Pavanan
Encyclopedia
Puthan Veetil Narayanan Nair (October 26, 1925 – June 22, 2006) was a well known rationalist, literary critic and left wing political activist from Kerala
, India
.
, Kerala, India. His father was Kuttamath Kunniyur Kunhisankara Kurup and mother, Puthan Veetil Devaki Amma. He had his education at Raja's High School, Nileshwaram, Kasaragod
and at Brennen College High School, Thalassery.
of British India. Later, after leaving the army, he worked as an Inspector in Co-operative Department in north Kerala.
Since 1949, Pavanan took up journalism as his career along with his left-wing political activism. He first stint as a journalist was as an editorial board member of the Malayalam journal, Jayakeralam, published from Chennai
then known as Madras. During 1952-53 he worked as a sub-editor of Pourashakthi before becoming a staff-reporter with Deshabhimani, the Malayalam organ of the undivided Communist Party of India
. During 1965-67, he worked as the editor of Navayugam and as correspondent of India Press Agency. He was a style editor with Soviet Information Office, Chennai during 1970-75 and General Editor with Manorajyam group of publications during 1984-86. He then, during 1988-94, worked as Director-in-Charge of Vishwa Vijnana Kosham, an Encyclopedia published by Government of Kerala.
Pavanan was Assistant Secretary of Kerala Sahitya Academi between 1975-78 and its Member Secretary during 1978-84.
, a well-known rationalist group in Kerala. He was the organization's president for a long time before he was afflicted with alzheimer's disease
from which he had been suffering for the last 4–5 years of his life.
After his death, his eyes were donated to an eye bank. Following his wishes, he was cremated without any religious ceremonies thus upholding his rationalist ideal until his death.
s. Some of the titles are:
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Early Days and Education
Pavanan (aka Puthan Veetil Narayanan) was born on October 26, 1925 at Vayalalam, ThalasseryThalassery
Thalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...
, Kerala, India. His father was Kuttamath Kunniyur Kunhisankara Kurup and mother, Puthan Veetil Devaki Amma. He had his education at Raja's High School, Nileshwaram, Kasaragod
Kasaragod district
Kasaragod District is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod District was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1984...
and at Brennen College High School, Thalassery.
Career
During 1944-46, Pavanan served in the Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
of British India. Later, after leaving the army, he worked as an Inspector in Co-operative Department in north Kerala.
Since 1949, Pavanan took up journalism as his career along with his left-wing political activism. He first stint as a journalist was as an editorial board member of the Malayalam journal, Jayakeralam, published from Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
then known as Madras. During 1952-53 he worked as a sub-editor of Pourashakthi before becoming a staff-reporter with Deshabhimani, the Malayalam organ of the undivided Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
. During 1965-67, he worked as the editor of Navayugam and as correspondent of India Press Agency. He was a style editor with Soviet Information Office, Chennai during 1970-75 and General Editor with Manorajyam group of publications during 1984-86. He then, during 1988-94, worked as Director-in-Charge of Vishwa Vijnana Kosham, an Encyclopedia published by Government of Kerala.
Pavanan was Assistant Secretary of Kerala Sahitya Academi between 1975-78 and its Member Secretary during 1978-84.
A rationalist
As a rationalist, Pavanan was the founder-Chief-editor of Yukthirekha, the organ of Kerala Yukthivadi SanghamKerala Yukthivadi Sangham
Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham is a well known rationalist group based in Kerala, India. It stands for rationalism and dialectical materialism. It is the initiator of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations....
, a well-known rationalist group in Kerala. He was the organization's president for a long time before he was afflicted with alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
from which he had been suffering for the last 4–5 years of his life.
Awards & Honours
Pavanan was awarded the Sovietland-Nehru Award (twice), Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, G.Sankara Kurup Award, Puthezhan Memorial Award, Vailoppally Memorial Award, M.C.Joseph award as well as V.T.Bhattathrippad Memorial Award for his contribution in the fields of journalism and literature. He received Emeritus Fellowship (1989-93) from Human Resource Department, Government of India.Death
Pavanan died on June 22, 2006 at Trissur at 7.15 AM, after a prolonged illness.After his death, his eyes were donated to an eye bank. Following his wishes, he was cremated without any religious ceremonies thus upholding his rationalist ideal until his death.
Books by Pavanan
Pavanan wrote more than 40 books in Malayalam and English languageEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
s. Some of the titles are:
In Malayalam
- Keralam Engane Jeevikkunnu (1967)
- Parichayam (1968)
- Soviet Unionanil Krushchevinu Sesham (1965)
- Mahakavi Kuttamath (1980)
- Pavanante Thiranjedutha Prabhandangal (1988)
- Adyakala Smaranakal (1990)
- Sahitya Nirupanam
- Yathra Vivaranam
- Thathva Chintha
- Yukthivadam
- Jeevacharithra Smaranakal
- Yukthi Darsanam (editor) (Published by Kerala Yukthivadi SanghamKerala Yukthivadi SanghamKerala Yukthivadi Sangham is a well known rationalist group based in Kerala, India. It stands for rationalism and dialectical materialism. It is the initiator of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations....
) - Brahmananda Shivayogi (Biography)
- Matham, Marxism, Mathetharatwam
In English
- A journey through Moscow and Georgia
- What happened in China
- Budhist influence in Malayalam Literature
External links
-
- Journalist and author Pavanan passes away: Obituary at www.newkerala.com
- Obituary in Deshabhimani Malayalam Daily This link does not work