Indian author and critic
M. R. Chandrasekharan എം. ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ
Born (1929-02-26 ) 26 February 1929 (age 95) Nationality
Indian Citizenship India Education
Master's Alma mater
Occupation(s) Literary Critic, Professor , Editor Title
Malappurath Raman Chandrasekharan (
Malayalam : മലപ്പുറത്ത് രാമൻ ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ ; born 26 February 1929), popularly known as M.R. Chandrasekharan (
Malayalam : എം. ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ ) or simply M. R. C. (
Malayalam : എം.ആര്.സി. ), is a
Malayalam literary critic and author from
Kerala , India. Chandrasekharan has published more than 50 books in different literary sections like literary criticism, translations, politics, social etc. He also works in the field of
journalism and
education . He won the 2010
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism .
Biography
Chandrasekharan was born on 26 February 1929 at
Pottore ,
Thrissur (
Trichur ) in
Kerala . His childhood days were spent in the village where he attended the Tirur Lower Secondary School and Vivekodayam High School,
Thrissur . He took his
bachelor's degree from
Sree Kerala Varma College ,
Thrissur , BOL from
University of Madras and later the master's degree from
Kerala University in Malayalam language and literature.[
citation needed ]
Chandrasekharan started his career as a
journalist in Navajeevan edited by
Joseph Mundassery for the
CPI . Subsequently, he joined as a sub-editor in
Mathrubhumi daily in
Kozhikode , but was sent out for his
communist leanings.[
citation needed ]
He worked as a school teacher at Kodakara National High School and Bekal Govt. High School. He joined as a lecturer at
Malabar Christian College ,
Kozhikode ,
[1] in 1956 and moved to Payyannur College,
Kannur as senior lecturer in 1965. He retired from Payyannur College,
Kannur after over 30 years of teaching service in the year 1989. After retirement he has also worked as Malayalam Professor in
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit .[
citation needed ]
He is now[
when? ] settled at
Ananganadi P.O.Panamanna,
Ottappalam in
Palghat district,
Kerala . He is active with his writings and enjoys the challenge of
organic farming .[
citation needed ]
Positions held
Chandrasekharan was very much involved in The All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (AKPCTA)
[2] and was a college committee secretary, regional secretary, regional president, general secretary and president of the association. As association representative, he was elected to the
Calicut University senate and syndicate.
He was a member of
Kerala Sahithya Academy general council and its executive committee.
[3]
Chandrasekharan was one of the directors of the Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank
[4] from the 2006 to 2013.
He is a member of the Academic Council of
Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University
[5] established in 2012
[6]
In 1961,when Kerala Sahithya Samiti was formed with Kuttipuzha Krishna Pillai as president,
S. K. Pottekkatt as vice president,
N. V. Krishna Warrier as general secretary in
Kozhikode , MRC and
Vayalar Ramavarma were named secretaries. MRC was later general secretary and president of the organisation.
He was also involved in the formation in 1969 of the Deshabhimani Study Circle, cited as a vigorous and widespread literary movement in Kerala along with
E. M. S. Namboodiripad , M.S.Devadas and P.Govindapillai.
[7]
He published the literary critical journal Sahithya Samithi Masika from
Payyanur in 1976 to 1980.
In 1969, when he was the research officer at
Kerala Bhasha Institute , he worked as the executive editor of the magazine Vignana Kairali (
Malayalam : വിജ്ഞാനകൈരളി ).
After retirement in 1989, he took-up the editorship of a magazine called Chindana (
Malayalam : ചിന്തന ) published in
Kannur .
He was the editor of CMP's weekly journal Malayala Mannu (Malayalam:മലയാളമണ്ണ്) from 1990 to 2013.
Awards and honours
Chandrasekharan has won the 2010
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism for his book Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum .
[8]
He won the Dr. C.P.Menon Award for The Study of the Progressive School in Literature for his book Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram in 2005.[
citation needed ]
He has also won the
M. N. Sathyaardhi Award in recognition of his contributions to Malayalam literature as a translator. The award was instituted by the M.N. Sathyarthi Trust in memory of the writer who is remembered for his translations of many popular Indian-language works into Malayalam.[
citation needed ]
He was awarded the MVR award in 2018
[9]
Bibliography
Literary criticism
List of Literary Criticism by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Year of publishing, Publisher
1
Laghuniroopanangal
Malayalam : ലഘുനിരൂപണങ്ങള്
Light Critical Works
1964, P.K.Bros Calicut
2
Niroopakante Raajyabaaram
Malayalam : നിരൂപകന്റെ രാജ്യഭാരം
The Critic's Sway
1965, Current Books Thrissur
3
Sathyavum Kavithayum
Malayalam : സത്യവും കവിതയും
Reality and Poetry
1979, Poorna Publications Calicut
4
Gopuram
Malayalam : ഗോപുരം
The Tower
1989, Current Books Thrissur
5
Grandhapooja
Malayalam : ഗ്രന്ഥപൂജ
Worshiping Books
1996, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
6
Communist Kavithrayam
Malayalam : കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ് കവിത്രയം
[10]
Three Communist Poets -
P. Bhaskaran ,
Vayalar Ramavarma ,
O.N.V. Kurup
1998, Current Books Thrissur
7
Malayala Sahityam Swaathanthrya Labdikku Shesham
Malayalam : മലയാളസാഹിത്യം സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യലബ്ധിക്കുശേഷം
Malayalam Literature after the attainment of Independence
1999, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
8
Ezhuthile Ponnu
Malayalam : എഴുത്തിലെ പൊന്ന്
The Golden Writing
2001,Prabhat Book House Trivandrum
9
Maneeshikal
Malayalam : മനീഷികള്
The visionaries among writers
2005, Lipi Book Publishers Calicut
10
Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum
Malayalam : മലയാളനോവല് ഇന്നും ഇന്നലെയും
Malayalam Novel - Today and Yesterday
2007, Samayam Books Kannur
11
Mundassery - Sahithya Vimarshanathinte Prathaapa Kaalam
Malayalam : മുണ്ടശ്ശേരി - സാഹിത്യവിമര്ശനത്തിന്റെ പ്രതാപകാലം
[11]
[12]
Mundasseri - Golden Years of Literary Criticism
2008, Green Books Thrissur
12
Krishnagadha Vimarshanam - chila thiruthalukal
Malayalam : കൃഷ്ണഗാഥാ വിമര്ശനം - ചില തിരുത്തലുകള്
Criticism of Krishnagatha- Some Corrections
2008, Poorna Books Calicut
13
Adyathma Ramayanam Vimarshanam
Malayalam : അദ്ധ്യാത്മരാമായണം വിമര്ശനം
Criticism of Ramayana, The Epic
2008, Samayam Books Kannur
14
Shishirathile Pookkal
Malayalam : ശിശിരത്തിലെ പൂക്കള്
Flowers in the Winter
2010, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
15
Karamullum Kaattupookkalude Karachilum
Malayalam : കാരമുള്ളും കാട്ടുപൂക്കളുടെ കരച്ചിലും
The Thorns and Cries of Wild flowers
2012, Kerala Sahithya Academy Thrissur
16
Theechoolayil Venthurukaathe
Malayalam : തീച്ചൂളയില് വെന്തുരുകാതെ
Life inside a Furnace
2012, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
17
Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram - Sahithya prastana padanam
Malayalam : കേരളത്തിലെ പുരോഗമനസാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ ചരിത്രം - സാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനപഠനം
History of Forward Thinking Literary Movement in Kerala
1996, Olive Books Calicut
18
Swapnadanam
Malayalam : സ്വപ്നാടനം
Literary Criticism of selected works of O.V.Vijayan and Mohan Kumar.
2022, India Books Calicut
18
Mahakavi Sapthakam
Malayalam : മഹാകവി സപ്തകം
Poetical Criticism of seven Poets in malayalam
2020, Green Books, Thrissur
Political thinking
List of Political Monographs by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Year of publishing, publisher
1
Communism chila thiruthalukal
Malayalam : കമ്മ്യൂണിസം-ചില തിരുത്തലുകള്
Communism - Some Critical notes
1999, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut
2
Keralathile Communism
Malayalam : കേരളത്തിലെ കമ്മ്യൂണിസം
Communism in Kerala
2000, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut
3
Kerala modelilekku oru kilivaathil
Malayalam : കേരളമോഡലിലേക്കു ഒരു കിളിവാതില്
An eye on the Kerala Model
2001, Haritham Books Calicut
4
Marx nte viplavavum Lenin nte athiviplavavum
Malayalam : മാർക്സിന്റെ വിപ്ലവവും ലെനിന്റെ അതിവിപ്ലവവും
Revolution of Marx and Extreme revolution of Lenin
2018, Self Publication
Social
List of Social Books by M. R. C.
List of Social Books by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Year of publishing, Publisher
1
Manushyavakaashangal
Malayalam : മനുഷ്യാവകാശങ്ങള്
Human Rights (Translation)
1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
2
India innu evide nilkkunnu
Malayalam : ഇന്ത്യ ഇന്ന് എവിടെ നില്ക്കുന്നു
whither stands India Today
2003, State Institute of Languages Trivandrum
3
Universitykalile Upaplavangal
Malayalam : യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റികളിലെ ഉപപ്ലവങ്ങൾ
Heteronomy in Universities
2021, India Books Kozhikode
Memoirs
List of Memoirs by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Year of publishing, Publisher
1
Oormayude Pushtakam
Malayalam : ഓര്മ്മയുടെ പുസ്തകം
A Book of Memories
2003, Current Books Thrissur
2
Sahithyathil Diggajangalude oru kalaghattam
Malayalam : സാഹിത്യത്തില് ദിഗ്ഗജങ്ങളുടെ ഒരു കാലഘട്ടം
The Time of Colossal figures in Malayalam Literature
2006, Poorna Publications Calicut
3
Ente jeevithakadhayile N.V parvam
Malayalam : എന്റെ ജീവിതകഥയിലെ എന്.വി. പര്വ്വം
The N. V. Chapter in my literary life story
2010, 2016 2nd Edition Green Books Thrissur
4
Kudumba parvam
Malayalam : കുടുംബപര്വ്വം
The Family Chapter of my life story
2011, Maluban Publishers Trivandrum
5
Balikuteerangalkkoru Ormapusthakam
Malayalam : ബലികുടീരങ്ങള്ക്ക് ഒരു ഓര്മ്മപുസ്തകം
A memoir for sacrificial stone temples
2015, Green Books Thrissur
Novel Translation
List of Novel Translation by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Original
Year of publishing, Publisher
1
Padivathilkkal
Malayalam : പടിവാതിൽക്കൽ
At the outer gate
On the eve, Russian,
Ivan Turgenev
1955, Prabhath Book House Ernakulam
2
Kokoro
Malayalam : കൊകോറോ
Kokoro
[13]
Japanese Novel
1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
3
Uzhuthumaricha Puthumannu
Malayalam : ഉഴുതുമറിച്ച പുതുമണ്ണ്
Virgin Soil Upturned
Russian,
Mikhail Sholokhov
1962, CICC Books Ernakulam
4
Don Nadeetheerathe Koithu
Malayalam : ഡോണ്നദീതീരത്തെ കൊയ്ത്ത്
Harvest on the Don
Russian,
Mikhail Sholokhov
1962, CICC Books Ernakulam 2015, S.P.C.S. Ltd. Kottayam
5
Genghis Khan
Malayalam : ഝഖിസ്ഖാന്
Genghis Khan -The world Conqueror (Historical Biography)
Harold Lamb
1963, Current Books Thrissur
6
Timoor
Malayalam : തിമൂർ
Timoor Historical Biography
Tamerlane
Harold Lamb
1963, Current Books Thrissur
7
Maattivecha Talakal
Malayalam : മാറ്റിവെച്ച തലകള്
The Transposed Heads
German,
Thomas Mann
1979, Chintha Books Trivandrum
8
Kalanju Kittiya Mookku
Malayalam : കളഞ്ഞുകിട്ടിയ മൂക്ക്
The Nose
Russian,
Nikolai Gogol
2006, Lipi Publications Calicut
Science Translation
List of Science Translation by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Year of publishing
1
Naam jeevikkunna ee lookam
Malayalam : നാം ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഈ ലോകം
The World We Live in
1959, Mathrubhumi Co Calicut
2
maanathekku nookkumpol
Malayalam : മാനത്തേക്കു നോക്കുമ്പോള്
Let us Look at the Sky
1961, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
Children's Literature
List of Children's Literature by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Original
Year of publishing, Publisher
1
Srugaalan enna kurukkan
Malayalam : സൃഗാലന് എന്ന കുറുക്കന്
A Fox Named Srigalan
Reynard the fox(British Folklore)
2004, Current Books Thrissur
2
moonnu bala saahithya kruthikal
Malayalam : മൂന്നു ബാലസാഹിത്യകൃതികള്
Three Stories for Children
Oscar Wilde
2010, Lipi Publications Calicut
Other genres
List of other genres by M. R. C.
#
Name
Translation in English
Year of publishing, publisher
1
Mushaayira
Malayalam : മുശായിര
Poem Collections Kerala Sahithya Samiti
2004, Prabhakar Book Stall Shornur
2
aana undaayirunna veedu
Malayalam : ആന ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന വീട്
A House which owned an elephant (novel)
2012, Samayam Books Kannur
3
Vilakkukal Puthiyathum Pazhayathum
Malayalam : വിളക്കുകൾ പുതിയതും പഴയതും
Collection of literary articles
2016, S.P.C.S Ltd. Kottayam
4
Vilakkukal Puthiyathum Pazhayathum
Malayalam : എൻ വി യുടെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത പ്രബന്ധങ്ങൾ
Collection of essays by N.V.Krishna Warrier
2006, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur
Journals edited
List of journels edited by M. R. C.
#
Name
Publisher
1
Yuva Bhavana
Malayalam : യുവഭാവന
Published from Calicut
2
Vijnana Kairali
Malayalam : വിജ്ഞാന കൈരളി
Journal of Kerala Language Institute, Tvm
3
Sahithya Samithi Masika
Malayalam : സാഹിത്യ സമിതി മാസിക
Published from Payyannur, Kannur District
4
Chinthana Weekly
Malayalam : ചിന്തന
Published from Kannur District
5
Malayala Mannu Weekly
Malayalam : മലയാള മണ്ണ്
Published from Kannur District
References
External links
Organisations
Literary awards Fiction writers Poets Playwrights Children's literature Essayists/Critics Scholars and Grammarians Translators Genre
Novels Treatises Poems Assorted articles