K. Damodaran: Difference between revisions

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{{Use Indian English|date=June  2018}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
{{more footnotes|date=September 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Keezhedathu|Damodaran|Indian name|lang=Toponymic}}{{Infobox officeholder
| name    = K Damodaran
| name    = K Damodaran
| image  = Kdamodaran.jpg
| image  = Kdamodaran.jpg
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| nationality = Indian
| nationality = Indian
}}
}}
'''K. Damodaran '''<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/k-damodaran-remembered/article3660497.ece| title = K. Damodaran remembered - KERALA - The Hindu}} </ref> ( February 25, 1912&nbsp;– July 3, 1976) was a [[Marxist]] theoretician and writer and one of the leader of the [[Communist Party of India]] in [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/Writers/PROFILES/KDamodaran/Html/KDamodarangraphy.htm| title = Reference at www.keralasahityaakademi.org}}</ref>
'''Keezhedathu Damodaran'''<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff writer |date=20 July 2012 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/k-damodaran-remembered/article3660497.ece |title=K. Damodaran remembered |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}} </ref> (25 February 1912&nbsp;– 3 July 1976) was an Indian [[Marxist]] theoretician, writer and one of the leaders of the [[Communist Party of India]] in [[Kerala]], [[India]].


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Damodaran was born in [[Ponnani]] in [[Malappuram]] district, the son of Kizhakkiniyakath Thuppan Nampoothiri and Keezhedathu Narayani Amma. He had his schooling in Government School, Tirur, and college education in [[Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College|Samoothiri College, Calicut]]. His first socialist activities were associated with being secretary of the student movement 'Kerala Students Movement' and he joined the freedom struggle. He was arrested in 1931 for participating in the [[civil disobedience movement]] and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 23 months. While in [[Coimbatore]] jail he learned [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]]. He went to [[Varanasi|Kasi]] (UP) in 1935 to study [[Sanskrit]] from the ''Viswa Vidyalaya'' there and  passed the Shastri examination. While at Kasi he learned [[Urdu]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and was attracted to Communist ideology.
Damodaran was born to Kizhakkiniyakath Thuppan Nampoothiri and Keezhedathu Narayani Amma in [[Ponnani]] in [[Malappuram]] district. He had his schooling in Government School, Tirur, and college education in [[Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College|Samoothiri College, Calicut]]. His first socialist activities were associated with being secretary of the student movement 'Kerala Students Movement' and he joined the freedom struggle. He was arrested in 1931 for participating in the [[civil disobedience movement]] and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 23 months. While in [[Coimbatore]] jail, he learned [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]]. He went to [[Varanasi|Kasi]] (UP) in 1935 to study [[Sanskrit]] from the ''Viswa Vidyalaya'' there and  passed the Shastri examination. While at Kasi he learned [[Urdu]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and was attracted to Communist ideology.


==Political career==
==Political career==
[[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] was his classmate. He was attracted to Communist ideology through his senior Onkar Nadashasthri. Thus he became a Communist&nbsp;– the first 'Malayalee Communist'. He returned to Kerala in 1937 and joined the [[Kerala Socialist Party]] and in May the same year formed the Kerala unit of the [[Communist Party of India]]. He organized [[Coir]] and [[Beedi]] workers.  He was imprisoned twice and released in 1945. In 1951, he was elected as the [[Taluk]] secretary of the [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] unit committee of the Communist Party. He contested the assembly election in 1951 and the [[Loksabha]] election in 1957. Damodaran was elected to the central executive committee of the party in 1960. He took charge of editing the ''Navayugam weekly. All through these years he was intellectually active by way of writing articles and books, learning new languages and debating on various forums.
{{further|Communist Party of India delegation to Vietnam, 1960}}
[[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] was his classmate. He was attracted to Communist ideology through his senior Onkar Nadashasthri. Thus he became a Communist&nbsp;– the first 'Malayalee Communist'. He returned to Kerala in 1937 and joined the [[Kerala Socialist Party]] and in May the same year formed the Kerala unit of the [[Communist Party of India]]. He organized [[Coir]] and [[Beedi]] workers.  He was imprisoned twice and released in 1945. In 1951, he was elected as the [[Taluk]] secretary of the [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] unit committee of the Communist Party. He contested the assembly election in 1951 and the [[Loksabha]] election in 1957. Damodaran was elected to the central executive committee of the party in 1960. He took charge of editing the [[Navayugom|Navayugam weekly]]. All through these years he was intellectually active by way of writing articles and books, learning new languages and debating on various forums.


He became a [[Rajya sabha]] member (MP) in 1964. He visited many Asian and European countries including almost all of the communist nations. After the tenure, he devoted his time to a comprehensive research on the history of the Party at [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|(JNU)]] under an [[Indian Council of Historical Research|ICHR]] fellowship.
He became a [[Rajya sabha]] member (MP) in 1964. He visited many Asian and European countries including almost all of the communist nations. After the tenure, he devoted his time to a comprehensive research on the history of the Party at [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|(JNU)]] under an [[Indian Council of Historical Research|ICHR]] fellowship.
He was the first progressive writer in Malayalam. 'pattabakki' was the first political drama to be staged in kerala which, in a way, paved the way for the advancement of communist ideology among the common people. He dwelled deep into Indian Philosophy which was  considered solely spiritual until then and discovered new streams of material thoughts in it. His celebrated works 'Bharatheeya Chintha' and 'Indiayude athmavu' speaks volumes of the metamorphosis. he was a multilinguist and could speak for hours on thought provoking subjects.
He was the first progressive writer in Malayalam. 'pattabakki' was the first political drama to be staged in kerala which, in a way, paved the way for the advancement of communist ideology among the common people. He dwelled deep into Indian Philosophy which was  considered solely spiritual until then and discovered new streams of material thoughts in it. His celebrated works 'Bharatheeya Chintha' and 'Indiayude athmavu' speaks volumes of the metamorphosis. He was a multilinguist and could speak for hours on thought provoking subjects.


He died on July 3, 1976, in [[Delhi]] at the [[Safdarjung Hospital]] while he was still conducting this research. Damodaran was a multilingual scholar and translated many books from [[Russian language|Russian]] to [[Malayalam]]. Apart from ''Pattabaakki'', he wrote another play named ''Rakthapanam''. The stories written between 1934 and 1935 are now a collection known as ''Kannuneer''. In all his works, party popularization was seen. The best known of his works is ''Indiyude Atmavu'' and in English, an excellent exposition of 'Indian Culture' and 'Philosophy from the ancient times'. He completed only first part of ''Kerala History'' based on archeology, anthropology and coin sciences. Political activist and documentary director [[K. P. Sasi]] is the son of Damodaran.
He died on July 3, 1976, in [[Delhi]] at the [[Safdarjung Hospital]] while he was still conducting this research. Damodaran was a multilingual scholar and translated many books from [[Russian language|Russian]] to [[Malayalam]]. Apart from ''Pattabaakki'', he wrote another play named ''Rakthapanam''. The stories written between 1934 and 1935 are now a collection known as ''Kannuneer''. In all his works, party popularization was seen. The best known of his works is ''Indiyude Atmavu'' and in English, an excellent exposition of 'Indian Culture' and 'Philosophy from the ancient times'. He completed only first part of ''Kerala History'' based on archeology, anthropology and coin sciences.  


==Works in Malayalam==
His critical insights on the global Communist movement, and particularly the Indian Communist movement, were thoroughly discussed in an interview conducted by [[Tariq Ali]] in 1975, which was published in [https://newleftreview.org/issues/i93/articles/tariq-ali-introduction-to-damodaran New Left Review, Sept.-Oct. 1975]).
 
Political activist and documentary director [[K. P. Sasi]] is the son of Damodaran.
 
==Works==
===In Malayalam===
*Jawaharlal Nehru
*Jawaharlal Nehru
*Eka Vazhi
*Eka Vazhi
Line 69: Line 76:
*Oru Indian Communistinte Ormakkurippukal
*Oru Indian Communistinte Ormakkurippukal


==English==
===In English===
*Indian Thought
*Indian Thought
*Man and Society in Indian Philosophy
*Man and Society in Indian Philosophy
Line 75: Line 82:
*Marx Comes to India (co-authored with [[P.C.Joshi]])
*Marx Comes to India (co-authored with [[P.C.Joshi]])


==Hindi==
===In Hindi===
*Bharatheeya chinthaa parampara
*Bharatheeya chinthaa parampara


==References==
==References==
===Notes===
<references/>
<references/>
* https://www.countercurrents.org/sasi170312.htm
 
* http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Profiles/KDamodaran/Html/KDamodarangraphy.htm
===Other sources===
* https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/k-damodaran-remembered/article3660497.ece
{{incomplete citations|date=September 2022}}
* https://www.veethi.com/india-people/k._damodaran_(marxist)-profile-3075-19.htm
*{{cite news |newspaper=Grandhalokam Monthly |date=November 2004 |publisher=Kerala State Library Council |place=Trivandrum}}
* http://www.paperbackswap.com/K-Damodaran/author/
*{{cite news |newspaper=Janayugom Weekly |date=15 July 1990 |author=Quilon?}}
*''K.Damodaran'' (biography); M.Rasheed; D.C.Books, Kottayam(1982).
*{{cite book |title=K. Damodaran |first=M. |last=Rasheed |publisher=D.C. Books |place=Kottayam |year=1982}}
*''Janayugom Weekly'' (July 15, 1990); Quilon
*{{cite web |title=K Damodaran: An Unfinished Chapter |first=K. P. |last=Sasi |date=17 March 2012
*''Grandhalokam'' Monthly ( November,2004) ;Kerala StateLibrary Council,Trivandrum
|website=Countercurrents.org |url=https://www.countercurrents.org/sasi170312.htm}}
 
==External links==
* {{cite web |title=K. Damodaran (marxist) Profile |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/k._damodaran_(marxist)-profile-3075-19.htm |date=29 January 2014 |website=Veethi.com}}


{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Damodaran, K}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Damodaran, K}}
[[Category:Journalists from Kerala]]
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:Marxist theorists]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian communist writers]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist historians]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist writers]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Journalists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist writers]]
[[Category:Marxist theorists]]
[[Category:Indian Communist writers]]
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Hindi-language writers]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist historians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in other fields]]

Latest revision as of 16:53, 2 February 2026


In this Indian name, the toponymic surname is Keezhedathu. It is not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Damodaran.
K Damodaran
Member of Parliament of Rajya Sabha
In office
1964–1970
ConstituencyKerala
Personal details
Born(1912-02-05)5 February 1912
Died3 July 1976(1976-07-03) (aged 64)
NationalityIndian
Political partyCommunist Party of India
OccupationCommunist ideologue, Writer & Politician

Keezhedathu Damodaran[1] (25 February 1912 – 3 July 1976) was an Indian Marxist theoretician, writer and one of the leaders of the Communist Party of India in Kerala, India.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Damodaran was born to Kizhakkiniyakath Thuppan Nampoothiri and Keezhedathu Narayani Amma in Ponnani in Malappuram district. He had his schooling in Government School, Tirur, and college education in Samoothiri College, Calicut. His first socialist activities were associated with being secretary of the student movement 'Kerala Students Movement' and he joined the freedom struggle. He was arrested in 1931 for participating in the civil disobedience movement and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 23 months. While in Coimbatore jail, he learned Tamil and Hindi. He went to Kasi (UP) in 1935 to study Sanskrit from the Viswa Vidyalaya there and passed the Shastri examination. While at Kasi he learned Urdu and Bengali and was attracted to Communist ideology.

Political career[edit | edit source]

Further information: Communist Party of India delegation to Vietnam, 1960

Lal Bahadur Shastri was his classmate. He was attracted to Communist ideology through his senior Onkar Nadashasthri. Thus he became a Communist – the first 'Malayalee Communist'. He returned to Kerala in 1937 and joined the Kerala Socialist Party and in May the same year formed the Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India. He organized Coir and Beedi workers. He was imprisoned twice and released in 1945. In 1951, he was elected as the Taluk secretary of the Malabar unit committee of the Communist Party. He contested the assembly election in 1951 and the Loksabha election in 1957. Damodaran was elected to the central executive committee of the party in 1960. He took charge of editing the Navayugam weekly. All through these years he was intellectually active by way of writing articles and books, learning new languages and debating on various forums.

He became a Rajya sabha member (MP) in 1964. He visited many Asian and European countries including almost all of the communist nations. After the tenure, he devoted his time to a comprehensive research on the history of the Party at (JNU) under an ICHR fellowship. He was the first progressive writer in Malayalam. 'pattabakki' was the first political drama to be staged in kerala which, in a way, paved the way for the advancement of communist ideology among the common people. He dwelled deep into Indian Philosophy which was considered solely spiritual until then and discovered new streams of material thoughts in it. His celebrated works 'Bharatheeya Chintha' and 'Indiayude athmavu' speaks volumes of the metamorphosis. He was a multilinguist and could speak for hours on thought provoking subjects.

He died on July 3, 1976, in Delhi at the Safdarjung Hospital while he was still conducting this research. Damodaran was a multilingual scholar and translated many books from Russian to Malayalam. Apart from Pattabaakki, he wrote another play named Rakthapanam. The stories written between 1934 and 1935 are now a collection known as Kannuneer. In all his works, party popularization was seen. The best known of his works is Indiyude Atmavu and in English, an excellent exposition of 'Indian Culture' and 'Philosophy from the ancient times'. He completed only first part of Kerala History based on archeology, anthropology and coin sciences.

His critical insights on the global Communist movement, and particularly the Indian Communist movement, were thoroughly discussed in an interview conducted by Tariq Ali in 1975, which was published in New Left Review, Sept.-Oct. 1975).

Political activist and documentary director K. P. Sasi is the son of Damodaran.

Works[edit | edit source]

In Malayalam[edit | edit source]

  • Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Eka Vazhi
  • Kannuneer (short stories)
  • Karl Marx
  • Samashtivada Vijnapanam (translation of the Communist Manifesto)
  • Paattabaakki (play)
  • Rakthapaanam (play)
  • Russian viplavam (co-authored with E. M. S. Namboodiripad)
  • Manushyan
  • Dhanasasthrapravesika
  • Uruppika
  • Nanayaprasnam
  • Communism Enthu Enthinu ?
  • Purogamana sahithyam Enthinu?
  • Communisavum Christhumathavum
  • Marxism (in 10 parts)
  • Indiayude Aathmavu
  • Keralathile Swathanthryasamaram (co-authored with C Narayana pillai)
  • Dhanasasthra thathwangal
  • Dharmikamoolyangal
  • Enthanu saahithyam
  • Chinayile Viplavam
  • Keralacharithram
  • Sahithya niroopanam
  • Indiayum Socialisavum
  • Indiayude Sampathikabhivrudhi
  • Innathe Indiayude Sampathikasthithi
  • Yesuchristhu Moscowil
  • SamoohyaParivarthanangal
  • Socialisavum Communisavum
  • Panam Muthal Nayapaisa Vare
  • Indiayile Deseeyaprasthanam(Translated directly from Russian)
  • Marxisathinte Adisthanathathwangal
  • Bharatheeyachintha
  • Sreesankaran Hegel Marx
  • Oru Indian Communistinte Ormakkurippukal

In English[edit | edit source]

  • Indian Thought
  • Man and Society in Indian Philosophy
  • Marx Hegel and Sreesankara
  • Marx Comes to India (co-authored with P.C.Joshi)

In Hindi[edit | edit source]

  • Bharatheeya chinthaa parampara

References[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Staff writer (20 July 2012). "K. Damodaran remembered". The Hindu.

Other sources[edit | edit source]

Template:Incomplete citations

  • Grandhalokam Monthly. Trivandrum: Kerala State Library Council. November 2004. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Quilon? (15 July 1990). Janayugom Weekly. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Rasheed, M. (1982). K. Damodaran. Kottayam: D.C. Books.
  • Sasi, K. P. (17 March 2012). "K Damodaran: An Unfinished Chapter". Countercurrents.org.

External links[edit | edit source]

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