T. Padmanabhan

T. Padmanabhan
Born (1931-01-01) 1 January 1931
Pallikunnu, Kannur, Malabar District, Madras Presidency, British India
Occupation Short story writer
Notable works Prakasam Parathunna Oru Penkutty, Gowri, Kadal, Thiranjedutha Kathakal
Notable awards Ezhuthachan Award
Vallathol Award
Vayalar Award
Odakkuzhal Award
Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
Years active 1950–present

Thinakkal Padmanabhan, popularly known as T. Padmanabhan, is an Indian short story writer. He is considered one of the greatest short fiction writers in Malayalam language and is credited with bringing modern Malayalam literature nearer to the subjective intensity of the lyric.[1]

Life

T. Padmanabhan was born on 1 January 1931 in a poor family at Pallikunnu near Kannur, Kerala. He was the youngest of the four children born to Puthiyidath Krishnan Nair and Devaki (Ammukutty). His father died when he was still a baby and it was his mother and the eldest brother who looked after him during his childhood.[2]

He completed his education from Chirakkal Raja's High School, Mangalore Government Arts College and Madras Law College. During his early schooling in Kannur, Padmanabhan was active in student politics, participating in the Independence struggle. Subsequently, he graduated in Law and started his practice in Thalassery and Kannur courts. By this time, he had already established himself as a budding writer and M. K. K. Nair,[3] a known arts enthusiast and then chairman and managing director of F A C T, invited him to join the company. Padmanabhan joined F.A.C.T. and slowly rose to be the head of Materials Division and retired in 1989 as its Deputy general manager. In between, he had a string of legal tussles with the company after M. K. K. Nair left F A C T ((Reminiscences on Television).[4]

Padmanabhan is married and the couple has no children. He now lives a retired life in Kannur.

He is a Nature lover and has a great collection of variety of Roses. Also being an ardent Cat lover , his home always has numerous cats walking freely.

Literary career

T. Padmanabhan - Malayalam short story writer

He started writing at the age of 19[5] and has written more than 170 stories. Prakasam Parathunna Oru Penkutty (The Girl Who Spreads Radiance, 1955), Oru Kathakrithu Kurishil (A Story Writer being Crucified, 1956), Makhan Singhinte Maranam (The Death of Makhan Singh, 1958), Kala Bhairavan, Gouri (1993) and Maraya (2017)[6] are some of his major works. His stories have been translated in almost every Indian languages and foreign languages such as Russian, French and English. He received the Vayalar Award in 2001 for his story Puzha Kadannu Marangalude Edayileku. He has also received Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vallathol Award and Lalithambika Andharjanam Award.

T. Padmanabhan has been credited with bringing the modern Malayalam short story nearer to the subjective intensity of the lyric. It is said that when the short story reached a saturation point as a result of the repeated depiction of romantic idealism and social commitment that T. Padmanabhan emerged on the scene with arguably a unique and highly individualistic idiom.[7]

In his book A Short History of Malayalam Literature, K. Ayyappa Panicker notes,

What appeals most to his readers in all his early and recent stories is the lyrical quality of the language and the aesthetics of his perceptions, especially in the portrayal of loneliness and helplessness.[1]

Major literary awards

T. Padmanabhan has a habit of declining awards. Nevertheless, he has won a great number of awards including the prestigious Kendra Sahitya Akademi and Kerala Sahitya Akademi awards for his works.

Major works

  • Prakasam Parathunna Oru Penkutty (The Girl Who Spreads Light) (1955)
  • Oru Kathakrithu Kurishil (A Story Writer on the Crucifix) (1956)
  • Makhan Singhinte Maranam (The Death of Makhan Singh) (1958)
  • T. Padmanabhante Thiranjedutha Kathakal (Selected Stories of T. Padmanabhan) (1971)
  • Saakshi (The Witness) (1973)
  • Harison Sayvinte Naaya (Mr. Harison's Dog) (1979)
  • Veedu Nashtappetta Kutty (The Child Who Lost His Home) (1983)
  • Kalabhairavan (Lord Siva) (1986)
  • Nalinakanthi (The Beauty of the lotus) (1988)
  • Gowry (1991)
  • Kadal (The Sea) (1994)
  • Padmanabhante Kathakal (Stories of Padmanabhan) (1995)
  • Maraya (2018)

References

  1. 1 2 K. Ayyappa Panicker (November 1977). A Short History of Malayalam Literature. Information & Public Relations Department, Kerala State. pp. 114–115.
  2. ↑ Video on YouTube
  3. ↑ http://www.nairs.in/bio_n.htm
  4. ↑ Video on YouTube
  5. ↑ 60years of writing on YouTube
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ http://www.seasonsindia.com/art_culture/lit_malayalam_sea.htm#padmanabhan
  8. ↑ "Mathrubhumi Literary Award for T Padmanabhan". Mathrubhumi. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "ഭാരതീയ സാഹിത്യ പരിഷത്തിന്റെ പുരസ്‌കാരം ടി.പത്മനാഭന്". DC Books. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  10. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Literary-Award-for-T-Padmanabhan/2014/04/02/article2144845.ece
  11. ↑ http://www.kaumudi.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=22611
  12. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/muttathu-varkey-award-presented-to-padmanabhan/article1848804.ece
  13. ↑ The Hindu : Ezhuthachan award for T. Padmanabhan
  14. ↑ official website of INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATION DEPARTMENT Archived 4 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
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