 | This article'suse ofexternal links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Pleaseimprove this article by removingexcessive orinappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate intofootnote references.(April 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1939-06-02)2 June 1939 Thiruvalla,Kerala, India |
| Died | 25 February 2021(2021-02-25) (aged 81) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Writer, poet, academic, priest |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards | |
| Spouse | Savithri |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
|
Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri (2 June 1939 – 25 February 2021) was an Indian writer and scholar ofMalayalam literature. Known primarily for his poems, Namboothiri also contributed to other genres such as essays, translations and children's literature.Swathanthrathe Kurichu Oru Geetham,Bhoomigeethangal,Indiayenna Vikaaram andCharulata count among his notable works. TheGovernment of India honored him with the fourth highest civilian award of thePadma Shri in 2014 and theGovernment of Kerala awarded him theEzhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary award in Malayalam, the same year. He was also a recipient ofVayalar Award,Vallathol Award,Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions,Asan Prize,Sahitya Akademi Award andOdakkuzhal Award.
Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri was born on 2 June 1939, to Vishnu Namboothiri and Adhithi Antharjanam at Seeravally Illam inThiruvalla, Kerala.[1] After traditional education ofVedas,Puranas andSanskrit from his grandfather, he did his school education at Prince Marthanda Varma High School, Peringara and subsequently, obtained his graduate degree fromSt. Berchmans College,Changanacherry and his master's degree fromSt. Joseph's College, Devagiri, topping the examination.[2] He started his career as a teacher of Mathematics at his alma mater, Peringara School, but moved toMalabar Christian College as a faculty in English department. Later, he worked in various parts of the state such asKozhikode,Kollam,Pattambi,Ernakulam,Tripunithura,Chittur,Thalassery (Government Brennen College)[3] and theState Institute of Languages,[4] before superannuating from service as the head of the department of English at theUniversity College Thiruvananthapuram. Later, he also worked as the high priest atSreevallabha Temple, his ancestral temple.[1]
Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri was married to Savithri Antharjanam[5] and the couple had two daughters, Adhithi and Aparna.[3][6]
He died on 25 February 2021, aged 81, at his home in Thycaud nearThiruvananthapuram due to age-related illnesses.[7] He was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam Crematorium near his home.[8]
During his tenure as the high priest ofSreevallabha Temple, an official of the temple raised an issue in 1997 regarding his travel to London for presenting a paper onVedas, which the official claimed that crossing the seas was an unacceptable practice for a priest.[9] He was asked to abstain from performing his duties as the priest. However, the controversy subsided after public resistance and Namboothiri resumed his priestly duties.[10]
Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri, whose poems are known to be a blend of tradition with modernity,[11][12][13] received theKerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1979 for his poetry anthology,Bhumigeethangal.[14] Fifteen years later,Sahitya Akademi selected his anthology,Ujjayiniyile Rappakalukal for the 1994Sahitya Akademi Award.[15] In between, he received theOdakkuzhal Award for his work,Mukhamevide?.[16][17] He received theAsan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram in 1996,[18] andKerala Sahitya Akademi honored him again in 2004 with theirAward for Overall Contributions.[1] He received the Mathrubhumi Literary Award in 2009[19] and the year 2010 brought him two awards, *Vayalar Award forChaarulata[20][21] and theVallathol Award.[22] The Government of India honored him in 2014 withPadma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India,[23][24][25] and the same year, The Government of Kerala awarded him their highest literary award of theEzhuthachan Puraskaram.[26] The other awards received by him include Changampuzha Award,Ulloor Award, Pandalam Keralavarma Poetry Award,Deviprasadam Trust Award (2005),[27] Ettumanoor Somadasan Sahitya Puraskaram[28] and C. V. Kunhiraman Literary Prize.[1][3]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
