Indian author and critic (1929–2024)
M. R. Chandrasekharan
Chandrasekharan in 2012
Born (1929-02-26 ) 26 February 1929Died 4 December 2024(2024-12-04) (aged 95) Citizenship India Education Master's Alma mater Occupation(s) Literary Critic, Professor, Editor Title
Malappurath Raman Chandrasekharan (26 February 1929 – 4 December 2024), also known as M. R. C. , was an IndianMalayalam literary critic and author fromKerala . Chandrasekharan published more than 50 books in different literary sections like literary criticism, translations, politics, social etc. He also worked in the field of journalism and education. He won the 2010Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism .
Chandrasekharan was born on 26 February 1929 atPottore ,Thrissur inKerala . His childhood days were spent in the village where he attended the Tirur Lower Secondary School and Vivekodayam High School,Thrissur . He took hisbachelor's degree fromSree Kerala Varma College , Thrissur, BOL fromUniversity of Madras and later his master's degree fromKerala University in Malayalam language and literature.[citation needed
Chandrasekharan started his career as a journalist in Navajeevan edited byJoseph Mundassery for theCPI . Subsequently, he joined as a sub-editor inMathrubhumi daily inKozhikode , but was sent out for hiscommunist leanings.[citation needed
He worked as a school teacher at Kodakara National High School and Bekal Govt. High School. He joined as a lecturer atMalabar Christian College ,Kozhikode ,[ 1] Kannur as senior lecturer in 1965. He retired from Payyannur College,Kannur after over 30 years of teaching service in the year 1989. After retirement he also worked as Malayalam Professor inSree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit .[citation needed
He later settled atAnanganadi P.O.Panamanna,Ottappalam inPalghat district,Kerala . He was active with his writings and enjoyed the challenge oforganic farming .[citation needed
Chandrasekharan died on 4 December 2024, at the age of 95.[ 2]
Chandrasekharan was very much involved in The All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (AKPCTA)[ 3] Calicut University senate and syndicate.
He was a member ofKerala Sahithya Academy general council and its executive committee.[ 4]
Chandrasekharan was one of the directors of the Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank[ 5]
He was a member of the Academic Council ofThunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University [ 6] [ 7]
In 1961, when Kerala Sahithya Samiti was formed with Kuttipuzha Krishna Pillai as president,S. K. Pottekkatt as vice-president,N. V. Krishna Warrier as general secretary inKozhikode , MRC andVayalar Ramavarma were named secretaries. MRC was later general secretary and president of the organisation.
He was also involved in the formation in 1969 of the Deshabhimani Study Circle, cited as a vigorous and widespread literary movement in Kerala along withE. M. S. Namboodiripad , M.S.Devadas and P.Govindapillai.[ 8]
He published the literary critical journalSahithya Samithi Masika fromPayyanur from 1976 to 1980.
In 1969, when he was the research officer atKerala Bhasha Institute , he worked as the executive editor of the magazineVignana Kairali (Malayalam :വിജ്ഞാനകൈരളി ).
After retirement in 1989, he took up the editorship of a magazine calledChindana (Malayalam :ചിന്തന ) published inKannur .
He was the editor of CMP's weekly journalMalayala Mannu (Malayalam:മലയാളമണ്ണ്) from 1990 to 2013.
Chandrasekharan won the 2010Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism for his bookMalayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum .[ 9]
He won the Dr. C.P.Menon Award for The Study of the Progressive School in Literature for his bookKeralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram in 2005.[citation needed
Chandrasekharan also won theM. N. Sathyaardhi Award in recognition of his contributions to Malayalam literature as a translator. The award was instituted by the M.N. Sathyarthi Trust in memory of the writer who is remembered for his translations of many popular Indian-language works into Malayalam.[citation needed
He was awarded the MVR award in 2018.[ 10]
List of Literary Criticism by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 LaghuniroopanangalMalayalam :ലഘുനിരൂപണങ്ങള് Light Critical Works 1964, P.K.Bros Calicut 2 Niroopakante RaajyabaaramMalayalam :നിരൂപകന്റെ രാജ്യഭാരം The Critic's Sway 1965, Current Books Thrissur 3 Sathyavum KavithayumMalayalam :സത്യവും കവിതയും Reality and Poetry 1979, Poorna Publications Calicut 4 GopuramMalayalam :ഗോപുരം The Tower 1989, Current Books Thrissur 5 GrandhapoojaMalayalam :ഗ്രന്ഥപൂജ Worshiping Books 1996, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 6 Communist KavithrayamMalayalam :കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ് കവിത്രയം [ 11] Three Communist Poets -P. Bhaskaran ,Vayalar Ramavarma ,O.N.V. Kurup 1998, Current Books Thrissur 7 Malayala Sahityam Swaathanthrya Labdikku SheshamMalayalam :മലയാളസാഹിത്യം സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യലബ്ധിക്കുശേഷം Malayalam Literature after the attainment of Independence 1999, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 8 Ezhuthile PonnuMalayalam :എഴുത്തിലെ പൊന്ന് The Golden Writing 2001, Prabhat Book House Trivandrum 9 ManeeshikalMalayalam :മനീഷികള് The visionaries among writers 2005, Lipi Book Publishers Calicut 10 Malayalam Novel Innum InnaleyumMalayalam :മലയാളനോവല് ഇന്നും ഇന്നലെയും Malayalam Novel - Today and Yesterday 2007, Samayam Books Kannur 11 Mundassery - Sahithya Vimarshanathinte Prathaapa KaalamMalayalam :മുണ്ടശ്ശേരി - സാഹിത്യവിമര്ശനത്തിന്റെ പ്രതാപകാലം [ 12] [ 13] Mundasseri - Golden Years of Literary Criticism 2008, Green Books Thrissur 12 Krishnagadha Vimarshanam - chila thiruthalukalMalayalam :കൃഷ്ണഗാഥാ വിമര്ശനം - ചില തിരുത്തലുകള് Criticism of Krishnagatha- Some Corrections 2008, Poorna Books Calicut 13 Adyathma Ramayanam VimarshanamMalayalam :അദ്ധ്യാത്മരാമായണം വിമര്ശനം Criticism of Ramayana, The Epic 2008, Samayam Books Kannur 14 Shishirathile PookkalMalayalam :ശിശിരത്തിലെ പൂക്കള് Flowers in the Winter 2010, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 15 Karamullum Kaattupookkalude KarachilumMalayalam :കാരമുള്ളും കാട്ടുപൂക്കളുടെ കരച്ചിലും The Thorns and Cries of Wild flowers 2012, Kerala Sahithya Academy Thrissur 16 Theechoolayil VenthurukaatheMalayalam :തീച്ചൂളയില് വെന്തുരുകാതെ Life inside a Furnace 2012, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 17 Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram - Sahithya prastana padanamMalayalam :കേരളത്തിലെ പുരോഗമനസാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ ചരിത്രം - സാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനപഠനം History of Forward Thinking Literary Movement in Kerala 1996, Olive Books Calicut 18 SwapnadanamMalayalam :സ്വപ്നാടനം Literary Criticism of selected works of O.V.Vijayan and Mohan Kumar. 2022, India Books Calicut 18 Mahakavi SapthakamMalayalam :മഹാകവി സപ്തകം Poetical Criticism of seven Poets in malayalam 2020, Green Books, Thrissur
List of Political Monographs by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Year of publishing, publisher 1 Communism chila thiruthalukalMalayalam :കമ്മ്യൂണിസം-ചില തിരുത്തലുകള് Communism - Some Critical notes 1999, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut 2 Keralathile CommunismMalayalam :കേരളത്തിലെ കമ്മ്യൂണിസം Communism in Kerala 2000, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut 3 Kerala modelilekku oru kilivaathilMalayalam :കേരളമോഡലിലേക്കു ഒരു കിളിവാതില് An eye on the Kerala Model 2001, Haritham Books Calicut 4 Marx nte viplavavum Lenin nte athiviplavavumMalayalam :മാർക്സിന്റെ വിപ്ലവവും ലെനിന്റെ അതിവിപ്ലവവും Revolution of Marx and Extreme revolution of Lenin 2018, Self Publication 5 Chenkodi parvamMalayalam :ചെങ്കൊടി പര്വം The Reds 2022, India Books
List of Social Books by M. R. C.
List of Social Books by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 ManushyavakaashangalMalayalam :മനുഷ്യാവകാശങ്ങള് Human Rights (Translation) 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras 2 India innu evide nilkkunnuMalayalam :ഇന്ത്യ ഇന്ന് എവിടെ നില്ക്കുന്നു whither stands India Today 2003, State Institute of Languages Trivandrum 3 Universitykalile UpaplavangalMalayalam :യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റികളിലെ ഉപപ്ലവങ്ങൾ Heteronomy in Universities 2021, India Books Kozhikode
List of Memoirs by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Oormayude PushtakamMalayalam :ഓര്മ്മയുടെ പുസ്തകം A Book of Memories 2003, Current Books Thrissur 2 Sahithyathil Diggajangalude oru kalaghattamMalayalam :സാഹിത്യത്തില് ദിഗ്ഗജങ്ങളുടെ ഒരു കാലഘട്ടം The Time of Colossal figures in Malayalam Literature 2006, Poorna Publications Calicut 3 Ente jeevithakadhayile N.V parvamMalayalam :എന്റെ ജീവിതകഥയിലെ എന്.വി. പര്വ്വം The N. V. Chapter in my literary life story 2010, 2016 2nd Edition Green Books Thrissur 4 Kudumba parvamMalayalam :കുടുംബപര്വ്വം The Family Chapter of my life story 2011, Maluban Publishers Trivandrum 5 Balikuteerangalkkoru OrmapusthakamMalayalam :ബലികുടീരങ്ങള്ക്ക് ഒരു ഓര്മ്മപുസ്തകം A memoir for sacrificial stone temples 2015, Green Books Thrissur 6 Samgrama parvangalMalayalam :സംഗ്രാമ പര്വങ്ങള് Different battles of my life 2022, India Books Calicut
List of Novel Translation by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Original Year of publishing, Publisher 1 PadivathilkkalMalayalam :പടിവാതിൽക്കൽ At the outer gate On the eve, Russian,Ivan Turgenev 1955, Prabhath Book House Ernakulam 2 Kokoro Malayalam :കൊകോറോ Kokoro [ 14] Japanese Novel 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras 3 Uzhuthumaricha PuthumannuMalayalam :ഉഴുതുമറിച്ച പുതുമണ്ണ് Virgin Soil Upturned Russian,Mikhail Sholokhov 1962, CICC Books Ernakulam 4 Don Nadeetheerathe KoithuMalayalam :ഡോണ്നദീതീരത്തെ കൊയ്ത്ത് Harvest on the Don Russian,Mikhail Sholokhov 1962, CICC Books Ernakulam 5 Genghis Khan Malayalam :ഝഖിസ്ഖാന് Genghis Khan -The world Conqueror (Historical Biography)Harold Lamb 1963, Current Books Thrissur 6 TimoorMalayalam :തിമൂർ Timoor Historical Biography Tamerlane Harold Lamb 1963, Current Books Thrissur 7 Maattivecha TalakalMalayalam :മാറ്റിവെച്ച തലകള് The Transposed Heads German,Thomas Mann 1979, Chintha Books TrivandrumNew Edition 2024, Freelance Books Thrissur
8 Kalanju Kittiya MookkuMalayalam :കളഞ്ഞുകിട്ടിയ മൂക്ക് The Nose Russian,Nikolai Gogol 2006, Lipi Publications Calicut
Science translation [ edit ] List of Science Translation by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Year of publishing 1 Naam jeevikkunna ee lookamMalayalam :നാം ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഈ ലോകം The World We Live in 1959, Mathrubhumi Co Calicut 2 maanathekku nookkumpolMalayalam :മാനത്തേക്കു നോക്കുമ്പോള് Let us Look at the Sky 1961, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
[ edit ] List of Children's Literature by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Original Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Srugaalan enna kurukkanMalayalam :സൃഗാലന് എന്ന കുറുക്കന് A Fox Named Srigalan Reynard the fox(British Folklore) 2004, Current Books Thrissur 2 moonnu bala saahithya kruthikalMalayalam :മൂന്നു ബാലസാഹിത്യകൃതികള് Three Stories for Children Oscar Wilde 2010, Lipi Publications Calicut
List of other genres by M. R. C.
# Name Translation in English Year of publishing, publisher 1 MushaayiraMalayalam :മുശായിര Poem Collections Kerala Sahithya Samiti 2004, Prabhakar Book Stall Shornur 2 aana undaayirunna veeduMalayalam :ആന ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന വീട് A House which owned an elephant (novel) 2012, Samayam Books Kannur 3 Vilakkukal Puthiyathum PazhayathumMalayalam :വിളക്കുകൾ പുതിയതും പഴയതും Collection of literary articles 2016, S.P.C.S Ltd. Kottayam 4 Vilakkukal Puthiyathum PazhayathumMalayalam :എൻ വി യുടെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത പ്രബന്ധങ്ങൾ Collection of essays by N.V.Krishna Warrier 2006, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur
List of journels edited by M. R. C.
# Name Publisher 1 Yuva BhavanaMalayalam :യുവഭാവന Published from Calicut 2 Vijnana KairaliMalayalam :വിജ്ഞാന കൈരളി Journal of Kerala Language Institute, Tvm 3 Sahithya Samithi MasikaMalayalam :സാഹിത്യ സമിതി മാസിക Published from Payyannur, Kannur District 4 Chinthana WeeklyMalayalam :ചിന്തന Published from Kannur District 5 Malayala Mannu WeeklyMalayalam :മലയാള മണ്ണ് Published from Kannur District
Organisations Literary awards Fiction writers Poets Playwrights Children's literature Essayists/Critics Scholars and Translators Genre Novels Treatises Poems Assorted articles
