V. V. K. Valath

Vadake Valath Krishnan
Born	(1919-12-25)25 December 1919 Valam, Cheranallur, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Died	31 December 2000(2000-12-31) (aged 81) North Paravur, Ernakulam
Pen name	V. V. K. Valath
Occupation	Historian, writer, poet
Nationality	Indian
Genre	Novel, poem, toponymy
Subject	Social aspects, history
Notable awards	Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Pandit Karuppan Award Place Names Society Fellowship, Trivandrum

Vadake Valath Krishnan (Malayalam: വടക്കേ വാലത്ത് കൃഷ്ണന്‍; 25 December 1918 – 31 December 2000), commonly known as V. V. K. Valath, was an Indian writer, poet and historian of Malayalam language. He focused on the origin of place names in Kerala as the subject of his works which are known for their attention to historic detail. He has written several poems, short-stories, novels, and over 400 historical articles. His most famous works are Rigvedathilude (a study of Rigveda), Keralathile Stalacharitrangal (A series of four books on Kerala place name history), and poems Idimuzhakkam (The Thunder Rumble) and Minnal Velicham (The Thunder Flash). He was awarded Kerala's highest literary award, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his overall contribution to Malayalam literature in 1999.^[1]

His work Rigvedathilude is considered a pioneer work in Malayalam. His early poems projected the evils by capitalism and life of common people after the Second World War. Throughout his book series of Keralathile Stalacharitrangal, Valath points out the origin of most of the Malayalam place names have strong connection with Tamil Sangam period and Sangam literature.

Literary career

Born in the village Valam (വാലം), in Cherannellore, Ernakulam district of Kerala, he started to write poems when he was a school boy. His literary taste was nurtured by his father Velu Ashan who was a priest. His poems basically discussed various aspects of societies in Kerala in the mid 20th century.

At the time of World War, he served as Civilian Clerk in British Military at Ammunition depot, Bangalore. During this period, he published a poem praising Mahatma Gandhi as Light of 20th Century in Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu for which he was dismissed from British service. Thereafter he jointed as a history teacher at Al-Farookhiya High School, Cheranellore where he worked for 27 years. In his early life Valath had close contact with poet Changampuzha Krishna Pillai as both had common interests in romantic poetry.

After Second World War, his writings focused mainly on the effects of Capitalism and poverty. His topics had not regional constraints. Lumumbaye Taracha Kurish (The Cross of Patrice Lumumba), Avar Nammude Rosenburg Dambadikale Konnu Kalanju (They had killed our Rosenberg couples) are some of them. It was at this time, he starting writing poems in an entirely different pattern. He followed no poetic rules or rhythms, that the poets usually followed in the 1940s. Idimuzhakkam, MinnalVelicham, Chakravalathinapuram, Randu Mazha Veenalo and Aarkkariyanam were written at this time. This style was new to the then Malayalam poetry and was not recognized. Decades later, this was accepted by many new poets.

In the 70's, the later historian shifted his attention to Kerala history and its links to Sangam literature. At this time he published his first book on Kerala history titled Keralathile Stalacharitrangal. Later with the scholarship obtained from Kerala Sahitya Academy, he continued his elaborate research on Kerala place name history which resulted in four prominent works. (Keralathile Stalacharitrangal: Thrissur, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Trivandrum).

He was awarded Kerala Sahitya Academy Award for his entire literary contribution to Malayalam in 1999. On 31 December 2000, at the age of 81, he died at his rental house in North Paravur.

Famous works

Notes

References

• "Kerala Sahitya Academy Awards?". Kerala Sahitya Academy.
• K. SANTHOSH. "A valuable study of Thrissur's history?". thehindu.
• Sisir Kumar Das. "A History of Indian Literature 1911–1956: Struggle for Freedom: Triumph and Tragedy?". Publication.