N. N. Kakkad | |
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| Born | (1927-07-14)14 July 1927 |
| Died | 6 January 1987(1987-01-06) (aged 59) |
| Occupation | Teacher, poet, essayist, translator |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | |
| Spouse | Sreedevi Kakkad |
Narayanan Nambuthiri Kakkad (14 July 1927 – 6 January 1987), commonly known asN. N. Kakkad, was an Indian poet of theMalayalam language. Known for works such asSaphalmee Yathra,Pathalathinde Muzhakkam andChangatham, he was aSanskrit scholar and was known to have been proficient in painting and music. He was a recipient of several awards includingOdakkuzhal Award,Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram,Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry andVayalar Award.
Kakkad was born on 14 July 1927 atAvitanallur ofKozhikode district, in the south Indian state ofKerala, in an orthodoxBrahmin family to Kakkad Valiya Narayanan Namboothiri and Devaki Antharjanam.[1] His early education was inSanskrit in the traditional way and he also studied painting, classical music and flute. It was only at the age of 16, he could start his formal education which at the 6th standard and in 1943, he joined the Zamorin's High School, Kozhikode in 7th standard. Two years later, he moved toVivekodayam High School from where he completed schooling and joinedSree Kerala Varma College in 1948, where he had the opportunity to study underN. V. Krishna Warrier, the noted poet and scholar, who nurtured his literary skills.[2] After earning the graduate degree of BOL, he started his career as a teacher atNaduvannur High School but his tenure there was short-lived as he resigned following a dispute with the school management to move to a tutorial college in Kozhikode. Later, he switched to broadcasting by joining the Kozhikode station of theAll India Radio[3] as a script writer and spent the rest of his career there to superannuate in 1985 as a producer.[2]
Kakkad was married to Sreedevi, the marriage taking place on 25 April 1955.[2] He died on 6 January 1987, at the age of 59, succumbing to cancer.[4]
He started writing poetry during his school days.[5] His first book,Salabha Geetham, appeared in 1957, followed by ten other books of poetry and three essay compilations.[6] He is considered by many critics as a pioneer ofavant-garde poetry in Malayalam[7][8] and as one of the founders of modernist movement inMalayalam literature.[9][10]Kanwan andNineteen Sixty Three, published inMathrubhumi weekly in early 1960s revealedEliotean influence and established him as a modern poet.Saphalamee Yathra, which fetched him a number of awards and considered by many as his magnum opus was published in 1985. Two of his works,Nadan Chinthukal andPakalaruthikku Munpu, were published after his death.[2]
Kakkad was also involved in politics, starting as a member of theIndian National Congress but later, moving to theCommunist Party of India.[5] He unsuccessfully contested the Malabar District Board elections fromBalussery under the Communist banner and was an office bearer of the All India Radio Staff Association.[1] He also sat in the councils ofKerala Sahitya Akademi, Kerala Sahitya Samithi, Vallathol Vidyapeedam, Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham.[2]
Kakkad received theOdakkuzhal Award in 1985 for his work,Saphalamee Yathra;[11] and theCherukad Award for the poetry anthology,Kavitha, the same year.[12]Kerala Sahitya Akademi selectedSaphalamee Yathra for theirannual award for poetry in 1986[13] and he received one more award in 1986, theVayalar Award,Saphalamee Yathra again fetching him the honour.[14] He received the 1989Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram as a posthumous honor.[15]
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