Narayan (writer)

Indian author (1940–2022)

Not to be confused with R. K. Narayan.

Narayan

Narayan in 2013

Born| (1940-09-26)26 September 1940
Kadayathoor Hills, Idukki, Travancore, British India
Died| 16 August 2022(2022-08-16) (aged 81)
Kochi, Kerala, India
Occupation| Writer
Language| Malayalam
Genre| Novel, short story
Subject| Tribal communities of Kerala
Notable works| Kocharethi
Notable awards|

* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1999)
* Economist Crossword Book Award (2011)

Narayan (26 September 1940 – 16 August 2022) was an Indian author best known for his debut novel Kocharethi (1998). Most of Narayan's novels deal with the lives of the tribal communities of Kerala. He belonged to the Malayarayar tribe and is considered Kerala's first tribal novelist.

## Early life

[edit]

Narayan who was born in 1940 in Kudayathur, Idukki district, belonged to the tribe called Malayarayar. After completing his schooling from a local government school, he got a job in the postal service.

## Literary career

[edit]

> Circumstances. When I joined school the system of providing free rice gruel at noon hadn't started. Education was not free. Right until Independence, the school fee was a chakram per annum. I went without food at noon. One day someone said that if I remained in the class room when others left for lunch and something went missing, I would be blamed. This frightened me so I began to visit the reading room opposite our school. There were three or four newspapers, a few books and a periodical. Soon the owner began to leave me in charge of the place when he went for lunch. I used the time to read whatever I could get hold of.

—Narayan when asked what had triggered his interest in books.[1]

Narayan started his literary career by writing a few short stories, which were published in periodicals. The writing did not attract the attention of readers but it did attract attention of the negative sort: of his immediate superior.[1] With the publication of his debut novel Kocharethi in 1998, Narayan became Kerala's first tribal novelist.[2] The novel, through the lives of its protagonist Kunjipennu and her childhood love and later husband, Kochuraman, depicts the history, traditions and travails of the Malayarayar tribal community in Kerala in the twentieth century.[3] While Narayan completed the manuscript of the novel in 1988, it was published only ten years later by the DC Books.[4] The novel was critically acclaimed and went on to win the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Its English translation as Kocharethi: The Araya Woman by Catherine Thankamma was published by the Oxford University Press in 2011 and won the Economist Crossword Book Award in the Indian language translation category for 2011.[2][5]

## Awards and recognitions

[edit]

Kocharethi was given the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in the Novel category for the year 1999.[6] The novel's English translation by Catherine Thankamma won the Economist Crossword Book Award in 2011.[5][7] Narayan is also a recipient of many other awards including Thoppil Ravi Award and Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award.

Kocharethi has run into six editions in Malayalam and has been translated into Hindi as Pahadin and into all the south Indian languages.[4] A French translation of the novel is also in progress.[8]

## Death

[edit]

Narayan died following COVID-19-related complications on 16 August 2022, at the age of 81.[9]

## Works

[edit]

Novels

* Kocharethi – (1998)
* Ooralikkudi – (1999)
* Chengarum Kuttalum – (2001)
* Vandanam – (2003)
* Tholkkunnavar Aaraanur – (2006)
* Ee Vazhiyil Aalere Illa – (2006)
* Thiraskrutharude Nalea – (2010)
* Manasum Dhehavum Kondu Njan Ninnea – (2010)
* Pennungal Paniyunna Nagaram – (2016)
* Vannalakal – (2016)
* Ee Vazhiyil Aalereyilla – (2016)

Short Story Collections

* Nissahayante Nilavili – (2006)
* Pela Marutha – (2006)
* Kadhakal Narayan – (2011)
* Narayante Theranjedutha Kadhakal – (2012)
* Narayante Kadhakal – (2013)

## List of awards

[edit]

* Thoppil Ravi Foundation Award – (1999)
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel – (1999, for Kocharethi)
* Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award – (1999, for Kocharethi)
* Swami Ananda Theertha Award – (2011)
* Economist Crossword Book Award – (2011)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Catherine Thankamma (16 August 2009). "Of a people in transition". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
2. ^ a b "Kocharethi The Arayar Woman". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
3. ^ "Cultures in transformation". The Hindu. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
4. ^ a b "Found in translation". The Hindu. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
5. ^ a b "Narayan honoured as Kocharethi goes places". The Hindu. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
6. ^ "List of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Winners". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
7. ^ "A tribal community comes alive". The New Indian Express. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
8. ^ "French version of Kocharethi soon". The Times of India. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
9. ^ Special Correspondent (16 August 2022). "Writer Narayan passes away". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 August 2022. `{{cite news}}`: `|author=` has generic name (help)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Narayan (writer).

* Excerpts from the OUP translation
* Oxford University Presents Kocharethi – The Araya Woman on YouTube
* Narayan Books

* v
* t
* e

Malayalam literature

Organisations|

* Kerala Sahitya Akademi
* Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad
* Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
* Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society

Literary awards|

* Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award
* Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram
* Cherukad Award
* Edasseri Award
* Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Biography and Autobiography
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Translation
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Travelogue
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
* Mathrubhumi Literary Award
* Muttathu Varkey Award
* O. N. V. Literary Award
* O. V. Vijayan Literary Award
* Odakkuzhal Award
* Padmarajan Award
* P. Kesavadev Literary Award
* Ulloor Award
* Vallathol Award
* Vayalar Award

Fiction writers|

* Ajijesh Pachat
* Akbar Kakkattil
* Anand
* Anita Nair
* Anoop Sasikumar
* Appu Nedungadi
* Ashitha
* Ashtamoorthi K. V.
* Aymanam John
* Babu Bharadwaj
* B. M. Suhara
* B. Sandhya
* C. Radhakrishnan
* C. V. Balakrishnan
* C. V. Raman Pillai
* C. V. Sreeraman
* Chandramathi
* Cherukad
* E. Harikumar
* E. Vasu
* G. R. Indugopan
* George Onakkoor
* Gracy
* I. K. K. Menon
* Jayasree Kalathil
* John Abraham
* Jose Panachippuram
* Joy J. Kaimaparamban
* K. J. Baby
* Arch Deacon Koshy
* K. L. Mohana Varma
* K. N. Ezhuthachan
* K. P. Nirmal Kumar
* K. P. Ramanunni
* K. R. Meera
* K. Rekha
* K. Surendran
* K. P. Joseph Kalarickal
* K. Thayat
* Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai
* Kakkanadan
* Kamala Surayya
* Kanam EJ
* Karunakaran
* Karur Neelakanta Pillai
* Khadija Mumtaz
* Kottayam Pushpanath
* Kovilan
* K. V. Anoop
* Lajo Jose
* Lalithambika Antharjanam
* M. Govindan
* M. Mukundan
* M. Sukumaran
* M. T. Vasudevan Nair
* Madampu Kunjukuttan
* Madhupal
* Malayath Appunni
* Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
* Mallika Yunis
* Muttathu Varkey
* N. Mohanan
* N. N. Pisharody
* N. P. Chellappan Nair
* N. P. Mohammed
* N. S. Madhavan
* Nandanar
* Narayan
* O. V. Vijayan
* Omchery N. N. Pillai
* Oyyarathu Chandu Menon
* P. Ayyaneth
* P. Surendran
* P. F. Mathews
* P. K. Balakrishnan
* P. Kesavadev
* P. R. Nathan
* P. R. Shyamala
* P. Surendran
* P. Valsala
* Padmarajan
* Pamman
* Parappurath
* Pattathuvila Karunakaran
* Paul Chirakkarode
* Paul Zacharia
* Perumbadavam Sreedharan
* Ponjikkara Rafi
* Ponkunnam Varkey
* Punathil Kunjabdulla
* Raghunath Paleri
* S. Hareesh
* S. K. Pottekkatt
* Santhosh Echikkanam
* Sarah Joseph
* Sarah Thomas
* Savithri Rajeevan
* Socrates K. Valath
* Sudhakar Mangalodayam
* Sethu
* Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu
* Sohanlal
* Sreekrishnapuram Krishnankutty
* Subhash Chandran
* T. P. Rajeevan
* T. Padmanabhan
* T. V. Kochubava
* T. V. Varkey
* Tatapuram Sukumaran
* Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
* Thikkodiyan
* Thomas Joseph
* U. A. Khader
* U. K. Kumaran
* Unnikrishnan Puthur
* Unnikrishnan Thiruvazhiyode
* Uroob
* V. K. N.
* V. P. Sivakumar
* Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
* Vallachira Madhavan
* Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar
* Vilasini
* Vinoy Thomas

Poets|

* A. Ayyappan
* A. C. Sreehari
* A. R. Raja Raja Varma
* Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri
* Arnos Pathiri
* Attoor Ravi Varma
* Balachandran Chullikkadu
* Balamani Amma
* Bodheswaran
* Chandiroor Divakaran
* Changampuzha Krishna Pillai
* Cherukad
* Cherusseri Namboothiri
* D. Vinayachandran
* Edappalli Raghavan Pillai
* Edasseri Govindan Nair
* G. Shankara Kurup
* Irayimman Thampi
* K. Ayyappa Paniker
* K. C. Kesava Pillai
* K. V. Ramakrishnan
* Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
* Kadathanat Madhavi Amma
* Kadavanad Kuttikrishnan
* Kamala Surayya
* Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai
* Kavitha Balakrishnan
* Kumaran Asan
* Kunchan Nambiar
* Kureepuzha Sreekumar
* Lalitha Lenin
* M. Govindan
* M. P. Appan
* M. S. Banesh
* Manoj Kuroor
* Mary John Thottam
* Mohanakrishnan Kaladi
* Moyinkutty Vaidyar
* N. N. Kakkad
* N. V. Krishna Warrier
* Nalapat Narayana Menon
* Nellikkal Muraleedharan
* Niranam poets
* O. N. V. Kurup
* Olappamanna Subramanian Namboothirippad
* P. Kunhiraman Nair
* P. P. Ramachandran
* Pala Narayanan Nair
* Poonthanam Namboothiri
* Pulikkottil Hyder
* Punaloor Balan
* Puthussery Ramachandran
* S. Joseph
* Satchidanandan
* Satyan Madakkara
* Savithri Rajeevan
* Sugathakumari
* Thirunalloor Karunakaran
* Tholan
* Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
* Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer
* Unnayi Variyar
* V. Madhusoodanan Nair
* V. C. Balakrishna Panicker
* V. M. Girija
* Vadakkumkur Rajarajavarmaraja
* Vallathol Narayana Menon
* Vayalar Ramavarma
* Veerankutty
* Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup
* Vijayalakshmi
* Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri
* V Madhusoodanan Nair
* Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon
* Sreedevi Kakkad

Playwrights|

* C. J. Thomas
* C. L. Jose
* C. N. Sreekantan Nair
* Cherukad
* G. Sankara Pillai
* K. T. Muhammed
* M. Govindan
* Nalapat Narayana Menon
* S. L. Puram Sadanandan
* Thoppil Bhasi
* T. N. Gopinathan Nair
* V. T. Bhattathiripad

Children's literature|

* Malayath Appunni
* P. Narendranath
* Sumangala
* Shebaly
* Sippy Pallippuram
* Kiliroor Radhakrishnan

Essayists/Critics|

* Annie Thayyil
* C. N. Ahmad Moulavi
* C. S. Venkiteswaran
* Joseph Mundassery
* K. M. Daniel
* K. P. Appan
* K. P. Sankaran
* K. Damodaran
* K. M. George
* Kesari Balakrishna Pillai
* Kozhikodan
* Kuttikrishna Marar
* Kuttipuzha Krishna Pillai
* M. K. Sanu
* M. Krishnan Nair (author)
* M. Leelavathy
* M. N. Karassery
* M. N. Vijayan
* M. P. Paul
* M. R. Chandrasekharan
* Narendra Prasad
* O. V. Vijayan
* P. Surendran
* S. Guptan Nair
* S. Rajasekharan
* Sabeena Rafi
* Sanjayan
* Sukumar Azhikode
* V. C. Sreejan
* V. T. Bhattathiripad
* Vijayakrishnan
* V. V. K. Valath

Scholars and
Grammarians|

* A. R. Raja Raja Varma
* Arnos Paathiri
* George Mathan
* Hermann Gundert
* Jyeṣṭhadeva
* Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran
* Kottarathil Sankunni
* Krishna Chaithanya
* R. Narayana Panickar
* Vadakkumkur Rajarajavarmaraja

Translators|

* Leela Devi
* M. K. Kumaran
* M. N. Sathyaardhi
* N. K. Damodaran
* Nileena Abraham

Genre|

* Champukkal
* Drama
* Kilippattu
* Manipravalam
* Novel
* Vadakkan Pattukal
* Venmani School
* Vanchippattu

Novels|

* Aalahayude Penmakkal
* Aalohari Anandam
* Aadujeevitham
* Aarachaar
* Akkapporinte Irupathu Nasrani Varshangal
* Anal Haq
* Anargha Nimisham
* Anuragathinte Dinangal
* Agnisakshi
* Ara Nazhika Neram
* Arabi Ponnu
* Arohanam
* Asuravithu
* Avakasikal
* Ayussinte Pusthakam
* Balyakalasakhi
* Barsa
* Chemmeen
* Cheviyorkkuka! Anthimakahalam
* Daivathinte Vikrithikal
* Delhi Gadhakal
* Enmakaje
* Ente Katha
* Ente Thankam
* Francis Itty Cora
* Gurusagaram
* Indulekha
* Kaalam
* Kayar
* Kesavante Vilapangal
* Khasakkinte Itihasam
* Kocharethi
* Kundalatha
* Manju (novel)
* Manushyanu Oru Aamukham
* Maranathinte Nizhalil
* Marthandavarma
* Mathilukal
* Maya
* Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil
* Mucheettukalikkarante Makal
* Mullappoo Niramulla Pakalukal
* Muthassi
* Naadan Premam
* Naalukettu
* Nakshathrangale Kaaval
* Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu
* Odayil Ninnu
* Ormayude Arakal
* Oru Desathinte Katha
* Oru Sankeerthanam Pole
* Oru Theruvinte Katha
* Othappu
* Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha
* Pathummayude Aadu
* Peruvazhiyambalam
* Ponni
* Pravasam
* Premalekhanam
* Randamoozham
* Randidangazhi
* Rathinirvedam
* Sarada
* Shabdangal
* Smarakasilakal
* Sufi Paranja Katha
* Sundarikalum Sundaranmarum
* Thottiyude Makan
* Ummachu
* Vasanavikriti
* Vasanthathile Poomarangal
* Verukal
* Viddikalude Swargam
* Visappu
* Yakshi
* Yanthram

Treatises|

* Aithihyamala
* Alphabetum grandonico-malabaricum sive samscrudonicum
* Kerala Panineeyam
* Nātyakalpadrumam
* Sarvavijnanakosam
* State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications
* Viswasahityavijnanakosam
* Yuktibhāṣā

Poems|

* Atmopadesa Śatakam
* Daiva Daśakaṁ
* Jnanappana
* Omanathinkal Kidavo
* Makarakoythu
* Puthen Pana
* Ramanan (play in verse)
* Rani (poem)
* Sree Bhoothanaathopakhyaanam
* Unnuneeli Sandesam
* Kuchelavritham Vanchippattu
* Krishnagatha

Assorted articles|

* Arabi Malayalam
* Arabi Malayalam script
* Chakara
* Malayalam grammar
* Malayalam poetry
* Mathrubhumi Yearbook
* Jewish copper plate
* Judeo-Malayalam
* Malayalam script
* Malayalam triumvirate poets
* Malayanma
* Mannan language
* Mappila dialect
* Mozhi (transliteration)
* Mullu Kurumba language
* Pandy Malayalam
* Romanisation of Malayalam

* Templates
* Category
* WikiProject
* India portal

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Netherlands

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template