M. Kunjaman

Indian scholar, social scientist, economist and prominent academician

M. Kunhaman

Born| 1949

Palakkad district, Kerala

Died| 2023

Sreekaryam

Education|

* Centre for Development Studies
* Cochin University of Science and Technology

Occupation(s)| Economist, Scholar, Thinker
Awards| Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Biography and Autobiography

M. Kunhaman (1949 – 3 December 2023) was an Indian economist, social scientist, thinker and academician from Kerala. He was a professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) campus in Tuljapur, a member of the University Grants Commission, and a long time Economics faculty member at the University of Kerala. Kunhaman was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for his biographical work Ethiru in 2021.[1]

## Biography

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M. Kunhaman was born in Vadanamkurissi in Palakkad in Kerala, India .[2] He received the first rank in MA Economics at Calicut University in 1974.[2][3] [4]

Kunhaman enrolled in the MPhil programme at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) in Thiruvananthapuram after receiving his MA in economics.[5] A Fulbright scholar, he started his long and illustrious career in academics as a lecturer at the University of Kerala in 1979. He spent 27 years as a pre-eminent faculty member in the Economics Department. He had been a critical part of the University Grants Commission (UGC). He left the University of Kerala in 2006 to lead TISS.[6]

Kunhaman's autobiography Ethiru was chosen as the best autobiography by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 2021. However, Kunhaman turned down the honour. He described the underprivileged way of life and social disparities in Kerala in his autobiography. Kunhaman was the author of several books and multiple papers on the Kerala economic model, macro economics, and land reforms. His publications include Development of Tribal Economy, State Level Planning in India, Globalization: A Subaltern Perspective, and Economic Development and Social Change.[7]

Kunhaman died at his residence in Sreekaryam on 3 December 2023.[2]

## Awards

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* 2021 - Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Biography and Autobiography, Ethiru[8]

## References

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1. ^ "Renowned economist and Dalit thinker M Kunjaman found dead at home". The Indian Express. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
2. ^ a b c "Noted economist Prof M Kunhaman no more". Mathrubhumi. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
3. ^ "M Kunjaman, a colossus who sharpened focus on the poor". The New Indian Express. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
4. ^ "‌നിങ്ങൾ അറിയുമോ ഡോ. കുഞ്ഞാമനെ?". Newspaper. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
5. ^ "M Kunjaman passes away: 'ഈ ലോകത്ത് നിന്ന് പോകുന്നു..': സാമ്പത്തിക വിദഗ്ധന്‍ എം കുഞ്ഞാമന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു". India Today Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 5 December 2023.
6. ^ nirmala.babu. "പട്ടിണി കാരണം വിൽക്കേണ്ടി വന്ന സ്വർണ്ണ മെഡൽ, ജാതിവിവേഹനത്തിനെതിരെ പോരാടിയ ജീവിതം‍; എം കുഞ്ഞാമന് വിട". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Malayalam). Retrieved 5 December 2023.
7. ^ "Noted Economist Professor M Kunjaman Found Dead". NDTV.com. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
8. ^ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "Prominent financial expert M Kunjaman passes away". Keralakaumudi Daily. Retrieved 5 December 2023.