S. K. Pottekkatt
Template:Short description Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Sankarankutty Kunjiraman Pottekkatt (14 March 1913 – 6 August 1982) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, traveller, and politician from Kerala. Best known for his travelogues, he has authored nearly 60 books, which include 10 novels, 24 collections of short stories, three anthologies of poems, 18 travelogues, four plays, a collection of essays and a couple of books based on personal reminiscences.
He is a recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, Sahitya Akademi Award and the Jnanpith Award. His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.
Early life
S. K. Pottekkatt was born on 14 March 1913, in Calicut (Kozhikode) in a Thiyya family to Kunjiraman Pottekkat, an English school teacher and his wife, Kittuli.[1] After early schooling at Ganapath School, he matriculated from Zamorin's High School in Calicut in 1929 and passed the intermediate examination from Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, Calicut in 1934 but could not find a job for three years, a period which he utilised for studying classics from Indian and western literature. In 1937, he joined Calicut Gujarati School as a teacher where he taught for almost three years.[2] He was involved with activities of the Indian National Congress and attended the Tripuri session of 1939 for which he resigned from the job as the school authorities did not allow him to leave of absence. Subsequently, he moved to Bombay and Lucknow where he stayed until 1945, doing many jobs.[1]
After returning to Kerala in 1945, he travelled to many parts of India and went on his first overseas tour in 1949 when he visited Africa, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and England. In 1952, he again went overseas to visit Ceylon, Malaya, and Indonesia.[2]
Literary career and travels
Pottekkatt published his first story, "Rajaneethi", in the college magazine of Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College in 1928.[3] "Makane Konna Madyam" (poem published in Athmavidya Kahalam) and "Hindu Muslim Maithri" (story published in Deepam) were some of his notable early works. The story "Vydyutha Shakthi" came in the February 1934 issue of Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly. He wrote his first novel, Naadanpremam, a romantic story set in Mukkam, a small hamlet in Kozhikode district,[4] in 1939 while he was in Bombay and the novel was eventually published in 1941.[2][5] This was followed by Yavanikakku Pinnil, a short story anthology, and the second novel Vishakanyaka; the latter would receive a prize from the Madras government in 1949.[2] Two travelogues were the next two publications, Kappirikalude Naattil (In the Land of the Negroes) and Innathe Europe (The Europe Today), both based on his first overseas tour.[6] He published Oru Theruvinte Katha in 1960 and his magnum opus, Oru Desathinte Katha, in 1971.[7][8]
Pottekkatt was a writer of strong social commitment and ideals, possessing an individualistic vision.[2] He is reported to be the pioneer of the genre of travelogues in India[9] and its most notable practitioner in Malayalam literature[10] which earned him the moniker, the John Gunther of Malayalam.[11] Poetry anthologies like Sanchariyude Geethangal and Premashilpi, Achan (play), novels like Premashiksha and Moodupadam, short story anthologies such as Nishagandhi, Pulliman and Chandrakatham, travelogues viz. Simhabhoomi, Nile Diary and Pathira Sooryante Nattil as well as memoirs like Ponthakkadukal and Samsarikkunna Diarykurippukal are some of his other major works.[12]
His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.[1] An Italian anthology of The Best Short Stories of the World published from Milan in 1971 included his Braanthan Naaya (Mad Dog). A collection of eleven of his short stories in Russian had a sensational sales of one hundred thousand copies in two weeks.[13] His stories have made into feature films in Malayalam; Naadan Premam,[14] Moodupadam,[15] Pulliman[16] and Njavalppazhangal are some of them.[17] Kadavu, a 1991 film written directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on his short story "Kadathuthoni", received prizes at several international film festivals.[18] The 2015 film Manikyam was an adaptation of the novel Prema Shiksha.[19][20]
Political career
Pottekkatt contested twice as independent candidate in elections to Indian Parliament from Thalassery under the banner of the Communist Party of India,[21] the first in 1957 to the 2nd Lok Sabha when he lost to M. K. Jinachandran by 1000 votes and the next in 1962 to the 3rd Lok Sabha when he defeated Sukumar Azhikode by a margin of 66,000 votes; he served out his term until 1967.[1]
Personal life
Pottekkatt married Jayavalli in 1950 and the couple had two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1980 and two years later, he suffered a paralytic stroke in July 1982, and he died on 6 August 1982, in a private hospital in Calicut.[13]
Awards and honours
Oru Theruvinte Katha (The Story of a Street), a novel based on Mittai Theruvu, a popular street in Kozhikode known for sweetmeat and halvah stalls, received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1961.[22] His biographical novel, Oru Desathinte Katha was selected for the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972.[23] Eight years later, in 1980, the novel earned Pottekkatt the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India.[24][25] In 1982, the University of Calicut honoured him with the honoris causa degree of the Doctor of Letters.[26] India Post issued a commemorative postal stamp on him in 2003, as a part of their Jnanpith Award Winners.[27] Malayala Manorama and Madhyamam issued festschrifts on Pottekkatt on the occasion of his birth centenary.[28][29]
Bibliography
Novels
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Vallikadevi | |||
| 1941 | Naadan Premam | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | ||
| 1945 | Prema Shiksha | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | ||
| 1948 | Moodupadam | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1948 | Vishakanyaka | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1958 | Karamboo | Calicut: Kerala | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1960 | Oru Theruvinte Katha | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel | |
| 1971 | Oru Desathinte Katha | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi Award | |
| 1976 | Kurumulaku | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1979 | Kabeena | Trivandrum: Upasana | Template:ISBN | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1988 | Bharathappuzhayude Makkal | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Described as Novatakam, a combination of novel and play | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
— Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
North Avenue | — | Incomplete work |
Short stories
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Manimalika | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 5 stories | |
| 1945 | Rajamalli | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 13 stories | |
| 1945 | Nisshagandhi | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 9 stories | |
| 1945 | Pulliman | Thrissur: Sundarayyar & Sons | Collection of 6 stories | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1945 | Meghamala | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 8 stories | |
| 1946 | Chandrakantham | Wadakkancherry: Arunodayam | Collection of 5 stories | |
| 1946 | Jalatharangam | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1946 | Vaijayanthi | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 7 stories | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1947 | Pournami | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 5 stories Template:ISBN |
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| 1947 | Padmaragam | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 6 stories | |
| 1947 | Indraneelam | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | Collection of 6 stories | |
| 1948 | Rangamandapam | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1948 | Himavahini | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 5 stories | |
| 1949 | Prethabhoomi | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | Collection of 5 stories | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1952 | Yavanikkakku Pinnil | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 6 stories and a radio drama | |
| 1954 | Kallippookkal | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 6 stories and a radio drama | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1954 | Vanakaumudi | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 4 stories and a radio drama | |
| 1955 | Kanakaambaram | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1960 | Antharvahini | Calicut: Kerala | Collection of 5 stories Template:ISBN |
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| 1962 | Ezhilam Pala | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 7 stories | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1967 | Thiranjedutha Kathakal | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 36 stories; With an introduction by M. R. Chandrasekharan | |
| 1968 | Vrindavanam | Calicut: Poorna | Collection of 8 stories | |
| 1970 | Kattuchembakam | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||
| 1978 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Cherukathakal | Calicut: Jaya | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1981 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Cherukathakal | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1999 | Katha: Pottekkatt | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||
| 2004 | Sthree | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Template:ISBN | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2006 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Kathakal Sampoornam | Calicut: Poorna | Complete short stories in three volumes | |
| 2010 | Ottakavum Mattu Pradhana Kathakalum | Kottayam: DC Books | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 2014 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Kathakal Sampoornam | Kottayam: DC Books | Complete short stories in two volumes Template:ISBN |
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| 2014 | Sthree: Sthreekale Kurichu Kure Kathakal | Calicut: Poorna | Template:ISBN | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Travelogues
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Kashmir | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | ||
| 1948 | Yathrasmaranakal | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Based on the journeys to historical places in India | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1951 | Kappirikalude Nattil | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Template:ISBN | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1954 | Simhabhoomi | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | 1949 journey to Bagamoyo, Tanga, Kenya and Uganda | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1954 | Nile Diary | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Template:ISBN | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1954 | Malaya Nadukalil | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1955 | Innathe Europe | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | 1950 journey to Europe and Britain; Later editions titled Europiloode Template:ISBN |
|
| 1955 | Indonesian Diary | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | 1953 journey to Indonesia; originally published in two volumes; combined volume first published by S.P.C.S. in 1964 | |
| 1955 | Soviet Diary | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1956 | Pathira Sooryante Nattil | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | 1955 journey to Finland | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1958 | Bali Dweep | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | 1953 journey to Bali Template:ISBN |
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| 1959 | Simhabhoomi | Cochin: Parishath | Expanded version of the 1954 book and published in two volumes; combined volume first published by S.P.C.S. in 1968 | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1960 | Bohemian Chithrangal | Thrissur: Current Books | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1967 | Himalaya Samrajyathil | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Based on the journey to Haridwar and Badrinath in May 1966 Template:ISBN |
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| 1969 | Nepal Yathra | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1970 | London Notebook | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1974 | Cairo Kathukal | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | ||
| 1976 | Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 1 – Africa | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam | Kappirikalude Nattil, Simhabhoomi, Nile Diary, Cairo Kathukal, Cleopatrayude Nattil | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1977 | Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 2 – Europe | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam | Europiloode (Innathe Europe), London Notebook, Pathira Sooryante Nattil, Soviet Diary, Bohemian Chithrangal | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1977 | Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 3 – Asia | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam | Yathrasmaranakal, Kashmir, Himalaya Samrajyathil, Nepal Yathra, Malaya Nadukalil, Indonesian Diary, Bali Dweep | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1977 | Cleopatrayude Nattil | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Poetry
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Prabhatha Kanthi | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | 14 poems | |
| 1946 | Sanchariyude Geethangal | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | 14 poems; with an introduction by G. Sankara Kurup | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1958 | Prema Shilpi | Thrissur: Current Books | 5 poems | |
| 2015 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Kavithakal | Calicut: Lipi | Template:ISBN | Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Drama
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Achan | Alleppey: T. K. Varghese Vaidyan | ||
| 1948 | Achanum Makanum | — | Included in Himavahini | |
| 1954 | Althara | — | A radio play included in Vanakaumudi | |
| 1954 | Theevandi Odunnu | — | A radio play included in Kallipookkal |
Others
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Ponthakkadukal | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Collection of humour essays published in various newspapers and magazines under the name Arunan Template:ISBN |
|
| 1949 | Gadhyamekhala | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 8 essays | |
| 1975 | Ente Vazhiyambalangal | Kottayam: N.B.S. | Memoirs | |
| 1978 | Muhammed Abdurahiman | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Political biography of Muhammed Abdurahiman Co-authored with P. P. Ummer Koya, N. P. Mohammed and K. A. Kodungallur |
|
| 1981 | Samsarikkunna Diarykurrippukal | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Diary | |
| 1995 | Pottekkattinte Kathukal | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Letters | |
| 2013 | Paryadanam | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Diary |
Translations into other languages
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- Many works are translated to Tamil by Su Ra.[69]
Films
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- Moodupadam (1963) (based on the novel Moodupadam)
- Naadan Premam (1972) (based on the novel Naadan Premam)
- Pulliman (1972) (based on the story "Pulliman")
- Njavalppazhangal (1976) (based on the story "Njavalppazhangal")
- Ottakam (1978) (based on the story "Ottakam")
- Thaala (1988)
- Kadavu (1991) (based on the story "Kadathuthoni")
- Manikyam (2015) (based on the novel Prema Shiksha)
References
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- ↑ a b "സഞ്ചാരിയായ എഴുത്തുകാരന്!" Template:Webarchive. Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
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- ↑ "Pottekkatt’s tryst with cinema". The Hindu. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ↑ "മാണിക്യം". Deshabhimani. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ↑ "Manikyam Malayalam Movie". Nowrunning.com. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
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Further reading
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External links
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- Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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- Ambikasuthan Mangad. Review of the famous story "Pulliman". Madhyamam Weekly.
Template:Jnanpith Award Template:Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam Template:Malayalam Literature
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1913 births
- 1982 deaths
- Indian travel writers
- Indian male novelists
- Indian male short story writers
- Indian diarists
- Indian memoirists
- Writers from Kozhikode
- Malayalam-language novelists
- Malayalam short story writers
- Malayalam poets
- Recipients of the Jnanpith Award
- Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam
- Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
- India MPs 1962–1967
- 20th-century Indian novelists
- 20th-century Indian poets
- Indian male poets
- Lok Sabha members from Kerala
- Politicians from Kozhikode
- 20th-century Indian short story writers
- 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
- Indian male dramatists and playwrights
- Novelists from Kerala
- Poets from Kerala
- 20th-century Indian essayists
- Journalists from Kerala
- Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala
- 20th-century Indian male writers
- 20th-century memoirists
- 20th-century diarists