">Articles and features on ''Thirunalloor Karunakaran'' published in various magazines and journals in July 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.kerala.gov.in/kercalsptmbr06/pg26.pdf -An Idealistic Ordeal]{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
The [[Ashtamudi lake]] and life on its shores was a key source of inspiration for his writings, and his poetry abounds with varied themes, characters, and imagery taken from this environment. He wrote also wrote short [[lyrics]] dealing with soft transitory feelings and moods, as well as long [[narrative poems]] that contain diverse characters and complex social situations.<ref>Sahithyalokam Trimonthly; January–March 1985;pp 41–45;Kerala SahithyaAcademy,Thrissur</ref><ref name="Articles and features on ">Articles and features on ''Thirunalloor Karunakaran'' published in various magazines and journals in July 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.kerala.gov.in/kercalsptmbr06/pg26.pdf -An Idealistic Ordeal]{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>


Several of his works, like lyrics written for various media and artforms like '[[Kadhaprasangam]]' and stageplays, as well as marching songs, articles and writings in [[Sanskrit]], are yet to be compiled. This includes the Sanskrit translation of [[Kumaran Asan]]'s ''Chandala Bhikshuki'' and studies in Indian [[aesthetics]].<ref name="Articles and features on "/><ref>Bhashaposhini Monthly; May 2004;pp 6–12 Kottayam</ref>
Several of his works, like lyrics written for various media and art forms like [[Kadhaprasangam]] and stageplays, as well as marching songs, articles, and writings in [[Sanskrit]], are yet to be compiled. This includes the Sanskrit translation of [[Kumaran Asan|Kumaran Asan's]] ''Chandala Bhikshuki'' and studies in Indian [[aesthetics]].<ref name="Articles and features on "/><ref>Bhashaposhini Monthly; May 2004;pp 6–12 Kottayam</ref>


Thirunalloor was an atheist, who believed that the Indian philosophy is essentially [[materialistic]] and areligious and he strongly called for a critical evaluation of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] and the philosophy of [[Shankaracharya]] ([[Adi Shankara]]) to expose their darker sides. He said that Shankaracharya was a supporter of the [[caste system]] and the Bhagavad Gita was an open sanction for violence.<ref>PachaMalayalam Monthly; January 2005,pp18-24; Quilon</ref>
Thirunalloor was an atheist, who believed that Indian philosophy is essentially [[materialism|materialistic]] and areligious. He strongly called for a critical evaluation of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] and the philosophy of [[Shankaracharya]] ([[Adi Shankara]]) to expose their darker sides. He said that Shankaracharya was a supporter of the [[caste system]] and the Bhagavad Gita was an open sanction of violence.<ref>PachaMalayalam Monthly; January 2005,pp18-24; Quilon</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==


===Poetry===
===Poetry and plays===
*Samagamam (Long poem)
*"Samagamam" (Long poem)
*Manjuthullikal (Collection of poems)
*''Manjuthullikal'' (Collection of poems)
*Premam Madhuramanu Dheeravumanu (Long narrative poem)
*"Premam Madhuramanu Dheeravumanu" (Long narrative poem)
*Soundaryathinte padayalkal (Collection of poems)
*''Soundaryathinte padayalkal'' (Collection of poems)
*[[Rani (poem)|Rani]] (Long narrative poem)
*"[[Rani (poem)|Rani]] (Long narrative poem)
*Rathri (Long narrative poem)
*"Rathri" (Long narrative poem)
*Anthi Mayangumbol (Collection of lyrics)
*''Anthi Mayangumbol'' (Collection of lyrics)
*Tashkent (Long narrative poem)
*"Tashkent" (Long narrative poem)
*Thirunalloor Karunakarante Kavithakal (Collection of poems)
*''Thirunalloor Karunakarante Kavithaka''l (Collection of poems)
*Vayalar (Long narrative poem)
*"Vayalar" (Long narrative poem)
*Greeshma sandhyakal (Collection of poems)
*''Greeshma sandhyakal'' (Collection of poems)
*Puthumazha (Collection of poems for children)
*''Puthumazha'' (Collection of poems for children)
*Meghasandesam (Translation of ''[[Meghaduta]]'' by [[Kalidasa]] )
*''Meghasandesam'' (Translation of ''[[Meghaduta]]'' by [[Kalidasa]] )
*Omarghayyaminte Gadhakal (Translation of ''[[Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam|Rubaiyat]]'' by [[Omar Khayyam]] )
*''Omarghayyaminte Gadhakal'' (Translation of ''[[Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam|Rubaiyat]]'' by [[Omar Khayyam]] )
*Gypsikal'' (Translation of ''Gypsies''by [[Alexander Pushkin]])
*''Gypsikal'' (Translation of ''Gypsies'' by [[Alexander Pushkin]])
*AbhijnanaShakunthalam(Translation of'' [[Abhijnanasakuntalam]]'' by [[Kalidasa]] )
*''AbhijnanaShakunthalam'' (Translation of ''[[Abhijnanasakuntalam]]'' by [[Kalidasa]] )


===Prose===
===Prose===
*Malayalabhashaparinamam Sidhanthangalum Vasthuthakalum (A study on the origin and evolution of [[Malayalam language]] )
*''Malayalabhashaparinamam Sidhanthangalum Vasthuthakalum'' (A study on the origin and evolution of [[Malayalam language]] )
*Oru Mahayudhathinte Paryavasanam'' ( [[The Mahabharata]] retold through an independent angle)
*''Oru Mahayudhathinte Paryavasanam'' (''[[The Mahabharata]]'' retold through an independent angle)
*Praacheena Bharathathile Bhouthikavaadam'' (Translation of ''In Defence of Materialism in Ancient India'' by [[Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya]])
*''Praacheena Bharathathile Bhouthikavaadam'' (Translation of ''In Defence of Materialism in Ancient India'' by [[Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya]])
*Anusmaranangal'' (Collection of articles)
*''Anusmaranangal'' (Collection of articles)


==See also==
==See also==
Line 81: Line 77:
*[http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1508/15081250.htm  -Frontline;April 11–24 ,1998]
*[http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1508/15081250.htm  -Frontline;April 11–24 ,1998]
*''Malayalam Poetry Today''; Edited by K.M.Tharakan;Kerala Sahithya Academy,Trichur
*''Malayalam Poetry Today''; Edited by K.M.Tharakan;Kerala Sahithya Academy,Trichur
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 88: Line 87:
{{commons category|Thirunalloor Karunakaran}}
{{commons category|Thirunalloor Karunakaran}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041030190507/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/09/stories/2004100914690300.htm -Honouring a poet differently  ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041030190507/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/09/stories/2004100914690300.htm -Honouring a poet differently  ]
*[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Thirunalloor%20flays%20Parameswaran’s%20comments&artid=sAutlHO0UKLDXktNmhfUaO2ewwJDF/2d&type=Archive -Thirunalloor flays Parameswaran’s comments]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Thirunalloor%20flays%20Parameswaran’s%20comments&artid=sAutlHO0UKLDXktNmhfUaO2ewwJDF/2d&type=Archive -Thirunalloor flays Parameswaran's comments]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050126231837/http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/10/18/stories/2004101800800200.htm -A pioneer in translating classics]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050126231837/http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/10/18/stories/2004101800800200.htm -A pioneer in translating classics]
*[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Thirunalloor%20for%20movement%20to%20spread%20'real%20Indian%20culture'&artid=8VoEAbzbmKRQASdSS9nQvRgN7AY6SM |t&type=Archive- Thirunalloor for movement to spread 'real Indian culture']{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Thirunalloor%20for%20movement%20to%20spread%20'real%20Indian%20culture'&artid=8VoEAbzbmKRQASdSS9nQvRgN7AY6SM t&type=Archive- Thirunalloor for movement to spread 'real Indian culture']{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://poetryandpoetsinrags.blogspot.com/2006/07/great-regulars-perry.html -Poetic Obituaries]
*[http://poetryandpoetsinrags.blogspot.com/2006/07/great-regulars-perry.html -Poetic Obituaries]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120428203630/http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Thirunalloor%20laid%20to%20rest&artid=spr3aiAJi2yrk3lqu5u7NwammjPuSGEe&type=Archive -Thirunalloor laid to rest]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120428203630/http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Thirunalloor%20laid%20to%20rest&artid=spr3aiAJi2yrk3lqu5u7NwammjPuSGEe&type=Archive -Thirunalloor laid to rest]
Line 103: Line 102:


{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Vayalar Awards}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


Line 119: Line 119:
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Indian Communist poets]]
[[Category:Indian Communist poets]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Translators of Kalidasa]]
[[Category:Translators of Kalidasa]]
[[Category:Translators of Omar Khayyám]]
[[Category:Translators of Omar Khayyám]]

Latest revision as of 22:00, 4 April 2022

Thirunalloor Karunakaran
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Thirunalloor Karunakaran
Born(1924-10-08)8 October 1924
Kollam, Kerala, India
Died5 July 2006(2006-07-05) (aged 81)
Kollam, Kerala, India
OccupationPoet
Nationality India
SpouseSyamala devi

Thirunalloor Karunakaran (8 October 1924 – 5 July 2006) was a poet, scholar, teacher and leftist intellectual of Kerala, India.[1][2][3][4][5]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Thirunalloor (variously spelled in English as Thirunelloor, Thirunellur and Thirunallur) Karunakaran[lower-alpha 1] was born in the village of Perinad in Kollam (Quilon) district in Kerala to P. K. Padmanabhan and N. Lakshmy. He started learning Sanskrit in the traditional way before joining primary school and he associated with the working-class political movement early in his life. He published his first book, the Malayalam translation of a poem by Oliver Goldsmith, while in school. He wrote several poems while he was a student, as well as lyrics and articles in various periodicals. He made his mark during the Pink Decade in Malayalam poetry. By the time he began college, his close contacts with Communist leaders like R. Sugathan and M. N. Govindan Nair made him a staunch sympathiser of the Communist Party of India.[6]

Career[edit | edit source]

After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from S. N. College in Kollam, he worked as a tutor there for a brief period. Soon he joined a University college in Trivandrum for post-graduate studies in Malayalam, where he completed some advanced study of Kerala history under Professor Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, a famous historian and scholar who was a major influence on Thirunalloor's intellectual life. After completing his Master of Arts in Malayalam, he joined the government service as a college lecturer and taught at Government Arts College and University College. He served as a member of the Kerala Public Service Commission for 6 years. Later, he worked as the editor of Janayugam, a weekly cultural magazine of the Communist Party of India. In 1973, he visited the Soviet Union as a member of the delegation of Indian writers who participated in the Afro-Asian Writers Conference held in Kazakhstan.[6]

Awards conferred on him include the Asan Award (1984), Vayalar Award (1988), Muloor Award (1992), Abudabi Shakthi Award, and the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award for lifetime contributions (2000).[6]

Final years[edit | edit source]

Though he lived in the city of Trivandrum for more than three decades, Thirunalloor chose to spend the rest of his life in his native village of Perinad on the banks of Ashtamudi lake, which had been a constant source of inspiration for his poetry. He died on 5 July 2006 at his residence in Quilon. He was buried without any customary religious rites or ceremonies, as he had wished.[7] During his final years, he was engaged in writing a long poem titled 'Seetha' (Sita), reinterpreting the Ramayana legend.

Painting based on the poem "Rani" by Thirunalloor Karunakaran. Artist:Chirayinkeezhu Sreekantan Nair

A three-day-long cultural festival called 'Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam' is held every year from 1 May (International Workers' Day) on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake in Quilon to perpetuate his memory.[8][9]

Writings and philosophy[edit | edit source]

Having studied Marxism and Indian philosophy in depth, Thirunalloor, worked to combine the best aspects of both; this vision is a central theme in all of his poems. In many of his poems, he depicts the physical and spiritual experience of collective human labour as a creative process of self-assertion and the self-emancipation of mankind. Tharisu nilangalilekku (To the barren fields), Parayudappukar(The Granite crushers), Adyathe Theevandi (The First Train), and Kayamkulam Kayal(Kayamkulam Lake) all bear the stamp of this vision.[10][11]

The Ashtamudi lake and life on its shores was a key source of inspiration for his writings, and his poetry abounds with varied themes, characters, and imagery taken from this environment. He wrote also wrote short lyrics dealing with soft transitory feelings and moods, as well as long narrative poems that contain diverse characters and complex social situations.[12][13][14]

Several of his works, like lyrics written for various media and art forms like Kadhaprasangam and stageplays, as well as marching songs, articles, and writings in Sanskrit, are yet to be compiled. This includes the Sanskrit translation of Kumaran Asan's Chandala Bhikshuki and studies in Indian aesthetics.[13][15]

Thirunalloor was an atheist, who believed that Indian philosophy is essentially materialistic and areligious. He strongly called for a critical evaluation of the Bhagavad Gita and the philosophy of Shankaracharya (Adi Shankara) to expose their darker sides. He said that Shankaracharya was a supporter of the caste system and the Bhagavad Gita was an open sanction of violence.[16]

Publications[edit | edit source]

Poetry and plays[edit | edit source]

  • "Samagamam" (Long poem)
  • Manjuthullikal (Collection of poems)
  • "Premam Madhuramanu Dheeravumanu" (Long narrative poem)
  • Soundaryathinte padayalkal (Collection of poems)
  • "Rani (Long narrative poem)
  • "Rathri" (Long narrative poem)
  • Anthi Mayangumbol (Collection of lyrics)
  • "Tashkent" (Long narrative poem)
  • Thirunalloor Karunakarante Kavithakal (Collection of poems)
  • "Vayalar" (Long narrative poem)
  • Greeshma sandhyakal (Collection of poems)
  • Puthumazha (Collection of poems for children)
  • Meghasandesam (Translation of Meghaduta by Kalidasa )
  • Omarghayyaminte Gadhakal (Translation of Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam )
  • Gypsikal (Translation of Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin)
  • AbhijnanaShakunthalam (Translation of Abhijnanasakuntalam by Kalidasa )

Prose[edit | edit source]

  • Malayalabhashaparinamam Sidhanthangalum Vasthuthakalum (A study on the origin and evolution of Malayalam language )
  • Oru Mahayudhathinte Paryavasanam (The Mahabharata retold through an independent angle)
  • Praacheena Bharathathile Bhouthikavaadam (Translation of In Defence of Materialism in Ancient India by Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya)
  • Anusmaranangal (Collection of articles)

See also[edit | edit source]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Thirunalloor" is his family name, and "Karunakaran" is his given name

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ A History of Indian Literature, 1911–1956, Sisir Kumar Das
  2. ↑ Kairaliyude Kadha, N. Krishna Pillai, SPCS, Kottayam
  3. ↑ Malayala Kavithasahithya Charithram; M. Leelavathy, Kerala Sahithya Akademy, Trichur
  4. ↑ Sahithya Varaphalam: M. Krishnan Nair.
  5. ↑ Mathrubhumi Daily(Editorial, 7 July 2006) ;Calicut
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Obituary reports on Thirunalloor Karunakaran published in various news papers on 6 July 2006
  7. ↑ -Thirunellur laid to rest
  8. ↑ The 2008 and 2009 issues of Abhivaadanam the festival bulletin of Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam
  9. ↑ xOZ5Y=&SEO= -Thirunalloor Kavyolsavam from today [permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ Grandhalokam Monthly;(April 2002)Kerala State Library council;Trivandrum
  11. ↑ Kerala Kaumudi Daily(Editorial, 6 July 2006);Trivandrum
  12. ↑ Sahithyalokam Trimonthly; January–March 1985;pp 41–45;Kerala SahithyaAcademy,Thrissur
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Articles and features on Thirunalloor Karunakaran published in various magazines and journals in July 2006
  14. ↑ -An Idealistic Ordeal[permanent dead link]
  15. ↑ Bhashaposhini Monthly; May 2004;pp 6–12 Kottayam
  16. ↑ PachaMalayalam Monthly; January 2005,pp18-24; Quilon

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Vayalar Awards

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thirunalloor_Karunakaran&oldid=328506"
Discover more