S. Guptan Nair was a well known Malayalam writer, literary critic, scholar, orator, essayist, lexicographer, translator and educationist. A multi-faceted personality, his interests included music, acting and sports (tennis).He was a critic-visionary who probed the human values and aesthetics of literature that surpassed political affiliations. He adopted a simple and lucid writing style even when he dealt with abstruse literary topics. As a teacher, Prof. Guptan Nair had a vast student following and always strove to pass on traditional values to the younger generation. He was a conscience-keeper of the non-political city elite and presided over the Education Protection Forum which led a campaign against student politics.

Career

Prof S Guptan Nair served as University Grants Commission (UGC)

University Grants Commission (India)

The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised...

 professor in several Government colleges. He retired as Head of the Department of Malayalam from Calicut University.. He was president of organizations like Kerala Sahitya Academy, Sahithya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society (SPCS). Kerala Sahitya Samithi, Margi, Vidhyabhyasa Sureksha Samithi, Shri. Chithirathirunal Granthashala. He served as assistant director of Kerala Bhasha Institute. He also served as editor of Malayali, Grandhalokham and Vigyana Kairali.

Biography

Nair was born at Ochira in Kollam district of Kerala on 22 August 1919 to Sankara Pillai and Kali Amma. He did his school education from Kayamkulam and completed his Honours in Malayalam literature in 1941 from Science College (present University College) in Thiruvanathapuram. He joined University College as a lecturer in 1945. Thereafter he has served at Brennen College, Thalassery; Maharajas College, Ernakulam and Government Victoria College, Palakkad. He served as University Grants Commission (UGC) professor and retired as Head of the Department of Malayalam from Calicut University in 1978.

He died on February 6, 2006. He is survived by his wife Bhagirathi Amma and three children- B Lakshmi Kumari, M.G Sasi Bhooshan and B Sudha Kumari. His only sister Manorama lives at Mavelikara.

Works

He has authored more than 35 books. His important works include 'Samalochana', 'Isangalkappuram,' 'Kranthadarsikal,' Srishtiyum Srishtavum', Kavyaswaroopam, 'Thirayum chuzhiyum' 'Tagore,' and 'Asthiyude Pookkal: Changampuzha — Kaviyum Kavithayum.' His last work was an autobiography, 'Manasaasmarami.'[1]. His essays are favored by many in the academic circles even now.

Awards

He had won several awards including Kendra Sahitya Academy Award, Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Vallathol Puraskaram,Vayalar Award, Lalithambika Antharjanam Award, Sankara Narayanan Thampi Award, CV Raman Pillai Award, G Award, P.N Panicker Award, etc.

Guptan Nair Award was established and endowed in 2007 in his honor by Guptan Nair Foundation. The first award was presented to critic and writer M. Leelavathi.

List of winners of Guptan Nair Award so far are:

M. Leelavathi – 2007
Ambalapuzha Rama Varma – 2008
Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode is a writer, critic and orator, acknowledged for his contributions to Malayalam and insights on Indian philosophy. He is a bachelor and lives in Eravimangalam near Thrissur....

– 2009
Hridayakumari - 2010
G. Balakrishnan Nair - 2011