M. R. Chandrasekharan Explained

M. R. Chandrasekharan
എം. ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ
Birth Date:1929 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Pottore, Thrissur
Nationality:Indian
Citizenship:India
Education:Master's
Alma Mater:
Occupation:Literary Critic, Professor, Editor
  • Professor

Malappurath Raman Chandrasekharan (Malayalam: മലപ്പുറത്ത് രാമൻ ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ; born 26 February 1929), popularly known as M.R. Chandrasekharan (Malayalam: എം. ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ) or simply M. R. C. (Malayalam: എം.ആര്‍.സി.), is a Malayalam literary critic and author from Kerala, India. Chandrasekharan has published more than 50 books in different literary sections like literary criticism, translations, politics, social etc. He also works in the field of journalism and education. He won the 2010 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism.

Biography

Chandrasekharan was born on 26 February 1929 at Pottore, Thrissur (Trichur) in Kerala. His childhood days were spent in the village where he attended the Tirur Lower Secondary School and Vivekodayam High School, Thrissur. He took his bachelor's degree from Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, BOL from University of Madras and later the master's degree from Kerala University in Malayalam language and literature.

Chandrasekharan started his career as a journalist in Navajeevan edited by Joseph Mundassery for the CPI. Subsequently, he joined as a sub-editor in Mathrubhumi daily in Kozhikode, but was sent out for his communist leanings.

He worked as a school teacher at Kodakara National High School and Bekal Govt. High School. He joined as a lecturer at Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode,[1] in 1956 and moved to Payyannur College, Kannur as senior lecturer in 1965. He retired from Payyannur College, Kannur after over 30 years of teaching service in the year 1989. After retirement he has also worked as Malayalam Professor in Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.

He is now settled at Ananganadi P.O.Panamanna, Ottappalam in Palghat district, Kerala. He is active with his writings and enjoys the challenge of organic farming.

Positions held

Chandrasekharan was very much involved in The All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (AKPCTA)[2] and was a college committee secretary, regional secretary, regional president, general secretary and president of the association. As association representative, he was elected to the Calicut University senate and syndicate.

He was a member of Kerala Sahithya Academy general council and its executive committee.[3]

Chandrasekharan was one of the directors of the Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank[4] from the 2006 to 2013.

He is a member of the Academic Council of Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University[5] established in 2012[6]

In 1961, when Kerala Sahithya Samiti was formed with Kuttipuzha Krishna Pillai as president, S. K. Pottekkatt as vice president, N. V. Krishna Warrier as general secretary in Kozhikode, MRC and Vayalar Ramavarma were named secretaries. MRC was later general secretary and president of the organisation.

He was also involved in the formation in 1969 of the Deshabhimani Study Circle, cited as a vigorous and widespread literary movement in Kerala along with E. M. S. Namboodiripad, M.S.Devadas and P.Govindapillai.[7]

He published the literary critical journal Sahithya Samithi Masika from Payyanur in 1976 to 1980.

In 1969, when he was the research officer at Kerala Bhasha Institute, he worked as the executive editor of the magazine Vignana Kairali (Malayalam: വിജ്ഞാനകൈരളി).

After retirement in 1989, he took-up the editorship of a magazine called Chindana (Malayalam: ചിന്തന) published in Kannur.

He was the editor of CMP's weekly journal Malayala Mannu (Malayalam:മലയാളമണ്ണ്) from 1990 to 2013.

Awards and honours

Chandrasekharan has won the 2010 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism for his book Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum.[8]

He won the Dr. C.P.Menon Award for The Study of the Progressive School in Literature for his book Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram in 2005.

He has also won the M. N. Sathyaardhi Award in recognition of his contributions to Malayalam literature as a translator. The award was instituted by the M.N. Sathyarthi Trust in memory of the writer who is remembered for his translations of many popular Indian-language works into Malayalam.

He was awarded the MVR award in 2018[9]

Bibliography

Literary criticism

NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing, Publisher
1Laghuniroopanangal
Malayalam: ലഘുനിരൂപണങ്ങള്‍
Light Critical Works1964, P.K.Bros Calicut
2Niroopakante Raajyabaaram
Malayalam: നിരൂപകന്‍റെ രാജ്യഭാരം
The Critic's Sway 1965, Current Books Thrissur
3Sathyavum Kavithayum
Malayalam: സത്യവും കവിതയും
Reality and Poetry 1979, Poorna Publications Calicut
4Gopuram
Malayalam: ഗോപുരം
The Tower 1989, Current Books Thrissur
5Grandhapooja
Malayalam: ഗ്രന്ഥപൂജ
Worshiping Books 1996, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
6Communist Kavithrayam
Malayalam: കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ് കവിത്രയം[10]
Three Communist Poets - P. Bhaskaran, Vayalar Ramavarma, O.N.V. Kurup1998, Current Books Thrissur
7Malayala Sahityam Swaathanthrya Labdikku Shesham
Malayalam: മലയാളസാഹിത്യം സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യലബ്ധിക്കുശേഷം
Malayalam Literature after the attainment of Independence 1999, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
8Ezhuthile Ponnu
Malayalam: എഴുത്തിലെ പൊന്ന്
The Golden Writing 2001, Prabhat Book House Trivandrum
9Maneeshikal
Malayalam: മനീഷികള്‍
The visionaries among writers 2005, Lipi Book Publishers Calicut
10Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum
Malayalam: മലയാളനോവല്‍ ഇന്നും ഇന്നലെയും
Malayalam Novel - Today and Yesterday 2007, Samayam Books Kannur
11Mundassery - Sahithya Vimarshanathinte Prathaapa Kaalam
Malayalam: മുണ്ടശ്ശേരി - സാഹിത്യവിമര്‍ശനത്തിന്‍റെ പ്രതാപകാലം [11] [12]
Mundasseri - Golden Years of Literary Criticism 2008, Green Books Thrissur
12Krishnagadha Vimarshanam - chila thiruthalukal
Malayalam: കൃഷ്ണഗാഥാ വിമര്‍ശനം - ചില തിരുത്തലുകള്‍
Criticism of Krishnagatha- Some Corrections 2008, Poorna Books Calicut
13Adyathma Ramayanam Vimarshanam
Malayalam: അദ്ധ്യാത്മരാമായണം വിമര്‍ശനം
Criticism of Ramayana, The Epic 2008, Samayam Books Kannur
14Shishirathile Pookkal
Malayalam: ശിശിരത്തിലെ പൂക്കള്‍
Flowers in the Winter 2010, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
15Karamullum Kaattupookkalude Karachilum
Malayalam: കാരമുള്ളും കാട്ടുപൂക്കളുടെ കരച്ചിലും
The Thorns and Cries of Wild flowers2012, Kerala Sahithya Academy Thrissur
16Theechoolayil Venthurukaathe
Malayalam: തീച്ചൂളയില്‍ വെന്തുരുകാതെ
Life inside a Furnace2012, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam
17Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram - Sahithya prastana padanam
Malayalam: കേരളത്തിലെ പുരോഗമനസാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനത്തിന്‍റെ ചരിത്രം - സാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനപഠനം
History of Forward Thinking Literary Movement in Kerala1996, Olive Books Calicut
18Swapnadanam
Malayalam: സ്വപ്നാടനം
Literary Criticism of selected works of O.V.Vijayan and Mohan Kumar.2022, India Books Calicut
18Mahakavi Sapthakam
Malayalam: മഹാകവി സപ്തകം
Poetical Criticism of seven Poets in malayalam2020, Green Books, Thrissur

Political thinking

NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing, publisher
1Communism chila thiruthalukal
Malayalam: കമ്മ്യൂണിസം-ചില തിരുത്തലുകള്‍
Communism - Some Critical notes1999, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut
2Keralathile Communism
Malayalam: കേരളത്തിലെ കമ്മ്യൂണിസം
Communism in Kerala 2000, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut
3Kerala modelilekku oru kilivaathil
Malayalam: കേരളമോഡലിലേക്കു ഒരു കിളിവാതില്‍
An eye on the Kerala Model 2001, Haritham Books Calicut
4Marx nte viplavavum Lenin nte athiviplavavum
Malayalam: മാർക്സിന്റെ വിപ്ലവവും ലെനിന്റെ അതിവിപ്ലവവും
Revolution of Marx and Extreme revolution of Lenin2018, Self Publication

Social

List of Social Books by M. R. C.

NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing, Publisher
1Manushyavakaashangal
Malayalam: മനുഷ്യാവകാശങ്ങള്‍
Human Rights (Translation) 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
2India innu evide nilkkunnu
Malayalam: ഇന്ത്യ ഇന്ന് എവിടെ നില്‍ക്കുന്നു
whither stands India Today2003, State Institute of Languages Trivandrum
3Universitykalile Upaplavangal
Malayalam: യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റികളിലെ ഉപപ്ലവങ്ങൾ
Heteronomy in Universities2021, India Books Kozhikode

Memoirs

NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing, Publisher
1Oormayude Pushtakam
Malayalam: ഓര്‍മ്മയുടെ പുസ്തകം
A Book of Memories2003, Current Books Thrissur
2Sahithyathil Diggajangalude oru kalaghattam
Malayalam: സാഹിത്യത്തില്‍ ദിഗ്ഗജങ്ങളുടെ ഒരു കാലഘട്ടം
The Time of Colossal figures in Malayalam Literature 2006, Poorna Publications Calicut
3Ente jeevithakadhayile N.V parvam
Malayalam: എന്‍റെ ജീവിതകഥയിലെ എന്‍.വി. പര്‍വ്വം
The N. V. Chapter in my literary life story2010, 2016 2nd Edition Green Books Thrissur
4Kudumba parvam
Malayalam: കുടുംബപര്‍വ്വം
The Family Chapter of my life story2011, Maluban Publishers Trivandrum
5Balikuteerangalkkoru Ormapusthakam
Malayalam: ബലികുടീരങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഒരു ഓര്‍മ്മപുസ്തകം
A memoir for sacrificial stone temples2015, Green Books Thrissur

Novel Translation

NameTranslation in EnglishOriginalYear of publishing, Publisher
1Padivathilkkal
Malayalam: പടിവാതിൽക്കൽ
At the outer gate1955, Prabhath Book House Ernakulam
2Kokoro
Malayalam: കൊകോറോ
Kokoro[13] Japanese Novel 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
3Uzhuthumaricha Puthumannu
Malayalam: ഉഴുതുമറിച്ച പുതുമണ്ണ്
Virgin Soil Upturned1962, CICC Books Ernakulam
4Don Nadeetheerathe Koithu
Malayalam: ഡോണ്‍നദീതീരത്തെ കൊയ്ത്ത്
Harvest on the Don1962, CICC Books Ernakulam
2015, S.P.C.S. Ltd. Kottayam
5Genghis Khan
Malayalam: ഝഖിസ്ഖാന്‍
Genghis Khan-The world Conqueror (Historical Biography)1963, Current Books Thrissur
6Timoor
Malayalam: തിമൂർ
Timoor Historical Biography1963, Current Books Thrissur
7Maattivecha Talakal
Malayalam: മാറ്റിവെച്ച തലകള്‍
The Transposed Heads 1979, Chintha Books Trivandrum
8Kalanju Kittiya Mookku
Malayalam: കളഞ്ഞുകിട്ടിയ മൂക്ക്
2006, Lipi Publications Calicut

Science Translation

NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing
1Naam jeevikkunna ee lookam
Malayalam: നാം ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഈ ലോകം
The World We Live in 1959, Mathrubhumi Co Calicut
2maanathekku nookkumpol
Malayalam: മാനത്തേക്കു നോക്കുമ്പോള്‍
Let us Look at the Sky 1961, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras

Children's Literature

NameTranslation in EnglishOriginalYear of publishing, Publisher
1Srugaalan enna kurukkan
Malayalam: സൃഗാലന്‍ എന്ന കുറുക്കന്‍
A Fox Named SrigalanReynard the fox(British Folklore)2004, Current Books Thrissur
2moonnu bala saahithya kruthikal
Malayalam: മൂന്നു ബാലസാഹിത്യകൃതികള്‍
Three Stories for ChildrenOscar Wilde2010, Lipi Publications Calicut

Other genres

NameTranslation in EnglishYear of publishing, publisher
1Mushaayira
Malayalam: മുശായിര
Poem Collections Kerala Sahithya Samiti2004, Prabhakar Book Stall Shornur
2aana undaayirunna veedu
Malayalam: ആന ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന വീട്
A House which owned an elephant (novel)2012, Samayam Books Kannur
3Vilakkukal Puthiyathum Pazhayathum
Malayalam: വിളക്കുകൾ പുതിയതും പഴയതും
Collection of literary articles2016, S.P.C.S Ltd. Kottayam
4Vilakkukal Puthiyathum Pazhayathum
Malayalam: എൻ വി യുടെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത പ്രബന്ധങ്ങൾ
Collection of essays by N.V.Krishna Warrier2006, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur

Journals edited

NamePublisher
1Yuva Bhavana
Malayalam: യുവഭാവന
Published from Calicut
2Vijnana Kairali
Malayalam: വിജ്ഞാന കൈരളി
Journal of Kerala Language Institute, Tvm
3Sahithya Samithi Masika
Malayalam: സാഹിത്യ സമിതി മാസിക
Published from Payyannur, Kannur District
4Chinthana Weekly
Malayalam: ചിന്തന
Published from Kannur District
5Malayala Mannu Weekly
Malayalam: മലയാള മണ്ണ്
Published from Kannur District

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Malabar Christian College.
  2. Web site: AKPCTA Official Website - Official Website. 18 April 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063837/http://akpcta.in/. dead.
  3. Web site: Administration of the Akademi. 18 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150119074612/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/History/Html/Admin.htm. 19 January 2015. dead.
  4. Web site: Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank Ltd..
  5. Web site: Malayalam Sarvakalasala.
  6. Web site: The Academic Council - Malayalam Sarvakalasala. 2015-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20150513140338/http://malayalamuniversity.edu.in/authorities/the-academic-council/. 2015-05-13. dead.
  7. 3516305. Deshabhimani Study Circles: Literary Movement in Kerala. P. Govinda. Pillai. 1 January 1975. Social Scientist. 4. 2. 56–60. 10.2307/3516305.
  8. [Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism]
  9. https://www.mathrubhumi.com/print-edition/kerala/thiruvananthapuram-1.3290187 എം.വി.ആർ. അവാർഡ്‌ എം.ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരന്‌
  10. Web site: JustBooksCLC.
  11. Book: Mundassery, Joseph. Vimarshanathinte Prathapakalam . 2023-09-26. January 2012 . Green Books . 979-8184230573.
  12. Web site: Joseph Mundassery - Vimarshanathinte Prathapakalam . 2015-04-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140929075553/http://www.booknbooks.com/joseph-mundassery-vimarshanathinte%20Prathapakalam-mr-chandrasekharan . 2014-09-29 .
  13. [Kokoro]