Vaisakhan

Vaisakhan
Vaisakhan
Native name	വൈശാഖൻ
Born	M.K. Gopinathan Nair; 27 June 1940 (age 84); Muvattupuzha, India
Language	Malayalam
Alma mater	Maharaja's College, Ernakulam; Nirmala College; St. Albert's College;
Genre	Short stories, screenplays

M.K. Gopinathan Nair, popularly known as Vaisakhan, is an Indian short story writer, playwright, and screenwriter. As of 2016^[update], he is the President of Kerala Sahitya Akademi.^[1] His stories are known for their simplicity in style and freshness in theme. Many of his stories feature the Indian Railways as the backdrop.

Early life, education and career

Vaisakhan was born in 1940 as Gopinathan to A.V. Krishna Kurup and Narayani Amma in Muvattupuzha.^[2] He did his education from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam,^[3] Nirmala College,^[4] and St. Albert's College.

In 1964, he was appointed in the Southern Railway (India) as the station master. After 20 years of service, Vaisakhan took a voluntary retirement to pursue a full-time career in writing.^[2]

Vaisakhan was married to Padma, who died in 1998. They have three children - Praveen, Pradeep, and Poornima. He currently lives in Paravattani, in Thrissur district.

Literary career

Vaisakhan's most notable work is Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar, a story that has won multiple awards and critical acclaim. His other published books include:^[5]

Short story collection

Appeal Anyayabhagam (അപ്പീൽ അന്യായഭാഗം)
Athirukalillathe (അതിരുകളില്ലാതെ)^[6]
Akalathil Vasantham (അകാലത്തിൽ വസന്തം )^[7]
Bommidippoondiyile Palam (ബൊമ്മിഡിപുണ്ടിയിലെ പാലം)^[6]
Yamakam (യമകം)^[6]
Kathakal (കഥകൾ)
Priyappetta Kathakal (പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട കഥകൾ)
Silencer (സൈലൻസർ)

Children's literature

Meen Kaykkunna Maram (മീന്‍ കായ്ക്കുന്ന മരം)
Kathakalude Albhuthalokam (കഥകളുടെ അത്ഭുതലോകം)

Memoirs

Vaisakhante Jeevithachinthakal (വൈശാഖന്റെ ജീവിതചിന്തകൾ)
Oru Manassinte Rasathanthram (ഒരു മനസ്സിന്റെ രസതന്ത്രം)
Ormayude Choottuvettam (ഒര്‍മ്മയുടെ ചൂട്ടുവെട്ടം)
Ormayude Palangalil Pathinanju Sthreekal (ഒര്‍മ്മയുടെ പാളങ്ങളിൽ പതിനഞ്ചു സ്ത്രീകൾ)

Major awards

1989: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story – Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar
1992: Cherukad Award – Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar^[8]
1993: Abu Dhabi Shakthi Award
2010: M.C. Joseph Award^[9]
2010: Kamala Surayya Award – Silencer (Short story collection)
2013: Ayanam - C.V. Sreeraman Katha Puraskaram^[10]
2017: Prof. Joseph Mundasserry Award
2021: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship^[11]

Positions held

President, Kerala Sahitya Akademi (August 2016 – present)^[12]
President, Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (2013–2018)
Member, Thunchan Smaraka Samithi ( - present)
Former Chairman, Kunchan Nambiar Smarakam - Killikurissimangalam^[13]
Former Advisor, Sahitya Akademi
Former Administration team member, Kerala Sahitya Akademi

References

^ "KERALA SAHITYA AKADEMI - About". Retrieved 7 December 2016.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b tommattam (5 January 2011), Interview with Vaisakhan-writer-Mattathil Thodupuzha., retrieved 7 December 2016
^ "A special get-together at Maharaja's college". 17 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.
^ "Nirmala Alumni Association". www.nirmalaalumni.org. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
^ "കെ.പി.എ.സി. ലളിത സംഗീതനാടക അക്കാദമി അധ്യക്ഷ" – via The Big 14 News.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Centralized OPAC Catalog › VAISAKHAN". central.tnopac.gov.in. Retrieved 7 December 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ AKALATHIL VASANTHAM - Koha Online Catalog (1 ed.). VIMA.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Cherukad Award". Retrieved 7 December 2016.
^ "KOCHI TODAY". 28 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.
^ "Award presentation". 12 January 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.
^ "State Sahitya Akademi fellowships for Vaisakhan, K.P. Sankaran". The Hindu. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
^ Praveen, S.R. (31 July 2016). "Vaisakhan to head Sahitya Akademi". Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Thiruvananthapuram.
^ "Kuncham Nambiar Smarakam - Killikurissimangalam". www.kunchannambiarsmarakam.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.

[1] "KERALA SAHITYA AKADEMI - About". Retrieved 7 December 2016.

[:0-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b tommattam (5 January 2011), Interview with Vaisakhan-writer-Mattathil Thodupuzha., retrieved 7 December 2016

[3] "A special get-together at Maharaja's college". 17 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.

[4] "Nirmala Alumni Association". www.nirmalaalumni.org. Retrieved 7 December 2016.

[5] "കെ.പി.എ.സി. ലളിത സംഗീതനാടക അക്കാദമി അധ്യക്ഷ" – via The Big 14 News.

[:1-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Centralized OPAC Catalog › VAISAKHAN". central.tnopac.gov.in. Retrieved 7 December 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}

[7] AKALATHIL VASANTHAM - Koha Online Catalog (1 ed.). VIMA.^{[permanent dead link]}

[8] "Cherukad Award". Retrieved 7 December 2016.

[9] "KOCHI TODAY". 28 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.

[10] "Award presentation". 12 January 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Kerala.

[11] "State Sahitya Akademi fellowships for Vaisakhan, K.P. Sankaran". The Hindu. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.

[12] Praveen, S.R. (31 July 2016). "Vaisakhan to head Sahitya Akademi". Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via The Hindu - Thiruvananthapuram.

[13] "Kuncham Nambiar Smarakam - Killikurissimangalam". www.kunchannambiarsmarakam.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]