Geetha Hiranyan (20 March 1956 – 2 January 2002) was an Indian writer of

Malayalam literature Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary text ...

. Known for her short stories, compiled in three books, ''Ottasnappil Othukkanavilla Janmasathyam'', ''Asangaditha'' and ''Iniyum Veedatha Hrudayathinte Kadam'', she was a recipient of a number of honours including ''

G. Sankara Kurup G. Sankara Kurup, (3 June 1901 – 2 February 1978) also referred to as Mahakavi G (The Great Poet G), was an Indian poet, essayist and literary critic of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the greats of Malayalam poetry, he was the first r ...

Janmasathabdhi Kavitha Award'' and ''Kunju Pilla Smaraka Award''.

Biography

Geetha Hiranyan, née Geetha Potti, was born on 20 March 1956 at Kottavattom, near

Kottarakara Kottarakkara (IAST: Koṭṭārakkara), also transliterated as ''Kottarakara'', is a town and municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Kottarakkara lies to the east of Kollam city centre. History Kottarakkara, also known in the ...

Kollam district Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 List of districts in Kerala, districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major La ...

of the south Indian state of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

to Thottavttath C. Sreedharan Potti and Vasumathy Devi; she was related to the noted writer and social reformer,

Lalithambika Antharjanam Lalithambika Antharjanam (30 March 1909 – 6 February 1987) was an Indian author and social reformer best known for her literary works in the Malayalam language. She was influenced by the Indian independence movement and social reform movement ...

. After earning master's and MPhil degrees, she started her career as a lecturer at Malabar Christian College, simultaneously continuing her doctoral studies. Later she taught at various government colleges in

Malappuram Malappuram (also Malapuram) () is a municipality and town in Kerala and the headquarters of the Malappuram district in Kerala, India. It is the List of most populous urban agglomerations in Kerala, 4th largest urban agglomeration in Kerala and ...

Kalpetta Kalpetta is a city and town and Grade 2 municipality in the Wayanad district of the Indian state of Kerala. Kalpetta is the headquarters of the Wayanad district, as well as the headquarters of Vythiri taluk. It is surrounded by dense coffee ...

Perinthalmanna Perinthalmanna is a major town and municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It serves as the administrative centre for the Perinthalmanna taluk, as well as a List of revenue divisions of Kerala, revenue division, a community developm ...

Thrissur Thrissur (, ), Renaming of cities in India, formerly Trichur, also known by its historical name Thrissivaperur, is a city and the headquarters of the Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is the List of most populous urban agglomerations in Ke ...

Pattambi Pattambi is a town, tehsil, and municipality in the Palakkad District of Kerala, India. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Pattambi Taluk. History Pattambi was originally a part of the Nedunganad Swaroopam dynasty, which was ru ...

and

Kodungalloor Kodungallur (; formerly also called as Cranganore (anglicised name), Portuguese: Cranganor; Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the M ...

before joining

Kerala Sahitya Akademi The Kerala Sahitya Akademi or Academy for Malayalam Literature is an autonomous body established to promote the Malayalam language and Malayalam literature, literature. It is situated in the city of Thrissur, Kerala in India. History The acad ...

as the publications officer on deputation. It was at this time, she became ill due to which she could not continue her service. Geetha was married to K. K. Hiranyan, a writer, critic and an academic, and the couple had a daughter, Uma and a son Ananthakrishnan. She died due to

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

on 2 January 2002, aged 43, at her home in Thrissur and her dead body was cremated at Ullannoor Mana, her ancestral house. She is survived by her daughter Uma and son Ananthakrishnan. Her husband, who outlived her for 22 years, died on 17 July 2024, aged 70.

Legacy and honours

Geetha participated in a literary competition organized by

Mathrubhumi ''Mathrubhumi'' is a Malayalam newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. It was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British. The word "Mathrubhumi" translates to 'mother land'. ...

for their ''

Vishu Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival celebrating the Malayali New Year in Kerala, Tulu Nadu, and Mahe of India. Vishu falls on the first day of the month of ''Medam'', the first month of the Solar calendar used in Malabar of ...

edition'' in 1979 and her story, ''Deerghapankan'', was selected for the consolation prize. Two decades later, in 1999, she published her first short story anthology, ''Ottasnappil Othukkanavilla Janmasathyam'' (It is not Possible to Frame Life's Truth in a Single Shot). Her next two anthologies, ''Iniyum Veedaattha Hridayathinte Kadam'' and ''Asangaditha'' were published in 2002, shortly after her death. Her last story, ''Shilpa is Writing a Story'', was included in ''Asangaditha''. In 2008, a complete collection was published under the title, ''Geetha Hiranyante Kathakal'' (The Stories Of Geetha Hiranyan). Her story was also included in the book, ''Daughters of Kerala : twenty-five short stories by award-winning authors'', which contains the English translations of stories by women writers of Kerala. Geetha received the ''Kunju Pilla Smaraka Puraskaram'' in 1994. She received three awards in 2001, the ''Ankanam Award'', ''

Centenary Award for Poetry'' and T. P. Kishore Award.

has instituted an annual award, ''Geetha Hiranyan Endowment Award'', in her honour, for writers below the age of 35, to recognize excellence in Malayalam literature. Kerala Bhasha Institute has published her biography, under the title, ''Geetha Hiranyan:Jeeva Charithram'', written by Sheeba Divakaran.

Bibliography

2nd page of Prathibhavam newspaper-1st edition

Stories

* * * *

Poems

* Sukham ( Prathibhavam-2000)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hiranyan, Geetha 1958 births 2002 deaths Malayalam-language writers Women writers from Kerala 20th-century Indian women writers Academic staff of Malabar Christian College 20th-century Indian short story writers Deaths from cancer in India