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Karoor Neelakanta Pillai

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Karoor Neelakanta Pillai
Born(1898-02-22)22 February 1898
Ettumanoor, Travancore
Died30 September 1975(1975-09-30) (aged 77)
Pen nameKaroor
OccupationWriter, teacher
NationalityIndian
GenreShort story, children's literature, novel
SubjectSocial
Notable awardsKerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1960, 1969)

Karoor Neelakanta Pillai (Malayalam: കാരൂർ നീലകണ്ഠപ്പിള്ള) (22 February 1898 – 30 September 1975) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature and one of the founders of Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society (Writers' Co-operative Society). Some of his works such as Poovan Pazham and Marappavakal are counted by many among the best short stories in Malayalam. He was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 1960, which he received for his work Anakkaran, and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story in 1969, which he received for his short story Mothiram.

Life and career

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Karoor Neelakanta Pillai was born on February 22, 1898, in Ettumanoor, in Kottayam district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Kunhiliyamma and Neelakanta Pillai.[1][note 1] His formal education lasted only up to 7th standard though he was known to have been good at studies. He began his career as a school teacher at a local school in Kadappoor but quit his job when he got a government job as a teacher at the local school in Pothanikkad.[2] While on job at various places such as Ettumanoor, Vemballi and Kanakkari, he pursued his studies and passed 9th standard in 1913 as well as the teachers' training examinations.[3]

Pillai became associated with the Adhyapaka Maha Sabha (teachers' union) in 1920 and two years later, he was elected as its secretary.[1] He was involved in the teachers' meeting that discussed strike and though the matter was voted out by the meeting, the government dismissed all teachers who participated in the meeting; Pillai also lost his job. He worked as an assistant to a local ayurvedic physician at Ettumanoor till he was reinstated in his job by the government, with a posting at Namakkuzhi school. After holding the post for a while, he took long leave from job and became the secretary of Kottayam Co-operative Union. Moving to the village of Panmana, he started trading in coir products and it was in 1930, he married Gomathy Amma. When the coir industry went through a lean period during the World War II, he quit trading and returned to teaching, this time at the local school in Thazhava village.[1]

It was during this time, Pillai, along with M. P. Paul, worked towards forming a co-operative for writers and in 1945, with a capital of ₹ 120,[4] they registered the Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (SPCS - Writers' Cooperative Society) with Paul and Pillai as the president[5] and the secretary of the society, respectively.[6] He held the position of the secretary for two decades and when he relinquished the position in 1965, the society had already made a mark in the publishing sector, with the integration of National Book Stall in 1949.[7]

He died in September 30, 1975, at the age of 77.[1]

Bibliography

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Pillai, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and Uroob are considered to be the preeminent storytellers in Malayalam literature.[8][9] His short stories often portray the plight of the middle class in a simple and straightforward manner.[10] Many of his stories were translated into other Indian languages and English. The short story Anakkaran (The Mahout) was translated into English by Santa Ramesvara Rao.[11][12] He wrote many stories for children and his story Anchu Kadalasu was later adapted for a film of the same name.[13] He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 1960 for Anakkaran and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story in 1969 for Mothiram.[14][15]

The following is a list of works published by Karoor Neelakanta Pillai.[16][17]

Short stories

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Year Title Title in English Publisher Notes
1945 Karoor Kathakal Stories by Karoor National Book Depot, Kottayam Collection of 8 stories
With an introduction by M. V. Paul
1945 Melvilasom The Address N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories
1946 Kochanujathi The Little Sister Mangalodayam, Trichur Collection of 8 stories
1946 Smarakam A Memorial Vellinezhi, Palghat Collection of 8 stories
1947 Astrologer Astrologer N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 9 stories
1947 Iruttil In the Darkness Mangalodayam, Trichur Collection of 8 stories
1948 Thuppukaran The Sweeper Mangalodayam, Trichur Collection of 9 stories
1949 Grihanayika The Lady of the House S.P.C.S., Kottayam* Collection of 8 stories
1949 Poovan Pazham Poovan Banana N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories
1950 Meenkari The Fisherwoman N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories
1951 Tekkupattu N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories
1952 Katha Kouthukam N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories
1952 Oru Pidi Mannu A Fistful of Earth N.B.S., Kottayam* Collection of 9 stories
1954 Karayikkunna Chiri N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories
1955 Ambalaparambil In the Temple Courtyard N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 13 stories
1959 Pisachinte Kuppayam The Devil's Attire S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1963 Marappavakal The Wooden Dolls S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories
1965 Tiranjedutha Kathakal Selected Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 51 stories
With an introduction by G. Kumara Pillai
1966 Pathu Kathakal Ten Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories
1968 Mothiram The Ring S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories
1970 Ee Sahayathil Charadund A Sting is Attached to this Help S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 11 stories
With an introduction by N. V. Krishna Warrier
1970 Tiranjedutha Kathakal II Selected Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collections of 47 stories
With an introduction by M. Achuthan
1973 Rahasyam The Secret S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 9 stories
1975 Pothichoru Packed Rice S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1998 Karoorinte 33 Kathakal 33 Stories by Karoor DC Books, Kottayam
1999 Keezhadangal Surrender DC Books, Kottayam
2008 Karoor Kathakal Sampoornam[18] Collected Stories H&C, Trichur Complete collection of stories

Children's literature

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Year Title Title in English Publisher Notes
1950 Balachandran Balachandran S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1958 Anchu Kadalasu Five Papers S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1959 Anakkaran[19] The Mahout S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by Bappu
1960 Azhakanum Poovaliyum Azhakan and Poovali S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1961 Enne Rajavakkanam[20] Make Me the King S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by M. V. Devan
1962 Rajakumariyum Bhutavum The Princess and the Ghost S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1964 Sammanam The Gift S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1966 Olayum Narayavum The Leaf and the Stylus S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by Sankarankutty
1968 Bhrityan The Servant S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by Sankarankutty
1968 Manmayil Soil Peacock Bharatiya Sahitya Samiti
1983 Karoorinte Bala Kathakal[21] Children's Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam

Others

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Year Title Title in English Publisher Notes
1945 Appuppan Grandfather N.B.S., Kottayam Two one-act plays
1951 Kathayalla Not a Story N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 essays including "Njan Kathakaranaya Katha"
1967 Gauri Gauri S.P.C.S., Kottayam Novel
1967 Hari[22] Hari S.P.C.S., Kottayam Novel
1975 Panjiyum Thuniyum[23] Cotton and the Cloth S.P.C.S., Kottayam Novel

Notes

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  1. ^ Karoor was the family name of his mother, obtained through matrilineal succession

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Karoor Neelakanta Pillai". Nairs.com. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Veethi profile". Veethi. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  4. ^ "SPCS - About Us". www.spcsindia.com. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Remembering a visionary - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  6. ^ "JStor profile". Journal of South Asian Literature. 15 (1). 26 January 2019. JSTOR 40872325.
  7. ^ Suarez, Michael F; Woudhuysen, H. R, eds. (1 January 2010). Sahitya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780198606536.001.0001. ISBN 9780198606536. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. ^ Michigan State University, Asian Studies Center (1980). Journal of South Asian literature.
  9. ^ Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1609–. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  10. ^ Indian literature. Sahitya Akademi. 1993.
  11. ^ "Karoor Neelakanda Pillai on Good Reads". www.goodreads.com. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  12. ^ "A Bibliography of Malayalam literature in English translation". University of Washington Libraries. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  13. ^ "Karoorinte Balakathakal on Good Reads". www.goodreads.com. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature" (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story" (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  16. ^ K. M. Govi, ed. (1973). Malayala Grantha Soochi: A Retrospective Bibliography of Malayalam Books. Vol. 1. Kerala Sahitya Akademi. pp. 374, 497, 628, 629, 723, 724, 796.
  17. ^ K. M. Govi, ed. (1979). Malayala Grantha Soochi: A Retrospective Bibliography of Malayalam Books. Vol. 3. Kerala Sahitya Akademi. pp. 65, 93.
  18. ^ Karur Neelakanta Pillai. Karoor Kathakal Sampoornam. National Book Stall. p. 1558.
  19. ^ Karur Neelakanta Pillai. Aanakkaran. National Book Stall.
  20. ^ Karur Neelakanta Pillai. Enne Rajavakkanam. National Book Stall.
  21. ^ Karur Neelakanta Pillai. Karoorinte Balakathakal. National Book Stall.
  22. ^ Karur Neelakanta Pillai. Hari. Poorna Publications. ISBN 978-8130001531.
  23. ^ Karur Neelakanta Pillai (1972). Panjiyum Thuniyum. Poorna Publications. ISBN 9788130006680.
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