P. Vatsala

Parakkulathil Vatsala^[2] (28 August 1939 – 21 November 2023) was an Indian Malayalam novelist, short story writer, and social activist from Kerala.^[3] She is a recipient of Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2021, the highest literary honour by the government of Kerala.^[4] She is only the fifth woman to receive the award since its institution in 1993.^[5]

P. Vatsala
Born	Parakkulathil Vatsala (1939-08-28)28 August 1939[1] Calicut, Malabar District, Madras Province, British India (present-day Kozhikode, Kerala, India)
Died	21 November 2023(2023-11-21) (aged 84) Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Occupation	Writer Teacher
Nationality	Indian
Subject	Novel, short story
Website
www.vatsalap.com

Vatsala was also a recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Nizhalurangunna Vazhikal (The Paths where Shadows Sleep).^[6] She has written over 25 short story collections and 17 novels. She is renowned for her distinct style of writing.

Her works have won several awards including Kumkumam Award (for Nellu published in 1972), the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (for Nizhalurangunna Vazhikal), the Muttathu Varkey Award, and the C. V. Kunhiraman Memorial Sahitya Award.

A former headmistress, Vatsala also held the post of Chairperson of Kerala Sahitya Akademi.^[7][8] She was associated with PuKaSa, a left-leaning cultural movement, but lately she had been supportive of Hindu right-wing organisations.^[9][10][11]

Vatsala resided in Kozhikode district, in northern Kerala. She died from heart failure on 21 November 2023, at the age of 85.^[12]

Selected works

Short stories

• Pempi, Poorna Books, Calicut, 1969
• Pazhaya, Puthiya Nagaram (The Old, New City), The Sahithya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society (SPCS), Kottayam, 1979
• Anupamayude Kavalkkaran (The Bodyguard of Anupama), SPCS, 1980
• Aanavettakkaran (The Elephant Hunter), SPCS, 1982
• Unikkoran Chathopathiya (Unikkoran Chathopathiya), SPCS, 1985
• Annamaria Neridan (For Anna Marie To Confront), SPCS, 1988
• Karuttha Mazha Peyyunna Thazhvara (The Valley of Black Rains), SPCS, 1988
• Chamundy Kuzhi (Chamundi's Pit), SPCS, 1989
• Arundhati Karayunnilla (Arundhati doesn't Cry), SPCS, 1991
• Koonychoottile Velicham (The Light behind the Flight Stairs), Prabhath Book House, Trivandrum, 1992
• Madakkam II (The Return II), D. C. Books, 1998
• Panguru Pushpathinde Theen (Honey from the Flower of Panguru), Poorna Books, 1998
• Madakkam (The Return), D. C. Books, Kottayam, 1998
• Kaly ’98 Thudarcha (Sports 98 Cont.), Prabhath Book House, 1998
• Pookku Vayil Ponvayil (The Sunset that is Gold), Olive, 1999
• Dhushyanthannum Bheemannummillatha Lokam (The world Devoid by Dhushyntha and Bhima), Poorna Books, 1999
• Kalal Kavalal (The Soldier who is the Guard), D. C. Books, 2001
• Kottayile Prema (Prema in the forth), Olive Books, Calicut, 2002
• Pooram (The Temple Festival), D. C. Books, 2003
• Aaranniya Kandam (Stories of the Forest), D. C. Books, 2003
• Mythiliyuda Makal (The Daughter of Mythili), Green Books, Calicut, 2004
• Ashokanum Ayalum (He and Ashokan), D. C. Books, 2006
• Chandalabhikshukiyum Marikkunna Pownamiyum (Chandalabhikshuki and the Dying full Moon), Book Point, Calicut, 2007
• Suvarna Kadhakal (The Golden Stories), Green Books, Trichur, 2008
• Gate Thurannittirikkunnu, SPCS, Kottayam, 2008

Novels

• Thakarcha (Decadence), Poorna Books, Calicut, 1969
• Nellu (Paddy), The Sahithya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society (SPCS), Kottayam, 1972 (Adapted into a film with same name in 1974)
• Agnayam (Of Fire), SPCS 1974; translated into English by Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan as Agneyam: The story of a Nambudiri woman, Sahitya Akademi, 2008
• Nizhaluragunna Vazhikal (The Paths where Shadows Sleep), SPCS 1975
• Arakkillam (The House of Wax), SPCS, 1977
• Venal (The Summer), SPCS, 1979
• Kanal (The Live Coal), SPCS, 1979
• Nambarukal (The Numbers), SPCS, 1980
• Palayam (The Barracks), SPCS, 1981
• Kooman Kolly (The Valley Owls), SPCS 1981
• Gauthaman (Gauthaman), SPCS, 1986
• Aarum marikuunnilla (Nobody Dies), SPCS / D. C. Books, 1987
• Chaver (The Knights), SPCS, 1991
• Rose merreyude Aakasangal (The Skies of Rosemarry), D. C. Books, Kottayam, 1993
• Vilaapam (The Cry), D. C. Books, 1997
• Aadhijalam (The Primeval Water), D. C. Books, 2004
• Melppalam (The Flyover), Mathrubhumi Books, Calicut, 2007

Awards

• Kumkumam Award - Nellu
• Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award - Nizhalurangunna Vazhikal
• Muttathu Varkey Award - for her contributions to Malayalam literature^[13][14]
• C. V. Kunhiraman Memorial Sahithya Award^[15]
• Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (2019)^[16]

References

1. "പി.വൽസല അന്തരിച്ചു; മലയാളത്തിന്റെ പ്രിയകഥാകാരി, കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി മുൻ അധ്യക്ഷ" (in Malayalam). manoramaONLINE. 22 November 2023.
2. "അങ്ങനെ പി. പേരിന്റെ കൂടെ". manoramaONLINE. 22 November 2023.
3. "Telling her story". The Hindu. 9 May 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
4. "Writer-activist P Vatsala wins Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Kerala's highest literary honour". Onmanorama. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
5. "Writer-activist P Vatsala wins Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Kerala's highest literary honour". OnManorama. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
6. "SAHITHYA ACADEMI AWARD WINNERS# from 1959 to 1999". malayalampadam.com. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
7. "P. Valsala gets Sahithya Academy top post". Malayala Manorama. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
8. "P Valsala to chair Sahitya Akademi". The Indian Express. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
9. Amiya Meethal (2 November 2021). "Ezhuthachan Awardee Valsala highlighted social realities with focus on women and nature". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
10. Ashokan Charuvil (11 October 2013). "വയനാട്ടില്‍ നിന്ന് വള്ളിക്കാവിലേക്ക്". Risala Weekly. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
11. S. R. Praveen (17 July 2015). "P.Valsala — Journey from a progressive to a true saffron sanghi". Medium.com. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
12. "Writer P. Valsala passes away at 85". The Hindu. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
13. "Muttathu Varkey award for P. Valsala". The Hindu. 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
14. "P Valsala bags Muttathu Varkey award". Mathrubhumi. 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
15. "P. Valsala bags Kunhiraman Award". 28 March 2012.
16. "Kerala Sahitya Akademi fellowships for P. Valsala, N.V.P. Unithiri". The Hindu. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2022.

External links

• Official website
• Sankaranarayanan, Vasanthi (12 July 2001). "A way with words". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 October 2003.