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Sankarankutty Kunjiraman Pottekkatt (14 March 1913 – 6 August 1982) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, traveller, and politician from Kerala. Best known for his travelogues, he has authored nearly 60 books, which include 10 novels, 24 collections of short stories, three anthologies of poems, 18 travelogues, four plays, a collection of essays and a couple of books based on personal reminiscences.
S. K. Pottekkatt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 March 1913 Calicut, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 6 August 1982 (aged 69) Calicut, Kerala, India |
| Occupation |
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| Genre | Novel, travelogue, short story, plays, essay, poetry |
| Notable works | |
| Notable awards | |
| Spouse |
Jayavalli (m. 1950) |
| Children | 4[1] |
| Relatives |
|
He is a recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, Sahitya Akademi Award and the Jnanpith Award. His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.
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S. K. Pottekkatt was born on 14 March 1913, in Calicut (Kozhikode) to Kunjiraman Pottekkat, an English school teacher and his wife, Kittuli.[2] After early schooling at Ganapath School, he matriculated from Zamorin's High School in Calicut in 1929 and passed the intermediate examination from Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, Calicut in 1934 but could not find a job for three years, a period which he utilised for studying classics from Indian and western literature. In 1937, he joined Calicut Gujarati School as a teacher where he taught for almost three years.[3] He was involved with activities of the Indian National Congress and attended the Tripuri session of 1939 for which he resigned from the job as the school authorities did not allow him to leave of absence. Subsequently, he moved to Bombay and Lucknow where he stayed until 1945, doing many jobs.[2]
After returning to Kerala in 1945, he travelled to many parts of India and went on his first overseas tour in 1949 when he visited Africa, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and England. In 1952, he again went overseas to visit Ceylon, Malaya, and Indonesia.[3]
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Pottekkatt published his first story, "Rajaneethi", in the college magazine of Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College in 1928.[4] "Makane Konna Madyam" (poem published in Athmavidya Kahalam) and "Hindu Muslim Maithri" (story published in Deepam) were some of his notable early works. The story "Vydyutha Shakthi" came in the February 1934 issue of Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly. He wrote his first novel, Naadanpremam, a romantic story set in Mukkam, a small hamlet in Kozhikode district,[5] in 1939 while he was in Bombay and the novel was eventually published in 1941.[3][6] This was followed by Yavanikakku Pinnil, a short story anthology, and the second novel Vishakanyaka; the latter would receive a prize from the Madras government in 1949.[3] Two travelogues were the next two publications, Kappirikalude Naattil (In the Land of the Negroes) and Innathe Europe (The Europe Today), both based on his first overseas tour.[7] He published Oru Theruvinte Katha in 1960 and his magnum opus, Oru Desathinte Katha, in 1971.[8][9]
Pottekkatt was a writer of strong social commitment and ideals, possessing an individualistic vision.[3] He is reported to be the pioneer of the genre of travelogues in India[10] and its most notable practitioner in Malayalam literature[11] which earned him the moniker, the John Gunther of Malayalam.[12] Poetry anthologies like Sanchariyude Geethangal and Premashilpi, Achan (play), novels like Premashiksha and Moodupadam, short story anthologies such as Nishagandhi, Pulliman and Chandrakatham, travelogues viz. Simhabhoomi, Nile Diary and Pathira Sooryante Nattil as well as memoirs like Ponthakkadukal and Samsarikkunna Diarykurippukal are some of his other major works.[13]
His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.[2] An Italian anthology of The Best Short Stories of the World published from Milan in 1971 included his Braanthan Naaya (Mad Dog). A collection of eleven of his short stories in Russian had a sensational sales of one hundred thousand copies in two weeks.[1] His stories have made into feature films in Malayalam; Naadan Premam,[14] Moodupadam,[15] Pulliman[16] and Njavalppazhangal are some of them.[17] Kadavu, a 1991 film written directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on his short story "Kadathuthoni", received prizes at several international film festivals.[18] The 2015 film Manikyam was an adaptation of the novel Prema Shiksha.[19][20]
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Pottekkatt contested twice as independent candidate in elections to Indian Parliament from Thalassery under the banner of the Communist Party of India,[21] the first in 1957 to the 2nd Lok Sabha when he lost to M. K. Jinachandran by 1000 votes and the next in 1962 to the 3rd Lok Sabha when he defeated Sukumar Azhikode by a margin of 66,000 votes; he served out his term until 1967.[2]
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Pottekkatt married Jayavalli in 1950 and the couple had two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1980 and two years later, he suffered a paralytic stroke in July 1982, and he died on 6 August 1982, in a private hospital in Calicut.[1]
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Oru Theruvinte Katha (The Story of a Street), a novel based on Mittai Theruvu, a popular street in Kozhikode known for sweetmeat and halvah stalls, received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1961.[22] His biographical novel, Oru Desathinte Katha was selected for the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972.[23] Eight years later, in 1980, the novel earned Pottekkatt the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India.[24][25] In 1982, the University of Calicut honoured him with the honoris causa degree of the Doctor of Letters.[26] India Post issued a commemorative postal stamp on him in 2003, as a part of their Jnanpith Award Winners.[27] Malayala Manorama and Madhyamam issued festschrifts on Pottekkatt on the occasion of his birth centenary.[28][29]
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Novels
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Vallikadevi | |||
| 1941 | Naadan Premam | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | ||
| 1945 | Prema Shiksha | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | ||
| 1948 | Moodupadam | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | ||
| 1948 | Vishakanyaka | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | ||
| 1958 | Karamboo | Calicut: Kerala | ||
| 1960 | Oru Theruvinte Katha | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel | |
| 1971 | Oru Desathinte Katha | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi Award | |
| 1976 | Kurumulaku | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | ||
| 1979 | Kabeena | Trivandrum: Upasana | ISBN 9788182656215 | |
| 1988 | Bharathappuzhayude Makkal | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Described as Novatakam, a combination of novel and play | |
— | North Avenue | — | Incomplete work |
Short stories
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Manimalika | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 5 stories | |
| 1945 | Rajamalli | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 13 stories | |
| 1945 | Nisshagandhi | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 9 stories | |
| 1945 | Pulliman | Thrissur: Sundarayyar & Sons | Collection of 6 stories | |
| 1945 | Meghamala | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 8 stories | |
| 1946 | Chandrakantham | Wadakkancherry: Arunodayam | Collection of 5 stories | |
| 1946 | Jalatharangam | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1946 | Vaijayanthi | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1947 | Pournami | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 5 stories ISBN 9788130006345 | |
| 1947 | Padmaragam | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 6 stories | |
| 1947 | Indraneelam | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | Collection of 6 stories | |
| 1948 | Rangamandapam | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1948 | Himavahini | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 5 stories | |
| 1949 | Prethabhoomi | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | Collection of 5 stories | |
| 1952 | Yavanikkakku Pinnil | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 6 stories and a radio drama | |
| 1954 | Kallippookkal | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 6 stories and a radio drama | |
| 1954 | Vanakaumudi | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Collection of 4 stories and a radio drama | |
| 1955 | Kanakaambaram | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1960 | Antharvahini | Calicut: Kerala | Collection of 5 stories ISBN 9788182654877 | |
| 1962 | Ezhilam Pala | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 7 stories | |
| 1967 | Thiranjedutha Kathakal | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | Collection of 36 stories; With an introduction by M. R. Chandrasekharan | |
| 1968 | Vrindavanam | Calicut: Poorna | Collection of 8 stories | |
| 1970 | Kattuchembakam | |||
| 1978 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Cherukathakal | Calicut: Jaya | ||
| 1981 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Cherukathakal | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | ||
| 1999 | Katha: Pottekkatt | |||
| 2004 | Sthree | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | ISBN 9788182640948 | |
| 2006 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Kathakal Sampoornam | Calicut: Poorna | Complete short stories in three volumes | |
| 2010 | Ottakavum Mattu Pradhana Kathakalum | Kottayam: DC Books | ||
| 2014 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Kathakal Sampoornam | Kottayam: DC Books | Complete short stories in two volumes ISBN 9788126440184 | |
| 2014 | Sthree: Sthreekale Kurichu Kure Kathakal | Calicut: Poorna | ISBN 9788130018003 |
Travelogues
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Kashmir | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | ||
| 1948 | Yathrasmaranakal | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Based on the journeys to historical places in India | |
| 1951 | Kappirikalude Nattil | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | ISBN 9788171307937 | |
| 1954 | Simhabhoomi | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | 1949 journey to Bagamoyo, Tanga, Kenya and Uganda | |
| 1954 | Nile Diary | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | ISBN 9788171803149 | |
| 1954 | Malaya Nadukalil | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | ||
| 1955 | Innathe Europe | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | 1950 journey to Europe and Britain; Later editions titled Europiloode ISBN 9788126403547 | |
| 1955 | Indonesian Diary | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | 1953 journey to Indonesia; originally published in two volumes; combined volume first published by S.P.C.S. in 1964 | |
| 1955 | Soviet Diary | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | ||
| 1956 | Pathira Sooryante Nattil | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | 1955 journey to Finland | |
| 1958 | Bali Dweep | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | 1953 journey to Bali ISBN 9788171309047 | |
| 1959 | Simhabhoomi | Cochin: Parishath | Expanded version of the 1954 book and published in two volumes; combined volume first published by S.P.C.S. in 1968 | |
| 1960 | Bohemian Chithrangal | Thrissur: Current Books | ||
| 1967 | Himalaya Samrajyathil | Thrissur: Mangalodayam | Based on the journey to Haridwar and Badrinath in May 1966 ISBN 9788171803576 | |
| 1969 | Nepal Yathra | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | ||
| 1970 | London Notebook | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | ||
| 1974 | Cairo Kathukal | Kottayam: S.P.C.S. | ||
| 1976 | Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 1 – Africa | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam | Kappirikalude Nattil, Simhabhoomi, Nile Diary, Cairo Kathukal, Cleopatrayude Nattil | |
| 1977 | Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 2 – Europe | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam | Europiloode (Innathe Europe), London Notebook, Pathira Sooryante Nattil, Soviet Diary, Bohemian Chithrangal | |
| 1977 | Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 3 – Asia | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam | Yathrasmaranakal, Kashmir, Himalaya Samrajyathil, Nepal Yathra, Malaya Nadukalil, Indonesian Diary, Bali Dweep | |
| 1977 | Cleopatrayude Nattil | Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam |
Poetry
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Prabhatha Kanthi | Calicut: K. R. Brothers | 14 poems | |
| 1946 | Sanchariyude Geethangal | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | 14 poems; with an introduction by G. Sankara Kurup | |
| 1958 | Prema Shilpi | Thrissur: Current Books | 5 poems | |
| 2015 | S. K. Pottekkattinte Kavithakal | Calicut: Lipi | ISBN 9788188017935 |
Drama
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Achan | Alleppey: T. K. Varghese Vaidyan | ||
| 1948 | Achanum Makanum | — | Included in Himavahini | |
| 1954 | Althara | — | A radio play included in Vanakaumudi | |
| 1954 | Theevandi Odunnu | — | A radio play included in Kallipookkal |
Others
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Ponthakkadukal | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Collection of humour essays published in various newspapers and magazines under the name Arunan ISBN 9788182656239 | |
| 1949 | Gadhyamekhala | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Collection of 8 essays | |
| 1975 | Ente Vazhiyambalangal | Kottayam: N.B.S. | Memoirs | |
| 1978 | Muhammed Abdurahiman | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Political biography of Muhammed Abdurahiman Co-authored with P. P. Ummer Koya, N. P. Mohammed and K. A. Kodungallur | |
| 1981 | Samsarikkunna Diarykurrippukal | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Diary | |
| 1995 | Pottekkattinte Kathukal | Calicut: P. K. Brothers | Letters | |
| 2013 | Paryadanam | Calicut: Mathrubhumi | Diary |
Translations into other languages
- Stree Thatha Anya Kahaniyam (in Hindi). 1986.
- Kadha Ek Pranthar Ki (in Hindi). Bharatheey Njanpeet Prakasan. 1981.
- Tales of Athiranippadam. Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan. 2013. ISBN 9788125051275.
- Twelve stories. Calicut: Tarjuma. 2010. ISBN 9788190895811.
- Many works are translated to Tamil by Su Ra.[69]
Films
- Moodupadam (1963) (based on the novel Moodupadam)
- Naadan Premam (1972) (based on the novel Naadan Premam)
- Pulliman (1972) (based on the story "Pulliman")
- Njavalppazhangal (1976) (based on the story "Njavalppazhangal")
- Ottakam (1978) (based on the story "Ottakam")
- Thaala (1988)
- Kadavu (1991) (based on the story "Kadathuthoni")
- Manikyam (2015) (based on the novel Prema Shiksha)
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