Puthussery Ramachandran Pillai (23 September 1928 – 14 March 2020) was an Indian poet of the

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

language. He was a scholar of Dravidian linguistics and a professor of Malayalam for more than three decades. On 14 March 2020, he died of age-related illnesses.

Career

Ramachandran completed his B.A (Honors) with first rank from the University College, Trivandrum in 1956. He joined S.N. College, Kollam as lecturer in 1957 and later became the Professor in Malayalam. Ramachandran was a member of the Syndicate of the

University of Kerala University of Kerala (formerly known as University of Travancore) is a state-run public university in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital of Kerala, India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Chithi ...

and was the General Secretary of First World Conference on Malayalam language and Kerala Culture organised by the University of Kerala in 1977. He was the Organizing Secretary of the First All India Conference on Dravidian Linguistics in 1971.

Poetry

Ramachandran's literary efforts were recognised by the

Sahitya Akademi The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of the Indian government. Its off ...

, who gave him their national award for translation. In 2009

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 ...

conferred him with a fellowship, the most distinguished honour of the Academy. He did much to promote Malayalam language and literature. On the basis of the document prepared and submitted by

Government of Kerala The Government of Kerala (abbreviated as GoK), also known as the Kerala Government, is the administrative body responsible for governing the Indian States and territories of India, state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who ...

with his guidance and leadership, Malayalam was recognised as a classical language by the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

in 2013. In recognition of his contributions to the studies on Early and Medieval Malayalam language and literature, the

selected him for the Bhasha Samman in 2014.

Bibliography

The following is a list of his works:

Poetry

* ''Ente Swathantryasamara Kavithakal'' (Poems written for India's Freedom Struggle), 1948 (Reprint 1998) * ''Grameena Gayakan'' (1948) * ''Aavunnathra Uchchathil'' (1954) * ''Puthiyakollanum Puthiyoralayum'' (1960) * ''Sakthipooja'' (1965) * ''Akalumthorum'' (1970) * ''Agnaye Swaha'' (1988) * ''Puthusseri Ramachandrante Kavithakal'' (Selected Poems) (1988) * ''Utsavabali'' (1998) * ''Ee Veettil Aarumille'' (2003) * ''Puthusserikkavithakal'' (Complete poetical works) (2008)

Prose

* ''Kerala Charithrathinte Adisthana Reghakal'' (Historical records of Kerala) (2007) * ''Ee Mannil Evarodoppam'' (Memoirs) (2011) * ''Theranjedutha Prabhandangal'' (Selected Essays) (2012) * ''Thilacha Mannil Kalnadayayi'' (Autobiography) (2017)

Translations

* ''Media'' (Greek Tragedy by

Euripides Euripides () was a Greek tragedy, tragedian of classical Athens. Along with Aeschylus and Sophocles, he is one of the three ancient Greek tragedians for whom any plays have survived in full. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to ...

) (1965) * ''African Kavithakal'' (33 poems from 13 African Countries) (1989) * ''Charamageetham'' (

Anna Akhmatova Anna Andreyevna Gorenko rus, А́нна Андре́евна Горе́нко, p=ˈanːə ɐnˈdrʲe(j)ɪvnə ɡɐˈrʲɛnkə, a=Anna Andreyevna Gorenko.ru.oga, links=yes; , . ( – 5 March 1966), better known by the pen name Anna Akhmatova,. ...

's poems in Russian) (1989) * '' Kulashekhara Alwarude Perumal Tirumozhi'' (Early Tamil Poem) (2001) * ''Puthusseriyude Vivarthanangal'' (2008) * ''Russian African Kavithakal'' (2012)

Critical Editions

* ''Kannassa Ramayanam (Balakandam)'' (1967) * ''Kannassa Ramayanam (Yudhakandam)'' (Published for the first time based on a manuscript of AD 1519) (1971) * ''Pracheena Malayalam'' (Collection Inscriptions) (1978) * ''Kannassa Ramayanam (Sundarakandam)'' (1980) * ''Kannassa Ramayanam (Kishkindakandam)'' (1984) * ''Kerala Panineeya Vimarsam'' (Collection of critical essays with introduction) (1986) * ''Kerala Panineeyam'' (Reprint of the first edition of Malayalam grammar with critical introduction) (1989) * ''Bhasha Bhagavath Gita'' (Complete text with critical edition and commentary) (2002) * ''Kannassa Ramayanam'' (Complete text with critical edition and commentary) (2013)

Festschrift on Dr. Puthusseri Ramachandran

* ''Kavitha Kaalathinte Sakshi'' (1998) * ''Studies in Dravidian Place Names'' (1993)

Works in English

* ''Language of Middle Malayalam'' (1972) * ''Perspectives in Place Name Studies'' (Editor) (1987) * ''Studies in Dravidian Place Names'' (Editor) (1989) * ''Ellis on Malayalam Language'' (2003)

Works Translated

* ''Puthusseri ki Kavitha'' (Hindi) (2001) His poems were translated into Hindi, English and Tamil published in various journals.

Awards

* Bhasha Samman,

(2014) *

Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize or Sahitya Akademi Prize for Translation is a literary honour in India, presented by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, given to "outstanding translations of creative and critical works" in 24 ...

, Sahitya Akademi (2004) * Fellowship,

(2009) *

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1958, by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy), to Malayalam writers for their outstanding books of literary merit. The awards are given in various categories.

(1999) * Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (Poetry) (2005) * Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (Other category literature) (2018) - ''Thilacha Mannil Kalnadayayi'' * N. V. Krishna Warrier Vignjaana Puraskaram (2008) * Mahakavi Vallathol Award (2008) * Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram (Asan Memorial Association, Chennai) (2008) * Yesenin Award, Russia (2012) *

Ezhuthachan Puraskaram The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary honour given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Government of Kerala. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, the father of the Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages ...

, Kerala (2015) *

Thoppil Bhasi Thoppil Bhaskara Pillai, known as Thoppil Bhasi (8 April 1924 – 8 December 1992) was an Indian Malayalam-language playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He was associated with the communist movement in Kerala and his play ''Ningalenne C ...

Award (2016)

Positions held

* Founder Member, C. Achutha Menon Foundation (1991)

References

External links

"Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards"

"Sergei Yesenin Award"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramachandran, Puthussery 1928 births Malayalam poets 20th-century Indian translators Poets from Kerala Sree Narayana College, Kollam alumni University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni Academic staff of the University College Thiruvananthapuram Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award 2020 deaths Writers from Alappuzha district English-language writers from India 20th-century Indian linguists 20th-century Indian essayists 20th-century Indian poets Indian literary critics Recipients of the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award