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{{short description|Indian writer and cartoonist}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name             = Ottupulackal Velukkuty Vijayan
| image            = Vijayan.jpg
| pseudonym        = 
| birth_date       = {{birth date|df=yes|1930|07|2}}
| birth_place      = [[Palakkad]], [[Malabar District]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|3|30|1930|07|2}}
| death_place      = [[Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] (Now [[Telangana]]), [[India]]
| occupation       = [[Novelist]], [[short story writer]], [[cartoonist]], [[journalist]]
| genre            = [[Novel]], [[short story]], [[essays]]
| subject          = Social aspects
| movement         = [[Modernism]], [[Magical realism]]
| spouse           = Teresa Vijayan
| children         = Madhu Vijayan
| relatives        = [[O. V. Usha]] (sister)
| awards           = {{ublist|1970&nbsp;[[Odakkuzhal Award]]|1990&nbsp;[[Sahitya Akademi Award]]|1990&nbsp;[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]|1991&nbsp;[[Vayalar Award]]|1992&nbsp;[[Muttathu Varkey Award]]|2001&nbsp;[[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram|Ezhuthachan Award]]|2001&nbsp;[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi|Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]]|2003&nbsp;[[Padma Bhushan]]|2004&nbsp;[[Mathrubhumi Literary Award]]}}
| website          = 
}}

{{Indian name|Vijayan|Ottupulackal Velukkuty}}'''Ottupulackal Velukkuty Vijayan''' (2 July 1930 – 30 March 2005), commonly known as '''O. V. Vijayan''', was an Indian author and cartoonist, who was an important figure in modern [[Malayalam language]] literature. Best known for his [[debut novel|first novel]] ''[[Khasakkinte Itihasam]]'' (1969), Vijayan was the author of six novels, nine short-story collections, and nine collections of essays, memoirs and reflections.

Born in [[Palakkad]] in 1930, Vijayan graduated from [[Government Victoria College, Palakkad|Victoria College]] in Palakkad and obtained a master's degree in English literature from [[Presidency College, Chennai|Presidency College, Madras]]. He wrote his first short story, "Tell Father Gonsalves", in 1953. ''[[Khasakkinte Itihasam]]'' (''The Legends of Khasak''), Vijayan's first novel, appeared in 1969.<ref name="Njattupura recreates Thasrak magic">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/njattupura-recreates-thasrak-magic/article7019937.ece |title=Njattupura recreates Thasrak magic |date=March 22, 2015 |access-date=July 23, 2017}}</ref> It set off a great literary revolution and cleaved the history of Malayalam fiction into pre-Khasak and post-Khasak. While ''Khasakkinte Itihasam'' continues to be his best-known work as an angry young man, his later works, ''[[Gurusagaram]]'' (''The Infinity of Grace''), ''Pravachakante Vazhi'' (''The Path of the Prophet'') and ''Thalamurakal'' (''Generations'') bespeak a mature transcendentalist.

Vijayan authored many volumes of short stories, which range from the comic to the philosophical and show a diversity of situations, tones and styles.  Vijayan translated most of his own works from Malayalam to English. He was also an editorial cartoonist and political observer and worked for news publications including ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' and ''[[The Hindu]]''.

==Early life==
[[File:O. V. Vijayan.jpg|left|thumb|240x240px|Illustration of O.V. Vijayan]]
O. V. Vijayan was born on 2 July 1930 at Vilayanchaathanoor village in [[Palakkad district]] in Kerala.<ref name="O. V. Vijayan - Indian Cartoonist and Writer">{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2017 |title=O. V. Vijayan - Indian Cartoonist and Writer |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Britannica |location=UK |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/O-V-Vijayan |access-date=July 23, 2017}}</ref> Born premature in the seventh month, Vijayan was sickly from childhood and spent most of his time confined to his room. His father O. Velukkutty was an officer in [[Malabar Special Police]] of the erstwhile [[Madras Province]] in [[British India]].<ref name="Vijayan: The writer, cartoonist">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/30ov2.htm |title=Vijayan: The writer, cartoonist |website=www.rediff.com |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref><ref name="VIJAYAN O V  Palakkad">{{Cite web |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/author/vijayan-o-v |title=VIJAYAN O V Palakkad |date=2017-07-23 |website=DC Books online |access-date=2017-07-23 |archive-date=24 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624001003/http://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/author/vijayan-o-v |url-status=dead }}</ref> His youngest sister [[O. V. Usha]] is a Malayalam poet.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ajith Kumar|first=J.|title=A passion for the unknown|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/11/24/stories/2002112400620200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219084833/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/11/24/stories/2002112400620200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 February 2014|access-date=2 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 November 2002}}</ref> As a child, Vijayan was largely homeschooled. Formal schooling began at the age of twelve, when he joined Raja's High School, [[Kottakkal]] in [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]], directly into sixth grade. The informal education arranged by his father during his absentee years was sufficient to keep him at par with his peers. The following year, Velukkutty was transferred and Vijayan joined the school at [[Koduvayur-II|Koduvayur]] in [[Palakkad]]. He graduated from [[Government Victoria College, Palakkad|Victoria College]] in Palakkad and obtained a master's degree in English literature from [[Presidency College, Chennai|Presidency College]].<ref name="Vijayan O V - DC Books profile" /> Vijayan taught for some time at [[Malabar Christian College]], [[Kozhikode]], and Victoria College before opting for journalism.<ref name="Vijayan: The writer, cartoonist" />

==Literary career==

===''Khasakkinte Itihasam'' ===
{{quote box|align = right|width=22em|''When the bus came to its final halt in Koomankavu, the place did not seem unfamiliar to Ravi. He had never been there before, but he had seen himself coming to this forlorn outpost beneath the immense canopy of trees, with its dozen shops and shacks raised on piles; he had seen it all in recurrent premonitions – the benign age of the trees, the river bark and roots arched above the earth.''<br />(the opening paragraph of ''[[Khasakkinte Itihasam]]'')<ref name="World Book Day: Revisiting Thasrak, where a legend was born">{{Cite web |url=https://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/getting-about-kerala/palakkad/thazrak-ov-vijayan-khasakinte-ithihasam-legend-palakkad.html |title=World Book Day: Revisiting Thasrak, where a legend was born |last=Baiju Govind |date=April 23, 2017 |website=OnManorama |language=en |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>}}
''[[Khasakkinte Itihasam]]'' (''The Legends of Khasak''), Vijayan's first novel, which took twelve years' writing and rewriting to reach its final form, was published in 1969.<ref name="Vijayan: Guru of a whole generation">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/30ov1.htm |title=Vijayan: Guru of a whole generation |website=Rediff |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref> A year before, it was serialized in [[Mathrubhumi]] weekly for 28 weeks starting from January 28, 1968<ref name="Khasakkinte Ithihasam - 50 Years">{{Cite web |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/literature/literature-articles/ov-vijayan-khasakkinte-ithihasam-literature-news/573653 |title=Khasakkinte Ithihasam - 50 Years |website=Madhyamam |date=18 November 2018 |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> and set off a great literary revolution and cleaved the history of Malayalam fiction into pre-Khasak and post-Khasak eras.<ref name="Kerala's magic-realist and political commentator - Why everyone should read O. V. Vijayan">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-s-magic-realist-and-political-commentator-why-everyone-should-read-ov-vijayan-82895 |title=Kerala's magic-realist and political commentator - Why everyone should read O. V. Vijayan |website=www.thenewsminute.com |access-date=2019-01-30|date=2018-06-12 }}</ref> The former era was romantic and formal; the latter is modernist, post-modernist and post-post-modernist, with tremendous experimentation in style and content. The novel, which has drawn comparisons with ''[[One Hundred Years of Solitude]]'' of [[Gabriel García Márquez]],<ref name="Lost in translation">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/literary-review/lost-in-translation/article5969970.ece |title=Lost in translation |last=Gopalakrishnan |first=K. K. |date=2014-05-03 |newspaper=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref><ref name="It Takes a Village">{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/it-takes-a-village-2756713/ |title=It Takes a Village |date=2016-04-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> is about Ravi, a teacher in an informal education centre in Khasak, and his existential crises.<ref name="Khasakkinte Ithihasam">{{Cite web |url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2623267-khasakkinte-ithihasam |title=Khasakkinte Ithihasam |date=2017-07-23 |access-date=2017-07-23}}</ref> The central character is shown as a visionary who completed his post graduate programme in Physics from a college at [[Tambaram]]. The novel ends when Ravi begins his journey to some other realms of existence.<ref name="NatarajanNelson1996">{{cite book|author1=Nalini Natarajan|author2=Emmanuel Sampath Nelson|title=Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&pg=PA195|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-28778-7|pages=195–}}</ref> The existential puzzle of man as to why he should exist is explored in this novel. The novel introduced a new poetic style of prose, combining [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and  [[Palakkad]] dialect of Malayalam.<ref name="Khasakkinte Ithihasam - 50 Years" /> It also introduced a narrative style that moved forth from reality to myths and back.<ref name="Remains of the Day">{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/ov-vijayan-photos-the-legends-of-khasak-book-3079873/ |title=Remains of the Day |date=2016-10-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> The work was later adapted as a play by [[Deepan Sivaraman]].<ref name="The local route">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/the-local-route/article8560854.ece |title=The local route |last=Ganesh |first=Deepa |date=2016-05-05 |newspaper=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>

=== ''Dharmapuranam''===
''Dharmapuranam'' (''The Saga of Dharmapuri'', 1985)<ref name="Dharmapuranam">{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13357784-dharmapuranam?rating=2 |title=Dharmapuranam |date=2017-07-23 |access-date=2017-07-23}}</ref> is outwardly a great political satire where the author knows no restraint in lampooning political establishments.<ref name="Vijayan: Guru of a whole generation" /> The works attempts to lampoon modes of governance through its characters and the setting. The central character is Sidhartha, modelled after [[Gautama Buddha]], whose personality is shown to lead people to enlightenment. Though satirical in its tone, the novel has a spiritual level, too. ''[[Malayalanadu]]'' weekly announced that the novel would be serialised from July 1975, but the plan was dropped when [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] was proclaimed on June 25, 1975. The novel was finally serialised only in 1977, after the Emergency was lifted and it proved to be prophetic. There were hindrances for its publication as well due to its sexual-scatological language and imagery and as the atrocities perpetrated during Emergency were still haunting the public. Finally, it was published in 1985. Two years later, [[Penguin Books]] published the English translation and the book drew critical reviews. ''...dangerous stuff and cut close to the bone'' were the words of [[David Selbourne]], in ''[[The Times Literary Supplement]]'' and [[Khushwant Singh]] rated the novel as ''not the kind of novel you forget in a hurry.'' Vijayan himself described it as a cleansing act that he had no desire to repeat.<ref name="A sage and an iconoclast">{{Cite web |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl2208/stories/20050422003113200.htm |title=A sage and an iconoclast |last=K. Satchidanandan |website=frontline.thehindu.com |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>

===Later novels===
The third novel, ''[[Gurusagaram]]'' (''The Infinity of Grace'', 1987) differs in language, vision and characterisation from the earlier works.<ref name="Vijayan: Guru of a whole generation" /> It is on the immanence of Guru in the life of the seeker. Guru is everywhere and is manifested in everybody. The seeker partakes of the grace of the Guru as he happens for him unawares and unconditional. The central character is a journalist from Kerala, working in Delhi, going on an assignment to report the Indo-Pak war of 1971. He undergoes an excruciating experience both spiritually and physically to learn how to annihilate all forms of ego. ''Gurusagaram'' fetched him the [[Vayalar Award]], the central [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] and the [[Kerala Sahithya Academy]] Award in 1991.

''Madhuram Gayathi'' (1990) has been termed as "a fantastic [[allegory]] fusing mythology, spirituality and ecology". It is an allegorical fable of the post-Holocaust world with its lovelessness and disharmony. ''Pravachakante Vazhi'' (''The Path of the Prophet''; 1992) emphasises the vision that intuition is perennial and it is one and the same always. This oneness of the revelation makes the ways of all prophets the same. This great education in spirituality is got in those barbarous days of Delhi when the Sikhs were maniacally hunted after and mercilessly butchered following the murder of [[Indira Gandhi]]. Vijayan's last novel ''Thalamurakal'' (''Generations''; 1997) is autobiographical to a great extent. It is historical to a still greater extent. Beyond autobiography and history, the novel is a journey down the collective experiences of a family in search of an awareness about oneself and his clan. This search is of great importance when the collective experiences of the subculture are very bitter and the individual sense of the clan identity is much superior. The novel is a narration of four generations in Ponmudi family in Palakkad, Kerala.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/apr/30rajeev.htm The Great Malabar Novel- Review]</ref>

===Other literary works===
He wrote his first short story, "Tell Father Gonsalves", in 1953. He wrote many volumes of short stories, the first volume of which was published in 1957 – ''Three Wars''. The stories, which range from the comic to the philosophical, show an astonishing diversity of situations, tones and styles. O. V. Vijayan's best known collection in English is ''After the Hanging and Other Stories'' which contains several jewel-like masterpieces, in particular the title story about a poor, semi-literate peasant going to the jail to receive the body of his son who has been hanged; ''The Wart'' and ''The Foetus'' about the trauma of the fascist Emergency; the transcendental ''The Airport'', ''The Little Ones'', and several others. He also wrote many essays, and also published one book of cartoons- ''Ithiri Neramboke, Ithiri Darshanam'' (A Little Pastime, A little Vision) – 1990. ''Itihasathinte Itihasam'', a historical treatise written by him is considered by many as masterpiece.<ref name="Key Indian writer OV Vijayan dies">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4394419.stm |title=Key Indian writer OV Vijayan dies |date=2005-03-30 |language=en-GB |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>

An incisive writer in English as well, Vijayan translated most of his own works from Malayalam to English. Selected works have been published by [[Penguin Books|Penguin India]]. His own translations of his stories into English – ''After Hanging and Other Stories'' and ''Selected Stories'' and the novels, ''The Saga of Dharmapuri'', ''The Legend of Khasak'' and ''The Infinity of Grace'' – have had a pan-Indian appeal, though many have been critical of the freedoms he took with his own works as well as his English style.<ref name="his novel of nested narratives chronicles the battles of two women (or three, including the author)">{{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/883709/this-novel-of-nested-narratives-chronicles-the-battles-of-two-women-or-three-including-the-author |title=This novel of nested narratives chronicles the battles of two women (or three, including the author) |last=Balakrishnan |first=Suneetha |website=Scroll.in |date=23 June 2018 |language=en-US |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>

==Cartoons==
Vijayan left his home state in 1958 to pursue his career as a cartoonist in [[Delhi]].<ref name="O V Vijayan passes away">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/30ov.htm |title=O V Vijayan passes away |website=www.rediff.com |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref> Joining the famous ''[[Shankar's Weekly]]'', Delhi, as a cartoonist and writer of political satire, he moved to ''Patriot'' as a staff cartoonist in 1963.<ref name="Key Indian writer OV Vijayan dies" /> Vijayan was also an editorial cartoonist and political observer in various news publications – ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' and ''[[The Hindu]]'' – and later turned freelancer.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/31intera.htm The lion in winter The Rediff Interview/O V Vijayan]</ref> His cartoons also appeared in publications such as ''[[Far Eastern Economic Review]]'' and ''[[The New York Times]]''. Philosophy and politics merged in his cartoons, just as revolution and spirituality coalesced in his writings. His searing comment on Indira Gandhi's Emergency rule and about her return to power in 1980 would remain high points in the history of Indian cartooning.

==Later life and death==
Vijayan was married to Theresa Gabriel, an academic and the couple had a son, Madhu.<ref name="Vijayan: The writer, cartoonist" /> He was afflicted with [[Parkinson's disease]] for 20 years and in early March 2005, he was admitted to Care Hospital, [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] where he succumbed to organ failure on 30 March 2005 aged 74,<ref name="Vijayan O V - DC Books profile">{{Cite web |url=http://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/authors/vijayan-o-v |title=Vijayan O V - DC Books profile |publisher=dcbooks |access-date=16 May 2013 |archive-date=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517062727/http://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/authors/vijayan-o-v |url-status=dead }}</ref> survived by his wife and son.<ref name="The Hindu : National : Directive to O.V. Vijayan's son">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/28/stories/2005102805391300.htm |website=[[The Hindu]] |title=National : Directive to O.V. Vijayan's son |access-date=2019-01-30}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="Family fight breaks out over Vijayan's ashes - Times of India">{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Family-fight-breaks-out-over-Vijayans-ashes/articleshow/1071992.cms |title=Family fight breaks out over Vijayan's ashes - Times of India |website=The Times of India |date=8 April 2005 |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref> His body was taken to Kerala by special flight and was cremated with full state honours at Ivor Madom crematorium in Pambadi, [[Thrissur]] near [[Thiruvilwamala]] on the banks of the [[Bharathapuzha]] where his nephew, [[Ravi Shankar (cartoonist)|Ravi Shankar]], a known cartoonist, lit the pyre.<ref name="Can your ashes be a part of your estate?">{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/leisure/can-your-ashes-be-a-part-of-your-estate/cid/1013769 |title=Can your ashes be a part of your estate? |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref><ref name="Sh. Madhu Vijayan And Anr. vs Sh. S.G. Ravishankar on 10 March 2006">{{Cite web |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/648185/ |title=Sh. Madhu Vijayan And Anr. vs Sh. S.G. Ravishankar on 10 March, 2006 |last=A. Sikri |date=10 March 2006 |website=indiankanoon.org |access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> Teresa Vijayan died a year after his death,<ref name="Vijayan O V - DC Books profile" /> and his son lives in the US.<ref name="O V Vijayan passes away" />

== Awards and honours ==
[[File:O.V Vijayan Smarakam Thasraak.jpg|thumb|250px|O.V Vijayan Memorial by Kerala Government at Thasrak, Palaghat, Kerala]]
Vijayan received the [[Odakkuzhal Award]] for ''[[Khasakkinte Itihasam]]'' in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/ |title=Winners of Odakkuzhal Award |date=2019-01-31 |website=www.keralaculture.org |publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala |language=en |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> His third novel, ''[[Gurusagaram]]'', brought him three awards, [[Sahitya Akademi Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |title=Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (Malayalam) |publisher=Public Relations Department, [[Government of Kerala]] |access-date=11 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-date=24 May 2007 }}</ref> and [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel]] in 1990<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards for Novel">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/novel.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards for Novel |date=2019-01-31 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109145935/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/novel.htm |archive-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Vayalar Award]] in 1991.<ref name="Award Page (Malayalam)">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ml_aw27.htm |title=Award Page (Malayalam) |date=2019-01-31 |website=Kerala Sahitya Academy |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> When [[Muttathu Varkey Award]] was instituted in 1992, he received the inaugural award.<ref name="The Hindu : Kerala News : Muttathu Varkey award for Zacharia">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/29/stories/2005042912210400.htm |title=Kerala News : Muttathu Varkey award for Zacharia |date=April 29, 2005 |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2019-01-31}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Government of Kerala awarded him the [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]], their highest literary honour, in 2001,<ref name="Ezhuthachan Award">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ml_aw23.htm |title=Ezhuthachan Award |date=2019-01-31 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> the same year as he was inducted as an honorary fellow by [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]].<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Fellows/Html/HonMembersPage-3.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship |date=2019-01-30 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref> The Government of India awarded him the [[Padma Bhushan]], the third highest civilian honor, in 2003.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> [[Mathrubhumi Literary Award]], the last of the awards he received was in 2004, a year before his death.<ref name="Mathrubhumi Literary Award">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/ |title=Mathrubhumi Literary Award |website=www.keralaculture.org |publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala |language=en |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref><ref name="Mathrubhumi Literary Award winners">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ml_aw42.htm |title=Mathrubhumi Literary Award winners |date=2019-01-31 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> A memorial, ''O. V. Vijayan Memorial'' has been constructed by the Government of Kerala in Thasrak, the setting of his novel, ''Khasakkinte Ithihasam''.<ref name="Khasakh heroes to welcome visitors to Vijayan memorial">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/khasakh-heroes-to-welcome-visitors-to-vijayan-memorial/article8368313.ece |title=Khasakh heroes to welcome visitors to Vijayan memorial |last=Shaji |first=K. A |date=2016-03-18 |newspaper=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref><ref name="O. V. Vijayan Memorial">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ovvijayanmemorial.com/en/ |title=O. V. Vijayan Memorial |last=Multimedia |first=G. L. O. |date=2019-01-31 |language=en-GB |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref><ref name="Work on O.V. Vijayan memorial at Thasrak slack in Kozhikode">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/work-on-ov-vijayan-memorial-at-thasrak-slack-in-kozhikode/article6437575.ece |title=Work on O.V. Vijayan memorial at Thasrak slack in Kozhikode |last=Shaji |first=K. a |date=2014-09-23 |newspaper=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>

==O. V. Vijayan Literary Award==
{{main|O. V. Vijayan Sahitya Puraskaram}}
The [[O. V. Vijayan Sahitya Puraskaram]] (O. V. Vijayan Literary Award) was instituted by the Naveena Samskarika Kala Kendram, [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], in 2011, in memory of Vijayan who had spent his last days in [[Secunderabad]].<ref name="Award for Sara Joseph">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/award-for-sara-joseph/article2575789.ece |title=Award for Sara Joseph |date=October 28, 2011 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> The award consists of a cash component of {{INR}}50,001, a memento by [[Kanayi Kunhiraman]], and a citation. The award is given to the best book of a writer during the year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehansindia.info/News/Article.asp?category=5&subCategory=1&ContentId=99833|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218054506/http://www.thehansindia.info/News/Article.asp?category=5&subCategory=1&ContentId=99833|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|title=A thinker who was far ahead of his time|date=12 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Hans India]]|access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref> [[Sarah Joseph (author)|Sarah Joseph]], [[Paul Zacharia|Zacharia]], [[Vijayalakshmi (poet)|Vijayalakshmi]], B. Rajeevan and Usha Kumari are some of the recipients of the award.<ref name="Malayalam writer bags O V Vijayan literature award">{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/malayalam-writer-bags-o-v-vijayan-literature-award/articleshow/49468462.cms |title=Malayalam writer bags O V Vijayan literature award |date=2015-10-20 |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
'''Novels'''
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Khasakkinte Itihasam (The Legends of Khasak)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XGFkAAAAMAAJ|year=1969|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-7130-126-3}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Dharmapuranam (The Saga of Dharmapuri)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ovA2HAAACAAJ|year=1985|publisher=DC Books}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Gurusagaram (The Infinity of Grace)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V44sAAAAIAAJ|year=1987|publisher=DC Books}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://ebooks.dcbooks.com/madhuram-gayathi |title=Madhuram Gayathi |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1990 |asin=B007E5FFA4 |access-date=31 January 2019 |archive-date=31 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131201305/http://ebooks.dcbooks.com/madhuram-gayathi |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/2716399-pravachakante-vazhi |title=Pravachakante Vazhi |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1993 |isbn=978-81-7130-258-1}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Thalamurakal (Generations)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xMSqAzXXiQC|year=1997|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-7130-742-5}}
{{div col end}}

'''Short stories'''
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Oru Neenda Rathriyude Ormakkayi (kathakaḷ - Remembering a Long Night - stories)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AogtAQAAIAAJ|year=1979|publisher=Sāhityapr̲avarttaka Sahakaraṇasaṅghaṃ : National Book Stall}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=O. V. Vijayant̲e Kathakaḷ (Short Stories of Vijayan)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y4RkAAAAMAAJ|year=2000|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-0220-5}}
* {{Cite book |title=Asanthi : Rathiyude Kathakal (Unrest: Stories of Lust) |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=1179|last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1985 |isbn=978-93-86560-54-4}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Balabodhini: kathakaḷ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hk4sAAAAIAAJ|year=1985|publisher=Sāhityapr̲avarttaka Sahakaraṇasaṅghaṃ : National Book Stall}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Kadaltheerathu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V2QZAAAAIAAJ|year=1988|publisher=DC Books}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Kattu Paranja Katha (The Stories Told by the Wind)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJ0eAAAAIAAJ|year=1989|publisher=DC Books}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Poothaprabandhavum Mattu Kathakalum (Poothaprabandham and Other Stories)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_p6aAAAAIAAJ|year=1993|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-7130-279-6}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Kure Kathabeejangal (kathakaḷ - Stories)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6OaAAAAIAAJ|year=1995|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-7130-546-9}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=O. V. Vijayante Kathakal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y4RkAAAAMAAJ|year=2000|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-0220-5}}
* {{cite book|author=O.V. Vijayan|title=Arakshithavastha (Insecurity)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfBcPgAACAAJ|date=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1471-0}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=123 |title=Samudrathilekku Vazhithetti Vanna Paralmeen |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books}}
{{div col end}}

'''Collection of essays'''
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=17320&query_desc=au%3AVIJAYAN%20%20%2C%20O%20%20V |title=Oru Sindoora Pottinte Orma |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1987 |access-date=31 January 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201013459/http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=17320&query_desc=au%3AVIJAYAN%20%20%2C%20O%20%20V |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=762 |title=Khoshayathrayil Thaniye (Alone in the Procession) |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1988}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=4148 |title=Vargasamaram Swathwam |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1988}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=O. V. Vijayante Kurippukal (Notes)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4-QZAAAAIAAJ|year=1988|publisher=Current Books}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Ente Charithranewshana Pareekshakal (My Experiments with History)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0swtAAAAIAAJ|year=1989|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-7130-081-5}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=18233&query_desc=au%3AVIJAYAN%20%20%2C%20O%20%20V |title=Sandehiyude Samvadam |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=Current Books |year=1991 |access-date=31 January 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201013628/http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=18233&query_desc=au%3AVIJAYAN%20%20%2C%20O%20%20V |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=20456 |title=Haindhavanum Athuhaindhavanum |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=Current Books |year=1998 |access-date=31 January 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201013445/http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=20456 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Andhanum Akalangal Kaanunnavanum: (lekhanangaḷ - The Blind and The Seer - satirical essays)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jXtkAAAAMAAJ|year=2001|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-0299-1}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=4148 |title=Vargasamaram, Swathwam |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=2005}}
{{div col end}}

'''Memoirs'''
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/ITHIHAASATHINTE-ITHIHAASAM#; |title=Ithihasathinte Ithihasam |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1989 |isbn=978-81-264-2877-9}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Vijayan: A Cartoonist Remembers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ruZ2AAAACAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Rupa & Company|isbn=978-81-7167-883-9}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=8217 |title=Vijayante Kathukal (Vijayan's Letters) |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-264-3325-4}}
{{div col end}}

'''Cartoons'''
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=160 |title=Ithiri Neramboke, Ithiri Darsanam (cartoons) |last=O. V. Vijayan |publisher=DC Books |year=1990}}
* {{Cite book |title=Tragic idiom : O.V. Vijayan's cartoons & notes on India |author=Vijayan, O. V. |date=2006 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=978-81-264-1235-8 |location=Kottayam, Kerala |oclc=123377620}}
{{div col end}}

'''Translations into English'''
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}
* {{Cite book |title=After the hanging and other stories |author=Vijayan, O. V. |date=1989 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-012617-4 |location=New Delhi, India |oclc=22731313 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/afterhangingothe00vija }}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=The Saga of Dharmapuri|url=https://archive.org/details/sagaofdharmapuri00vija|url-access=registration|year=1988|publisher=Penguin Group USA|isbn=978-0-14-010787-6}}
* {{Cite book |title=The legends of Khasak |author=Vijayan, O. V. |date=1994 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-93-5118-009-8 |location=New Delhi |oclc=624323262}}
* {{Cite book |title=The infinity of grace |author=Vijayan, O. V. |date=1996 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-026007-6 |location=New Delhi |oclc=36470487}}
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Selected Fiction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uz4aAQAAIAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-14-028965-7}}
{{div col end}}

'''Translations into French'''
{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}
* {{cite book|first=O. V. |last=Vijayan |translator-first=Dominique |translator-last=Vitalyos|title=Les Légendes de Khasak|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T8nkPQAACAAJ|year=2004|publisher=Fayard|isbn=978-2-213-61994-1}}
* '' O.V. Vijayan: L'Aéroport, transl. from Malayalam by Dominique Vitalyos, Revue Europe, nov-dec. 2002, pp.&nbsp;236–241
* ''O.V. Vijayan: Les Rochers, translated from English by Valérie Blavignac, Revue Europe avril 2001, pp.&nbsp;132–138.
{{div col end}}

'''Translations into Hindi'''
* {{cite book|author=O. V. Vijayan|title=Samudra Thad Par|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=76xNTuv6AVsC|series=Translation of "Kadaltheerathu"|year=1997|publisher=Katha|isbn=978-81-85586-55-7}}

== Writings on Vijayan ==
* {{Cite journal |last=V.B. Vinod |title=Location of History in a Spiritual Eco-System: Looking at "Madhuram Gayati" by O V Vijayan |journal=Indian Literature |date=2009 |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=180–185|jstor=23348055 }}
* {{Cite web |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/131317/10/10_chapter%205.pdf |title=The Creative World of Vijayan |date=2019-01-31 |website=Shodhganga |access-date=2019-01-31}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=4521 |title=Ormmapusthakam (Remembrances) |publisher=DC Books |year=2006 |quote=Memories of Vijayan, written by [[Anand (writer)|Anand]], [[M. Mukundan]], [[M. P. Narayana Pillai]], [[Kakkanadan]], [[Madhavikkutty]], [[P. Govinda Pillai]], [[Paul Zacharia|Zacharia]], [[N. S. Madhavan]], [[V. K. N.]], [[T. J. S. George]], [[E. P. Unni]], [[O. V. Usha]], Theresa Vijayan, Akavur Narayanan, and M. G. S.}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2018/nov/15/79-year-old-slice-of-kerala-in-delhi-1898663.html |title=79-year-old slice of Kerala in Delhi |date=November 15, 2018 |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=2019-01-30}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/india/vijayan1.htm |title=The Legends of Khasak - Review |date=2005 |website=The Complete Review |access-date=2019-01-31}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.india-seminar.com/2001/500/500%20o.v.%20vijayan.htm |title=Understanding divisiveness |last=O. V. Vijayan |date=1988 |website=India Seminar |access-date=2019-01-31}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/specials/s-o-s-%E2%80%93-save-our-science-1.1887341 |title=S.O.S – Save Our Science |last=Sashi Kumar |date=April 22, 2017 |website=Mathrubhumi |access-date=2019-01-31}}

==External links==
{{commons category|O. V. Vijayan}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://ia.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/31intera.htm |title=The lion in winter |date=March 31, 2005 |website=ia.rediff.com |language=en |access-date=2019-01-31 |quote=Rajeev Srinivasan's interview with O V Vijayan}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=106 |title=Author Details |date=2019-01-31 |website=www.puzha.com |access-date=2019-01-31 |archive-date=12 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212182335/http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=106 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book | url=http://katalog.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/cgi-bin/titel.cgi?katkey=65805177 | title=Katalog | publisher=Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg | date=2015 | access-date=May 7, 2015|isbn=978-3-458-17219-2 }}

{{Cartoonists from Kerala}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}
{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}
{{Malayalam Literature}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}
{{Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship}}
{{Vayalar Awards}}

{{Authority control}}
{{portal bar|Biography|India|Literature}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vijayan, O. V.}}
[[Category:1930 births|Vijayan, O.V.]]
[[Category:2005 deaths|Vijayan, O.V.]]
[[Category:Indian editorial cartoonists]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Indian fabulists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language novelists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Government Victoria College, Palakkad alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Malabar Christian College]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]
[[Category:Presidency College, Chennai alumni]]