M.K. Gopinathan Nair, popularly known as Vaisakhan, is an Indian short story writer, playwright, and screenwriter. Until 2022, he was the President of

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 ...

. Recently he has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of Tirur Thunchan Smaraka Trust replacing the late M.T.Vasudevan Nair, who had been Chairman for 32 years. His stories are known for their simplicity in style and freshness in theme. Many feature the

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as their backdrop.

Early life, education and career

Vaisakhan was born in 1940 as Gopinathan to A.V. Krishna Kurup and Narayani Amma in

Muvattupuzha Muvattupuzha () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipalityhttps://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. It is located east of the district headquarters in Thrikkakara and a ...

. He received his education at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, Nirmala College, and St. Albert's College. In 1964, he was appointed in the

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as the station master. After 20 years of service, Vaisakhan took alvoluntary retirement to pursue a full-time career in writing. Vaisakhan was married to Padma, who died in 1998. They have three children - Praveen, Pradeep, and Poornima. He currently lives in Raghavapuram, near Chittur,

Palakkad Palakkad (), Renaming of cities in India, also known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery, is a city and a municipality in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of P ...

. Vaisakhan's most notable work is ''Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar'', a story that has won multiple awards and critical acclaim. His other published books include:

Short story collection

* ''Appeal Anyayabhagam'' (അപ്പീൽ അന്യായഭാഗം) * ''Athirukalillathe'' (അതിരുകളില്ലാതെ) * ''Akalathil Vasantham'' (അകാലത്തിൽ വസന്തം ) * ''Bommidippoondiyile Palam'' (ബൊമ്മിഡിപുണ്ടിയിലെ പാലം) * ''Yamakam'' (യമകം) * ''Kathakal'' (കഥകൾ) * ''Priyappetta Kathakal'' (പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട കഥകൾ) * Silencer (സൈലൻസർ)

Children's literature

* ''Meen Kaykkunna Maram'' (മീന്‍ കായ്ക്കുന്ന മരം) * ''Kathakalude Albhuthalokam'' (കഥകളുടെ അത്ഭുതലോകം)

Memoirs

* ''Vaisakhante Jeevithachinthakal'' (വൈശാഖന്റെ ജീവിതചിന്തകൾ) * ''Oru Manassinte Rasathanthram'' (ഒരു മനസ്സിന്റെ രസതന്ത്രം) * ''Ormayude Choottuvettam'' (ഒര്‍മ്മയുടെ ചൂട്ടുവെട്ടം) * ''Ormayude Palangalil Pathinanju Sthreekal'' (ഒര്‍മ്മയുടെ പാളങ്ങളിൽ പതിനഞ്ചു സ്ത്രീകൾ)

Major awards

* 1989: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story – ''Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar'' * 1992: Cherukad Award – ''Noolpalam Kadakkunnavar'' * 1993: Abu Dhabi Shakthi Award * 2010: M.C. Joseph Award * 2010: Kamala Surayya Award – ''Silencer'' (Short story collection) * 2013: Ayanam - C.V. Sreeraman Katha Puraskaram * 2017: Prof. Joseph Mundasserry Award * 2021: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship

Positions held

* Chairman, Tirur Thunchan Smaraka Trust (Feb 2025 - present) * President, ''Kerala Sahitya Akademi'' (August 2016 – 2022) * President, ''Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham'' (2013–2018) * Member, ''Thunchan Smaraka Samithi'' ( - 2025) * Former Chairman, '' Kunchan Nambiar Smarakam - Killikurissimangalam'' * Former Advisor, ''

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 ...

'' * Former Administration team member, ''Kerala Sahitya Akademi''

References

{{authority control Living people 1940 births 20th-century Indian short story writers Indian memoirists Malayalam-language writers Indian children's writers Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala People from Muvattupuzha Writers from Ernakulam district Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights