T. D. Ramakrishnan

Thathamangalam Damodaran Ramakrishnan (born 1961) or T. D. Ramakrishnan is an Indian novelist and translator. He is the author of two best-selling Malayalam novels: Francis Itty Cora and Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki. He is a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Vayalar Award.

T. D. Ramakrishnan
T. D. Ramakrishnan at Pedayangode in 2018
Native name
ടി. ഡി. രാമകൃഷ്ണൻ
Born1961 (age 58–59)
Eyyal, Trichur, Kerala, India
OccupationWriter, translator, Indian Railways Chief Controller
LanguageMalayalam
ResidencePalghat, Kerala
Alma materUC College, Aluva
Notable worksFrancis Itty Cora, Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki

Early life and family

He was born in Eyyal, Thrissur in 1961 as the son of Damodaran Elayathu and Sreedevi Antarjanam.[1] He completed his schooling from Kunnamkulam Boys High School and Erumappetty Government High School,[1] and his pre-degree and degree from UC College, Aluva.[2] In 1981, he joined Indian Railways as a ticket collector in Salem.[3] He worked in Calicut for one and a half years from 1982. In 1983, he worked as a ticket examiner in Madras and Salem. He moved to Palghat in 1985.[3] From 1995 onwards, he became a controller in the Palghat Railway Divisional Office. He served as Southern Railway Chief Controller from January 2006 to 31 January 2016. On 31 January 2016, he retired from service in order to be active in literature.[3] He is married to Anandavalli and has two children: Vishnu Ramakrishnan and Surya M.[1]

Literary career

His first novel Alpha is set in an imaginative island called Alpha which is located somewhere near Sri Lanka and narrates the story of an experiment on human brain undertaken by an anthropologist.[4] His second novel, Francis Itty Cora, received considerable acclaims from critics for its unprecedented incorporation of many global historical characters and knowledge available to the present Malayalam readers for weaving the story line. The novel deals with the exploration of a merchant named Francis Itty Cora, hailing from the Kerala of 15th century. His third novel, Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki, is based on the death of Tamil human rights activist Rajini Thiranagama who was allegedly shot dead by Tamil Tigers cadres after she criticised them for their atrocities.[5]

Ramakrishnan, who had lived in Tamil Nadu for the most part of his career, is also deeply associated with Tamil literature. He introduced several Tamil literary works to Keralites and has won the E. K. Divakaran Potti Award for Best Translator in 2007.[1]

Works
  • Alpha (Novel)
  • Francis Itty Cora (Novel)
  • Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki (Novel)
  • Hmm (Translation of the Tamil novel Hmm by Shobasakthi)
  • Thappu Thalangal (Translation of the Tamil book Thappu Thalangal by Charu Nivedita
  • Mama Africa (Novel)

Awards

References
  1. V. Harigovindan (21 February 2016). "ഇനി എഴുത്തിനായി മാത്രം". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  2. "Founders Day and Alumni Meet 2017". UC College, Aluva. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. Writer T D Ramakrishnan retires from railway. MediaOne TV (News). YouTube. 31 January 2016.
  4. "മനുഷ്യത്വത്തെ പുനർനിർവ്വചിക്കുന്ന ആൽഫ". Malayala Manorama. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  5. Meena T. Pillai (9 July 2015). "Mixing myth and memory". The Hindu. Trivandrum. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  6. "2016 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Trichur: Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  7. "Malayatoor award for T.D. Ramakrishnan". The Hindu. Trivandrum. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  8. "T.D. Ramakrishnan bags Vayalar award". The Hindu. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.