Nalapat Narayana Menon | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Nalapat Narayana Menon | |
| Born | (1887-10-07)7 October 1887 |
| Died | 31 October 1954(1954-10-31) (aged 67) |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Genre | Poem, play, translation |
| Notable works | Paavangal,Kannuneerthulli |
Nalapat Narayana Menon (7 October 1887 – 31 October 1954) was aMalayalam language author fromKerala state,South India.[1] His oeuvre consists of poems, plays and translations. His best known works includePaavangal, a translation ofVictor Hugo'sLes Misérables, and the elegyKannuneerthulli.
He was born inPunnayurkulam,Ponnani taluk inSouth Malabar on 7 October 1887. Narayana Menon got his family name,Nalapat, throughmatrilineal succession. He obtained English education fromKunnamkulam,Trichur andCalicut. While he was 18, he met poetVallathol and became his chief companion. His complete History was documented by Saritha Asokan Nalapat in 2016 (Granddaughter of Nalapat Balamani amma's sister Nalapat Ammini amma). Documentary name is "Hrishkavi"(The ascetic poet)
Vallathol's influence is obvious in his early poems. He was also influenced byRobert G. Ingersoll and was an atheist for most of his youth. Later he developed strong interest inIndian philosophy and religion and was influenced by the ideas ofDayananda Saraswati andSwami Vivekananda. Most of his early prose works were on subjects related toIndian philosophy. His most famous poemKannuneerthulli (Tear Drop) was anelegy written after the death of his wife.Paavangal, a translation ofVictor Hugo'sLes Misérables, was a milestone in the history ofMalayalam literature and it set off a social reformation of sorts in Kerala. Despite being a translation, it gifted Malayalam a new prose style. Literary criticM. Leelavathy notes: "The translation was an extraordinary phenomenon as it prepared the ground for the Communist movement to take roots in Kerala. With its philosophy of human equality, the heart-wrenching tale of the oppressed left a profound impact in our society. For E.M.S. Namboodiripad, this was Nalapatan's best work. Its influence was both sociological and philological."[2]
Nalapat was the uncle of poetBalamani Amma and the grand uncle of renowned writerKamala Surayya (Madhavikutty or Kamala Das) and Dr. Suvarna Nalapat, writer and music therapy researcher. He is fondly referred to asValiyammavan by Madhavikutty in her books such asNeermathalam Pootha Kaalam.Lokantharangalil was an elegy by Balamani Amma on the death of Nalapat Narayana Menon.[3]