P. Thankappan Nair Explained

P. Thankappan Nair
Birth Name:Parameswaren Thankappan Nair
Birth Place:Kalady, Kingdom of Cochin, India
Birth Date:30 April 1933[1]
Education:University of Calcutta
Occupation:Author, historian, researcher
Spouse:Sita Devi[2]

Parameswaran Thankappan Nair (30 April 1933 – 18 June 2024) was an Indian writer, independent researcher, historian and Malayali author based in Kolkata, who wrote extensively on the history of Calcutta in the English language.[3] Fondly referred to as the "Barefoot Historian",[4] he published 61 books, with the latest titled "Gandhiji in Kolkata".[5] [6]

Personal life

P. T. Nair was born at Manjapra near Kalady, in the Changanattuveettil family. he relocated to Chendamangalam, a small town in Ernakulam district of Kerala, following his family's concerns about him.[7] [8]

Nair died on 18 June 2024, at the age of 91.[9]

Career and research

After passing his matriculation from Alwaye, Kerala, he arrived in Kolkata (the then Calcutta) in September 1955 in the Madras Mail.[6] [10] He earned a B.A and LL.B at the University of Calcutta, and had started out as a typist at a salary of Rs 125. As the subject of the city was largely unexplored, he chose to write on the city, and spent the next five decades researching and writing on it as a hobby.[3] [11]

As an outsider, his work dealt extensively with perspectives overlooked by institutional, and nationalist historians in India.[12] In so doing he extensively examined British social life in Calcutta, the history of Calcutta High Court, the city's taverns and hotels, and the city's south Indian diaspora.[3]

Nair was the owner of large collection of rare books. It was told that the Oxford Library at the University of Oxford sent him a blank cheque for buying those books on behalf of the library. But he chose to donate it to the Calcutta Town Hall Society.[7] [13]

He was honoured by Burdwan University with a D.Litt. degree.[14]

In 1991 he announced the 300th anniversary of Calcutta city through his research.[15]

Often known as the barefoot historian of Calcutta,[6] or popularly known as Nair Babu,[16] he used his 1964 Remington typewriter and lived at 82C, Kansari Road, Bhabanipur, South Kolkata prior to return to Kerala.[3] [17]

Awards

Selected books

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Recording angel of the city - P.T. Nair completes 50 years in calcutta. www.telegraphindia.com. 13 May 2022. 13 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220513095503/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/recording-angel-of-the-city-p-t-nair-completes-50-years-in-calcutta/cid/1278023. live.
  2. Web site: PT Nair, Kolkata’s famed chronicler . 20 June 2024 . 19 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619125700/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/p-thankappan-nair-kolkatas-barefoot-historian-passes-away-at-91/articleshow/111097670.cms . live .
  3. News: This Calcutta's storyteller ... . https://archive.today/20130216101934/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-03/kolkata/36720950_1_howrah-bridge-tram-calcutta. dead. 2013-02-16. The Times of India. 2013-02-03 .
  4. Web site: 2018-12-09 . The 'barefoot historian' of Calcutta from Kerala . 2024-01-09 . The Indian Express . en . 24 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240324111931/https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/in-a-land-far-from-home-parameswaran-thankappan-nair-5483563/ . live .
  5. Web site: thinking and making : kolkata: P. Thankappan Nair. Michele. Elliot. 16 November 2009. 13 May 2022. 24 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231124110137/https://micheleelliot.blogspot.com/2009/11/p-thankappan-nair.html. live.
  6. News: Recording angel of the city - P.T. Nair completes 50 years in calcutta . https://web.archive.org/web/20060511025400/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050922/asp/calcutta/story_5267150.asp. dead. 11 May 2006. 2013-02-04 . Das. Soumitra. The Telegraph . telegraphindia.com, 22 September 2005 . Calcutta, India . 22 September 2005.
  7. Web site: 2018-11-25 . What makes Kolkata a great city in the words of its prolific chronicler . 2024-01-09 . Hindustan Times . en . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618103539/https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/what-makes-kolkata-a-great-city-in-the-words-of-its-prolific-chronicler/story-LnLBYzrnY5VlU5stliRI2O.html . live .
  8. Web site: জহর সরকার . খালি পায়ের ইতিহাসবিদ . 21 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Noted Kolkata chronicler P. Thankappan Nair passes away at 91 . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620055009/https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/noted-kolkata-chronicler-p-thankappan-nair-passes-away-at-91/ . live .
  10. Web site: SNS . 2018-11-26 . Adieu P Thankappan Nair! The Kolkata chronicler calls it a day . 2024-06-18 . The Statesman . en-US . 19 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619153806/https://www.thestatesman.com/india/kolkata-chronicler-p-thankappan-nair-leaves-for-home-state-kerala-1502711461.html . live .
  11. Web site: Kolkata’s barefoot historian P.T. Nair behind the lens . 2024-06-18 . Get Bengal . en . 19 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619032038/https://www.getbengal.com/details/kolkata-s-barefoot-historian-p-t-nair-behind-the-lens . live .
  12. Web site: দত্তগুপ্ত . সুমি . 2021-10-26 . ৮২, সি কাঁসারী পাড়া রোড : পাদপ্রদীপের আলোয় এক কলকাতাপ্রেমিকের ঠিকানা . 2024-06-18 . Nagorik.net . en-US . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618135623/https://nagorik.net/society/kolkata-and-pt-nayar/ . live .
  13. Web site: নায়ারের ৭০০ বই কবে নেবে পুরসভা? . 18 June 2024 . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618125418/https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/kolkata/is-kmc-interested-in-keeping-p-t-nair-s-personal-book-collection-1.902438 . live .
  14. Web site: Calcutta in the 19th Century: Company's Days,, P. Thankappan Nair, Firma KLM Private Ltd. . 2024-01-09 . www.bagchee.com . 9 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109053913/https://www.bagchee.com/books/BB11547/calcutta-in-the-19th-century-companys-days . live .
  15. Web site: 2024-06-19 . Noted historian P. Thankappan Nair passes away . 2024-06-19 . English.Mathrubhumi . en . 19 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619053404/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/p-thankappan-nair-passes-away-1.9649503 . live .
  16. Web site: 2018-11-23 . When Nair babu called it a day . 2024-06-18 . The Indian Express . en . 19 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619032045/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/parameswaran-thankappan-nair-author-kolkata-history-5461248/ . live .
  17. Web site: Finding P.T. Nair among his old books in Kolkata - Civil Society Magazine . 2024-06-18 . www-civilsocietyonline-com.translate.goog . en . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618140815/https://www-civilsocietyonline-com.translate.goog/books-authors/finding-p-t-nair-kolkatas-barefoot-historian/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=bn&_x_tr_hl=bn&_x_tr_pto=tc . live .
  18. Book: Nair, P. Thankappan . Calcutta: Origin of the Name . 1985 . Subarnarekha . en . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620054612/https://books.google.com/books?id=fw62AAAAIAAJ . live .
  19. Book: Nair, P. Thankappan . South Indians in Kolkata: History of Kannadigas, Konkanis, Malayalees, Tamilians, Telugus, South Indian Dishes, and Tippoo Sultan's Heirs in Calcutta . 2004 . Punthi Pustak . 978-81-86791-50-9 . en . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620054446/https://books.google.com/books?id=swNuAAAAMAAJ . live .
  20. Book: Nair, P. Thankappan . Echoes from Belvedere: Home of National Library, Kolkata . 2004 . Associated Book Agency . en . 20 June 2024 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104164246/https://books.google.com/books?id=mRJuAAAAMAAJ . live .
  21. Book: Nair, P. Thankappan . Indian National Songs and Symbols . 1987 . South Asia Books . 978-0-8364-2128-6 . en . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620054620/https://books.google.com/books?id=DJMaAAAAYAAJ . live .
  22. Book: Nair, P. Thankappan . A History of Calcutta's Streets . 1987 . Firma KLM . en.
  23. Book: Nair, P. Thankappan . Calcutta in the 17th Century . 1986 . Firma KLM . en . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620054440/https://books.google.com/books?id=BApuAAAAMAAJ . live .
  24. Book: Nair, P. Thankappan . Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh . 1985 . Spectrum Publications . en . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240620054931/https://books.google.com/books?id=4YAiAAAAMAAJ . live .
  25. Web site: Marriage and dowry in India / P. T. Nair - Catalogue National Library of Australia . 2024-06-19 . catalogue.nla.gov.au . en . 19 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619053646/https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/2619221 . live .
  26. Web site: P Thankappan Nair - AbeBooks. www.abebooks.com. 13 May 2022. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306091251/http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/author/p-thankappan-nair/. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "P. Thankappan Nair".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.