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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Short description|Indian writer (1905–19978)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name        = P. Kunhiraman Nair
| name        = P. Kunhiraman Nair
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| birth_place = [[Bellikoth]], [[Kanhangad]], [[British India]]
| birth_place = [[Bellikoth]], [[Kanhangad]], [[British India]]
| death_date  = {{death date and age|df=yes|1978|05|27|1905|10|04}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|df=yes|1978|05|27|1905|10|04}}
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala, India
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala, India
| nationality = [[India]]n
| nationality = [[India]]n
| genre      = [[Poetry]]
| genre      = [[Poetry]]
| occupation  = Teacher, Poet
| occupation  = Teacher, Poet
| spouse      = Kunjilakshmi
| spouse      = Kunjilakshmi
| children    =  
| children    = 4
| relatives  = Puravankara Kunjambu Nair (father)<br> Panayanthitta Kunjamma Amma (mother)
| relatives  =  
| awards      = {{ubl|1959&nbsp;[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]]|1967&nbsp;[[Sahitya Akademi Award]]}}
| awards      = {{ubl|1959&nbsp;[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]]|1967&nbsp;[[Sahitya Akademi Award]]}}
| signature  =  
| signature  =  
}}
}}
'''Panayanthitta Kunhiraman Nair''' (4 October 1905 – 27 May 1978), also known as '''Mahakavi P''', was an Indian writer of [[Malayalam literature]]. He was known for his romantic poems which detailed the natural beauty of his home state of [[Kerala]] in [[South India]] as well as the realities of his life and times. He received the inaugural [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]] in 1959. He was also a recipient of the [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Malayalam|Sahitya Akademi Award]].
'''Panayanthitta Kunhiraman Nair''' (4 October 1905 – 27 May 1978), also known as '''Mahakavi P''', is an Indian writer of [[Malayalam literature]]. He was known for his romantic poems which detailed the natural beauty of his home state of [[Kerala]] in [[South India]] as well as the realities of his life and times. He received the inaugural [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]] in 1959. He was also a recipient of the [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Malayalam|Sahitya Akademi Award]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
[[File:P.Kunhiraman nair.jpg|thumb|left|A group photo taken at [[Koodali High School]].]]
[[File:P.Kunhiraman nair.jpg|thumb|left|A group photo taken at [[Koodali High School]].]]
P. Kunhiraman Nair was born on January 5, 1906 at Bellikoth near [[Kanhangad]],<ref name="Men of Letters">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kasargod.net/personalities.htm |title=Men of Letters |date=2019-03-05 |website=kasargod.net |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> in [[Kasaragod district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to Puravankara Kunjambu Nair, a [[Sanskrit]] scholar, physician and [[vedantin]] and his wife, Panayanthitta Kunjamma Amma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/Pgraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-03-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> His early schooling was with traditional teachers as well as at the local primary school before studying Sanskrit at the school run by Punnassery Nambi Neelakanda Sharma in [[Pattambi]] (the present-day [[Sree Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College Pattambi]]) where he was reported to be a lazy student.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />
P. Kunhiraman Nair was born on 4 October 1905, at Bellikoth near [[Kanhangad]],<ref name="Men of Letters">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kasargod.net/personalities.htm |title=Men of Letters |date=5 March 2019 |website=kasargod.net |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> in [[Kasaragod district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to Puravankara Kunjambu Nair, a [[Sanskrit]] scholar, physician and [[vedantin]] and his wife, Panayanthitta Kunjamma Amma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/Pgraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=5 March 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> His early schooling was with traditional teachers as well as at the local primary school before studying Sanskrit at the school run by Punnassery Nambi Neelakanda Sharma in [[Pattambi]] (the present-day [[Sree Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College Pattambi]]) where he was reported to be a lazy student.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />


It was during this time, Nair started writing poems. He also fell in love with a local girl by name, Vattoli Kunjilakshmy. Subsequently, he moved to [[Tanjavur]] to continue his Sanskrit and [[Vedanta]] studies when his family arranged his marriage with Puravankara Janaki Amma, his cousin and bride-designate as per local customs. However, he declined the proposal and instead, married his lover, Kunjilakshmy.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> After marriage, he founded a magazine, ''Navajeevan'', which was published from [[Kannur]] but after the publication became defunct, he worked at Saraswathi Press in [[Thrissur]] and Sree Ramakrishnodayam Press in [[Olavakkode]]. Later, he joined [[Koodali High School]] as a Malayalam teacher ad after a while, moved to Rajas High School [[Kollengode, Palakkad|Kollengode]] from where he superannuated from service.<ref name="Kollengode, where time stands still">{{Cite web |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/travel/kerala/kerala-travel/kollengode-where-time-stands-still-mathrubhumi-1.2214944 |title=Kollengode, where time stands still |last=Muralikrishnan |first=Story: C. Ashraf Photos: B. |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> He died on May 27, 1978, at the age of 72, while he was staying at C. P. Sathram, a lodging facility in [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> He is survived by his son, P. Ravindran Nair<ref name="MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair’s biography">{{Cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/280816/mt-vasudevan-nair-unhappy-with-removal-of-foreword-in-p-kunhiraman-nairs-biography.html |title=MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair's biography |date=2016-08-28 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> and daughter, Radha.<ref name="പി യുടെ ഓര്‍മകളില്‍ ജന്മനാട്; ഇന്ന് 112-ാം ജന്മവാര്‍ഷികദിനം">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/features/p-kunhiraman-nair-1.3254632 |title=പി യുടെ ഓര്‍മകളില്‍ ജന്മനാട്; ഇന്ന് 112-ാം ജന്മവാര്‍ഷികദിനം |last=കുഞ്ഞിരാമന്‍ |first=എം |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>
It was during this time, Nair started writing poems. He also fell in love with a local girl by name, Vattoli Kunjilakshmy. Subsequently, he moved to [[Tanjavur]] to continue his Sanskrit and [[Vedanta]] studies when his family arranged his marriage with Puravankara Janaki Amma, his cousin and bride-designate as per local customs. However, he declined the proposal and instead, married his lover, Kunjilakshmy.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> After marriage, he founded a magazine, ''Navajeevan'', which was published from [[Kannur]] but after the publication became defunct, he worked at Saraswathi Press in [[Thrissur]] and Sree Ramakrishnodayam Press in [[Olavakkode]]. Later, he joined [[Koodali High School]] as a Malayalam teacher ad after a while, moved to Rajas High School [[Kollengode, Palakkad|Kollengode]] from where he superannuated from service.<ref name="Kollengode, where time stands still">{{Cite web |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/travel/kerala/kerala-travel/kollengode-where-time-stands-still-mathrubhumi-1.2214944 |title=Kollengode, where time stands still |last=Muralikrishnan |first=Story: C. Ashraf Photos: B. |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111332/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/travel/kerala/kerala-travel/kollengode-where-time-stands-still-mathrubhumi-1.2214944 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He died on 27 May 1978, at the age of 72, while he was staying at C. P. Sathram, a lodging facility in [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> He is survived by his son, P. Ravindran Nair,<ref name="MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair’s biography">{{Cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/280816/mt-vasudevan-nair-unhappy-with-removal-of-foreword-in-p-kunhiraman-nairs-biography.html |title=MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair's biography |date=28 August 2016 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> daughter Leela, Radha and Balamani.<ref name="പി യുടെ ഓര്‍മകളില്‍ ജന്മനാട്; ഇന്ന് 112-ാം ജന്മവാര്‍ഷികദിനം">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/features/p-kunhiraman-nair-1.3254632 |title=പി യുടെ ഓര്‍മകളില്‍ ജന്മനാട്; ഇന്ന് 112-ാം ജന്മവാര്‍ഷികദിനം |last=കുഞ്ഞിരാമന്‍ |first=എം |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043359/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/features/p-kunhiraman-nair-1.3254632 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
[[File:P Smaraka Mandiram Kanhangad.jpg|thumb|235px|P. Memorial at [[Kanhangad]]]]
[[File:P Smaraka Mandiram Kanhangad.jpg|thumb|235px|P. Memorial at [[Kanhangad]]]]
P., as he was popularly known, was a habitual nomad and was reported to have led a [[bohemian lifestyle]], wandering across Kerala, living in several places, meeting their people and making them part of his life and literature.<ref name="Remembering Mahakavi P.">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/10/stories/2006061001630200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616071850/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/10/stories/2006061001630200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2006 |title=Remembering Mahakavi P. |date=10 June 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref> Poetry formed his main genre of work, though he has also written novels, short stories, articles and plays.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=List of Works |date=2019-03-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> While during the initial stages of his literary career, Nair wrote spiritual poems, ''Nirapara'' published in 1944, started a new phase which showed his leaning towards nature and symbolism.<ref name="The eternal seeker">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/p-kunhiraman-nairs-flights-of-creativity-still-strikes-a-chord-with-readers/article19169659.ece |title=The eternal seeker |last=Abraham |first=Vinu |date=2017-06-29 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> His autobiography, ''Kaviyude Kaalpaadukal'' (The Footprints of a Poet), with foreword by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]], is one of the celebrated works in prose in Malayalam.<ref name="MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair’s biography" /> ''Thamarathoni'', written during his days in Kollengode,<ref name="Kollengode, where time stands still" /> ''Kaliyachan', ''Vayalkarayil'', ''Ratholsavam'' and ''Pookkalam'' are a few of his known poems.<ref name="List of works" /><ref name="The eternal seeker" />
P., as he was popularly known, was a habitual nomad and was reported to have led a [[bohemian lifestyle]], wandering across Kerala, living in several places, meeting their people and making them part of his life and literature.<ref name="Remembering Mahakavi P.">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/10/stories/2006061001630200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616071850/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/10/stories/2006061001630200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2006 |title=Remembering Mahakavi P. |date=10 June 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref> Poetry formed his main genre of work, though he has also written novels, short stories, articles and plays.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=List of Works |date=5 March 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> While during the initial stages of his literary career, Nair wrote spiritual poems, ''Nirapara'' published in 1944, started a new phase which showed his leaning towards nature and symbolism.<ref name="The eternal seeker">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/p-kunhiraman-nairs-flights-of-creativity-still-strikes-a-chord-with-readers/article19169659.ece |title=The eternal seeker |last=Abraham |first=Vinu |date=29 June 2017 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> His autobiography, ''Kaviyude Kaalpaadukal'' (The Footprints of a Poet), with foreword by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]], is one of the celebrated works in prose in Malayalam.<ref name="MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair’s biography" /> ''Thamarathoni'', written during his days in Kollengode,<ref name="Kollengode, where time stands still" /> ''Kaliyachan'', ''Vayalkarayil'', ''Ratholsavam'' and ''Pookkalam'' are a few of his known poems.<ref name="List of works" /><ref name="The eternal seeker" />


== Honours ==
== Honours ==
[[File:Poem - P Kunhiraman Nair.jpg|thumb|left|A short handwritten poem]]
[[File:Poem - P Kunhiraman Nair.jpg|thumb|left|A short handwritten poem]]
The Raja of [[Nileshwaram]] honoured Nair with the title ''Bhakthakavi'' and presented him with a ''veerashrungala'' (golden bracelet) in 1949 and he received the title of ''Sahitya Nipunan'' in 1963 from the [[Kingdom of Cochin|Raja of Kochi]].<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] selected ''Kaliyachan'' of Kunhiraman Nair for their inaugural [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]] in 1959.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry |date=2019-03-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626195512/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |archive-date=26 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He received the [[Sahitya Akademi Award|Kendra Sahithya Academy Award]] for his work, ''Thamarathoni'', in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |title=Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (Malayalam) |publisher=Public Relations Department, [[Government of Kerala]] |access-date=11 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-date=24 May 2007 }}</ref>
The Raja of [[Nileshwaram]] honoured Nair with the title ''Bhakthakavi'' and presented him with a ''veerashrungala'' (golden bracelet) in 1949 and he received the title of ''Sahitya Nipunan'' in 1963 from the [[Kingdom of Cochin|Raja of Kochi]].<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] selected ''Kaliyachan'' of Kunhiraman Nair for their inaugural [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]] in 1959.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry |date=5 March 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626195512/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |archive-date=26 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He received the [[Sahitya Akademi Award|Kendra Sahithya Academy Award]] for his work, ''Thamarathoni'', in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |title=Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (Malayalam) |publisher=Public Relations Department, [[Government of Kerala]] |access-date=11 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-date=24 May 2007 }}</ref>


In 1981, Eyamkode Sreedharan, with the help of Venugopala Varma, the then Raja of Kollengode who donated a plot of land, initiated the efforts to build a memorial for the poet in Kollengode which was subsequently taken up by the [[Government of Kerala]] to establish the ''Mahakavi P. Memorial Art and Culture Centre''.<ref name="Remembering Mahakavi P." /> The centre houses music school, a library, Kerala Kalabhavan which is a school for [[kathakali]]. The centre also holds performances in folk and classical art forms such as Kathakali, [[Kanyarkali]] and Porattukali.<ref name="Mahakavi P. Memorial Art & Culture Centre at Kollengode">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/ |title=Mahakavi P. Memorial Art & Culture Centre at Kollengode |date=2019-03-05 |website=keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>
In 1981, Eyamkode Sreedharan, with the help of Venugopala Varma, the then Raja of Kollengode who donated a plot of land, initiated the efforts to build a memorial for the poet in Kollengode which was subsequently taken up by the [[Government of Kerala]] to establish the ''Mahakavi P. Memorial Art and Culture Centre''.<ref name="Remembering Mahakavi P." /> The centre houses music school, a library, Kerala Kalabhavan which is a school for [[kathakali]]. The centre also holds performances in folk and classical art forms such as Kathakali, [[Kanyarkali]] and Porattukali.<ref name="Mahakavi P. Memorial Art & Culture Centre at Kollengode">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/ |title=Mahakavi P. Memorial Art & Culture Centre at Kollengode |date=5 March 2019 |website=keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref>


A government vocational school at Nair's native place, Bellikoth, has been named after him as ''Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School''<ref name="Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School">{{Cite web |url=http://vhse.kerala.gov.in/images/principal_list_prvnl_final.pdf |title=Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School |date=2019-03-05 |website=Government of Kerala |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> and a town hall in [[Kanhangad]] has been named ''Mahakavi P Memorial Hall''.<ref name="Mahakavi P Memorial Hall">{{Cite web |url=http://kfogkerala.com/pdf/members/Kasrgode_member_list.pdf |title=Mahakavi P Memorial Hall |date=2019-03-05 |website=kfogkerala.com |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> Kanhangad also has another memorial of the poet, ''Mahakavi P. Memorial'' which was designed by [[M. V. Devan]] and houses a library and a public reading room. The upper floor of the building has since been converted into a museum and all the books and articles written by the poet, the chair and dresses used by him, as well as a gold chain presented by the [[Guruvayur Devaswom]]m on his 60th birthday are in display there.<ref name="Memorial museum for Mahakavi ‘P'">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/memorial-museum-for-mahakavi-p/article2605380.ece |title=Memorial museum for Mahakavi 'P' |author=Staff Reporter |date=2011-11-07 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> There are two [[eponymous]] organizations, ''Mahakavi P Foundation'', based in Thiruvananthapuram and ''Mahakavi P. Smaraka Samithi'', based in Kanhangad; the former has instituted an annual literary award, ''Kaliyachan Award''<ref name="MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair’s biography" /> and the latter manages two awards for recognising excellence in Malayalam poetry, the ''Mahakavi P Memorial Award for Poetry'' and Poetry Award for Young Poets''.<ref name="This year's Mahakavi P memorial award for poetry will be given to P P Ramachandran">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/This-years-Mahakavi-P-memorial-award-for-poetry-will-be-given-to-P-P-Ramachandran-for-his-collection-of-poems-Katte-Kadale-The-award-instituted-by-P-Memorial-Trust-established-in-memory-of-P-Kunhiraman-Nair-carries-a-cash-award-of-Rs-10000-and-a-citation-The-award-for-young-poets-will-be-given-to-Biju-Kanhangad-for-his-collections-poems-Uchamazhayil-The-awards-will-be-presented-at-a-function-in-Kanhangad-on-May-27-/articleshow/20247692.cms |title=This year's Mahakavi P memorial award for poetry will be given to P P Ramachandran |website=The Times of India |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Winners list of P. Kunhiraman Nair Award">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/ |title=Winners list of P. Kunhiraman Nair Award |date=2019-03-05 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>
A government vocational school at Nair's native place, Bellikoth, has been named after him as ''Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School''<ref name="Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School">{{Cite web |url=http://vhse.kerala.gov.in/images/principal_list_prvnl_final.pdf |title=Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School |date=5 March 2019 |website=Government of Kerala |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> and a town hall in [[Kanhangad]] has been named ''Mahakavi P Memorial Hall''.<ref name="Mahakavi P Memorial Hall">{{Cite web |url=http://kfogkerala.com/pdf/members/Kasrgode_member_list.pdf |title=Mahakavi P Memorial Hall |date=5 March 2019 |website=kfogkerala.com |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> Kanhangad also has another memorial of the poet, ''Mahakavi P. Memorial'' which was designed by [[M. V. Devan]] and houses a library and a public reading room. The upper floor of the building has since been converted into a museum and all the books and articles written by the poet, the chair and dresses used by him, as well as a gold chain presented by the [[Guruvayur Devaswom]]m on his 60th birthday are in display there.<ref name="Memorial museum for Mahakavi ‘P'">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/memorial-museum-for-mahakavi-p/article2605380.ece |title=Memorial museum for Mahakavi 'P' |author=Staff Reporter |date=7 November 2011 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> There are two [[eponymous]] organisations, ''Mahakavi P Foundation'', based in Thiruvananthapuram and ''Mahakavi P. Smaraka Samithi'', based in Kanhangad; the former has instituted an annual literary award, ''Kaliyachan Award''<ref name="MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair’s biography" /> and the latter manages two awards for recognising excellence in Malayalam poetry, the ''Mahakavi P Memorial Award for Poetry'' and ''Poetry Award for Young Poets''.<ref name="This year's Mahakavi P memorial award for poetry will be given to P P Ramachandran">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/This-years-Mahakavi-P-memorial-award-for-poetry-will-be-given-to-P-P-Ramachandran-for-his-collection-of-poems-Katte-Kadale-The-award-instituted-by-P-Memorial-Trust-established-in-memory-of-P-Kunhiraman-Nair-carries-a-cash-award-of-Rs-10000-and-a-citation-The-award-for-young-poets-will-be-given-to-Biju-Kanhangad-for-his-collections-poems-Uchamazhayil-The-awards-will-be-presented-at-a-function-in-Kanhangad-on-May-27-/articleshow/20247692.cms |title=This year's Mahakavi P memorial award for poetry will be given to P P Ramachandran |website=The Times of India |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="Winners list of P. Kunhiraman Nair Award">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/ |title=Winners list of P. Kunhiraman Nair Award |date=5 March 2019 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref>


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
''[[Ivan Megharoopan]]'', a 2012 Malayalam biopic, written and directed by [[P. Balachandran]] with [[Prakash Bare]] in the lead role, is based on the life of poet as detailed in his autobiography, ''Kaviyude Kalpadukal''.<ref name="Poetic venture">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/11/19/stories/2010111950980200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108104002/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/11/19/stories/2010111950980200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-08 |title=Poetic venture |last=P. K. Ajith Kumar |date=2010-11-19 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2010-11-19 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> His 1959 poem ''Kaliyachan'', has been adapted into a feature film produced by the [[National Film Development Corporation of India|National Film Development Corporation]] under [[Kaliyachan|the same name]] with [[Manoj K. Jayan]] in the lead;<ref name=exp>{{cite web | title = Kaliyachan: Portrait of an artist|publisher= The New Indian Express| url = http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/Kaliyachan-Portrait-of-an-artist/2013/09/24/article1799943.ece | author=Parvathy Nambidi|date=24 September 2013|access-date = 2014-04-23 }}</ref><ref name=hindu>{{cite web| title = Poetic frames |newspaper=The Hindu| url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/poetic-frames/article4508419.ece |date=14 March 2013| access-date = 2014-04-23 }}</ref> the film received three awards at the [[2012 Kerala State Film Awards]].<ref name="Poetic frames">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/poetic-frames/article4508419.ece |title=Poetic frames |last=Kumar |first=P. K. Ajith |date=2013-03-14 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>
''[[Ivan Megharoopan]]'', a 2012 Malayalam biopic, written and directed by [[P. Balachandran]] with [[Prakash Bare]] in the lead role, is based on the life of poet as detailed in his autobiography, ''Kaviyude Kalpadukal''.<ref name="Poetic venture">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/11/19/stories/2010111950980200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108104002/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/11/19/stories/2010111950980200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 November 2012 |title=Poetic venture |last=P. K. Ajith Kumar |date=19 November 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=19 November 2010 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> His 1959 poem ''Kaliyachan'', has been adapted into a feature film produced by the [[National Film Development Corporation of India|National Film Development Corporation]] under [[Kaliyachan|the same name]] with [[Manoj K. Jayan]] in the lead;<ref name=exp>{{cite web | title = Kaliyachan: Portrait of an artist|publisher= The New Indian Express| url = http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/Kaliyachan-Portrait-of-an-artist/2013/09/24/article1799943.ece | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927051129/http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/Kaliyachan-Portrait-of-an-artist/2013/09/24/article1799943.ece | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 September 2013 | author=Parvathy Nambidi|date=24 September 2013|access-date = 23 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name=hindu>{{cite web| title = Poetic frames |newspaper=The Hindu| url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/poetic-frames/article4508419.ece |date=14 March 2013| access-date = 23 April 2014  }}</ref> the film received three awards at the [[2012 Kerala State Film Awards]].<ref name="Poetic frames">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/poetic-frames/article4508419.ece |title=Poetic frames |last=Kumar |first=P. K. Ajith |date=14 March 2013 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref>


== Bibliography ==
== Bibliography ==
===Poetry===
===Poetry===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/kaliyachan |title=Kaliyacchan |last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |publisher=DC Books |year=1954 |isbn=9788171308200}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/kaliyachan |title=Kaliyacchan |last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |publisher=DC Books |year=1954 |isbn=9788171308200 |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044117/https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/kaliyachan |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Onassadya|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |year=1960 }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Onassadya|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |year=1960 }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=326658&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Pookkalam |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1964 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=326658&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Pookkalam |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1964 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044325/https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=326658&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=272288&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Thamarathoni |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1993 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=272288&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Thamarathoni |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1993 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Vasantholsavam|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |year=1972 }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Vasantholsavam|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |year=1972 }}
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* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Malanadinte Mahasandesham|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Malanadinte Mahasandesham|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Yamunathadathile Smarakakshethram|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Yamunathadathile Smarakakshethram|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=325280&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Vayalkkarayil |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1970 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-oprative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=325280&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Vayalkkarayil |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1970 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Vasanthippookkal|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Vasanthippookkal|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Shankhanadam|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Shankhanadam|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
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* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Ananthan Kaattil|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Ananthan Kaattil|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Veeraradhana|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/P.KunhiramanNairBooks.htm |title=Veeraradhana|last=P. Kunhiraman Nair }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/THIRANJEDUTHA-KAVITHAKAL-P-Kunhiraman-Nair |title=Theranjedutha Kavithakal |last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |publisher=DC Books |year=2017 |isbn=9788126411665}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/THIRANJEDUTHA-KAVITHAKAL-P-Kunhiraman-Nair |title=Theranjedutha Kavithakal |last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |publisher=DC Books |year=2017 |isbn=9788126411665 |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043837/https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/THIRANJEDUTHA-KAVITHAKAL-P-Kunhiraman-Nair |url-status=dead }}
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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=== Memoirs and biography ===
=== Memoirs and biography ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/kaviyute-kalpatukal |title=Kaviyude Kalpadukal |last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |year=2007 |publisher=a |isbn=9788126411658}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/kaviyute-kalpatukal |title=Kaviyude Kalpadukal |last=P. Kunhiraman Nair |year=2007 |publisher=a |isbn=9788126411658 |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044339/https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/kaviyute-kalpatukal |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=326654&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Enne thirayunna njaan |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1977 |publisher=D. C. Books |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=326654&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Enne thirayunna njaan |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1977 |publisher=D. C. Books |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=206973&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Nithyakanyakaye Thedi |last=Kunjiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1997 |publisher=D.C. Books |location=D.C. Books}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=206973&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Nithyakanyakaye Thedi |last=Kunjiraman Nair |first=P. |date=1997 |publisher=D.C. Books |location=D.C. Books |access-date=5 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306060112/https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=206973&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=284904&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Rabindranatha Tagore - Oru Cheruchithram |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=2012 |publisher=Lipi |isbn=9788188015054 |location=Calicut}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=284904&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Kunhiraman%2520Nair |title=Rabindranatha Tagore - Oru Cheruchithram |last=Kunhiraman Nair |first=P. |date=2012 |publisher=Lipi |isbn=9788188015054 |location=Calicut}}
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|P. Kunhiraman Nair}}
{{commons category|P. Kunhiraman Nair}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/PKunhiramanNairpage.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-03-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-03-05}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKunhiramanNair/Html/PKunhiramanNairpage.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=5 March 2019 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=5 March 2019}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_YPEophUxTtHQPWTZ3iVtgWhbAmFg4g |title=P. Kunhiraman Nair Poems - YouTube channel |date=2019-03-05 |website=YouTube |language=en |access-date=2019-03-05}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_YPEophUxTtHQPWTZ3iVtgWhbAmFg4g |title=P. Kunhiraman Nair Poems - YouTube channel |date=5 March 2019 |website=YouTube |language=en |access-date=5 March 2019}}


{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}
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[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]

Latest revision as of 06:10, 18 November 2025


P. Kunhiraman Nair
Drawing of P Kunhiraman Nair
Drawing of P Kunhiraman Nair
Born(1905-10-04)4 October 1905
Bellikoth, Kanhangad, British India
Died27 May 1978(1978-05-27) (aged 72)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
OccupationTeacher, Poet
NationalityIndian
GenrePoetry
Notable awards
SpouseKunjilakshmi
Children4

Panayanthitta Kunhiraman Nair (4 October 1905 – 27 May 1978), also known as Mahakavi P, is an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. He was known for his romantic poems which detailed the natural beauty of his home state of Kerala in South India as well as the realities of his life and times. He received the inaugural Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1959. He was also a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award.

Biography[edit | edit source]

A group photo taken at Koodali High School.

P. Kunhiraman Nair was born on 4 October 1905, at Bellikoth near Kanhangad,[1] in Kasaragod district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Puravankara Kunjambu Nair, a Sanskrit scholar, physician and vedantin and his wife, Panayanthitta Kunjamma Amma.[2] His early schooling was with traditional teachers as well as at the local primary school before studying Sanskrit at the school run by Punnassery Nambi Neelakanda Sharma in Pattambi (the present-day Sree Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College Pattambi) where he was reported to be a lazy student.[2]

It was during this time, Nair started writing poems. He also fell in love with a local girl by name, Vattoli Kunjilakshmy. Subsequently, he moved to Tanjavur to continue his Sanskrit and Vedanta studies when his family arranged his marriage with Puravankara Janaki Amma, his cousin and bride-designate as per local customs. However, he declined the proposal and instead, married his lover, Kunjilakshmy.[2] After marriage, he founded a magazine, Navajeevan, which was published from Kannur but after the publication became defunct, he worked at Saraswathi Press in Thrissur and Sree Ramakrishnodayam Press in Olavakkode. Later, he joined Koodali High School as a Malayalam teacher ad after a while, moved to Rajas High School Kollengode from where he superannuated from service.[3] He died on 27 May 1978, at the age of 72, while he was staying at C. P. Sathram, a lodging facility in Thiruvananthapuram.[2] He is survived by his son, P. Ravindran Nair,[4] daughter Leela, Radha and Balamani.[5]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

P. Memorial at Kanhangad

P., as he was popularly known, was a habitual nomad and was reported to have led a bohemian lifestyle, wandering across Kerala, living in several places, meeting their people and making them part of his life and literature.[6] Poetry formed his main genre of work, though he has also written novels, short stories, articles and plays.[7] While during the initial stages of his literary career, Nair wrote spiritual poems, Nirapara published in 1944, started a new phase which showed his leaning towards nature and symbolism.[8] His autobiography, Kaviyude Kaalpaadukal (The Footprints of a Poet), with foreword by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, is one of the celebrated works in prose in Malayalam.[4] Thamarathoni, written during his days in Kollengode,[3] Kaliyachan, Vayalkarayil, Ratholsavam and Pookkalam are a few of his known poems.[7][8]

Honours[edit | edit source]

A short handwritten poem

The Raja of Nileshwaram honoured Nair with the title Bhakthakavi and presented him with a veerashrungala (golden bracelet) in 1949 and he received the title of Sahitya Nipunan in 1963 from the Raja of Kochi.[2] Kerala Sahitya Akademi selected Kaliyachan of Kunhiraman Nair for their inaugural Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1959.[9] He received the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for his work, Thamarathoni, in 1967.[10]

In 1981, Eyamkode Sreedharan, with the help of Venugopala Varma, the then Raja of Kollengode who donated a plot of land, initiated the efforts to build a memorial for the poet in Kollengode which was subsequently taken up by the Government of Kerala to establish the Mahakavi P. Memorial Art and Culture Centre.[6] The centre houses music school, a library, Kerala Kalabhavan which is a school for kathakali. The centre also holds performances in folk and classical art forms such as Kathakali, Kanyarkali and Porattukali.[11]

A government vocational school at Nair's native place, Bellikoth, has been named after him as Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School[12] and a town hall in Kanhangad has been named Mahakavi P Memorial Hall.[13] Kanhangad also has another memorial of the poet, Mahakavi P. Memorial which was designed by M. V. Devan and houses a library and a public reading room. The upper floor of the building has since been converted into a museum and all the books and articles written by the poet, the chair and dresses used by him, as well as a gold chain presented by the Guruvayur Devaswomm on his 60th birthday are in display there.[14] There are two eponymous organisations, Mahakavi P Foundation, based in Thiruvananthapuram and Mahakavi P. Smaraka Samithi, based in Kanhangad; the former has instituted an annual literary award, Kaliyachan Award[4] and the latter manages two awards for recognising excellence in Malayalam poetry, the Mahakavi P Memorial Award for Poetry and Poetry Award for Young Poets.[15][16]

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

Ivan Megharoopan, a 2012 Malayalam biopic, written and directed by P. Balachandran with Prakash Bare in the lead role, is based on the life of poet as detailed in his autobiography, Kaviyude Kalpadukal.[17] His 1959 poem Kaliyachan, has been adapted into a feature film produced by the National Film Development Corporation under the same name with Manoj K. Jayan in the lead;[18][19] the film received three awards at the 2012 Kerala State Film Awards.[20]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Poetry[edit | edit source]

  • P. Kunhiraman Nair (1954). Kaliyacchan. DC Books. ISBN 9788171308200. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair (1960). Onassadya.
  • Kunhiraman Nair, P. (1964). Pookkalam. Kottayam: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  • Kunhiraman Nair, P. (1993). Thamarathoni. Kottayam: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair (1972). Vasantholsavam.
  • Kunhiraman Nair, P. (1974). Chilampoli. Calicut: Mathrubhumi Books.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair (1978). Ratholsavam (2 volumes).
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair (1983). Thamarathen.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair (1983). Mekalaeyude Magal.
  • Kunhiraman Nair, P. (1994). Karpooramazha. Kottayam: D C Books. ISBN 9788171303861.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Koduthumudinja Maavu.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Thirumudimaala.
  • Kunjiraman Nair, P. (1997). Prakrithipooja. Current Books, Thrissur: Current Books.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Neeranjanam.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Prapancham.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Soundarya Devatha.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Balamrutham (2 volumes).
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Anthithiri.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Nakshathramaala.
  • Kunhiraman Nair, P. (1967). Nirvaannanisha. Kozhikode: Poorna.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Nishaagaanam athava Gaanamaala.
  • Kunhiraman Nair, P. (1966). Nirapara. Kozhikode: P. K. Brothers.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Padavaal.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Pirannamannil.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Poothaali.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Poombaattakal.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Prema Pournami.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Bhadradeepam.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Manalthariyude Chiri.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Mankudathinte Vila.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Malanadu.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Malanadinte Mahasandesham.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Yamunathadathile Smarakakshethram.
  • Kunhiraman Nair, P. (1970). Vayalkkarayil. Kottayam: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Vasanthippookkal.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Shankhanadam.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Shreeramacharitham.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Seethadevi athava Varabhiksha.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Ananthan Kaattil.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair. Veeraradhana.
  • P. Kunhiraman Nair (2017). Theranjedutha Kavithakal. DC Books. ISBN 9788126411665. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.

Short stories and novels[edit | edit source]

Plays[edit | edit source]

Prose[edit | edit source]

Memoirs and biography[edit | edit source]

Translations[edit | edit source]

  • P .Kunhiraman Nair; P. K. N. Panicker (2017). Selected Poems of Mahakavi P .Kunhiraman Nair: From God's Own Country (1 ed.). Authorspress. p. 142. ISBN 978-9352074723.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Men of Letters". kasargod.net. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Muralikrishnan, Story: C. Ashraf Photos: B. "Kollengode, where time stands still". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "MT Vasudevan Nair unhappy with removal of foreword in P Kunhiraman Nair's biography". Deccan Chronicle. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. ↑ കുഞ്ഞിരാമന്‍, എം. "പി യുടെ ഓര്‍മകളില്‍ ജന്മനാട്; ഇന്ന് 112-ാം ജന്മവാര്‍ഷികദിനം". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Remembering Mahakavi P." The Hindu. 10 June 2006. Archived from the original on 16 June 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "List of Works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Abraham, Vinu (29 June 2017). "The eternal seeker". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  9. ↑ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 5 March 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  10. ↑ "Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (Malayalam)". Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  11. ↑ "Mahakavi P. Memorial Art & Culture Centre at Kollengode". keralaculture.org. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  12. ↑ "Mahakavi P. Smaraka Government Vocational Higher Secondary School" (PDF). Government of Kerala. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "Mahakavi P Memorial Hall" (PDF). kfogkerala.com. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  14. ↑ Staff Reporter (7 November 2011). "Memorial museum for Mahakavi 'P'". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  15. ↑ "This year's Mahakavi P memorial award for poetry will be given to P P Ramachandran". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  16. ↑ "Winners list of P. Kunhiraman Nair Award". www.keralaculture.org. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  17. ↑ P. K. Ajith Kumar (19 November 2010). "Poetic venture". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  18. ↑ Parvathy Nambidi (24 September 2013). "Kaliyachan: Portrait of an artist". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  19. ↑ "Poetic frames". The Hindu. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  20. ↑ Kumar, P. K. Ajith (14 March 2013). "Poetic frames". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 March 2019.

External links[edit | edit source]

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