U. K. Kumaran
| U. K. Kumaran | |
|---|---|
| Born |
11 May 1950 Payyoli, Kozhikode, Kerala |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode |
| Genre | Novel, short story, essays |
| Notable awards | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award |
U. K. Kumaran (Malayalam: യു.കെ. കുമാരന്; born 11 May 1950) is a Malayalam-language novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist from Kerala, India. He is a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.[1]
Biography
Kumaran was born in Payyoli, Kozhikode on 11 May 1950. He studied at Government AUP School, Kizhoor and Government High School, Payyoli. He obtained a degree in economics from Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode and completed diploma in Journalism and Public Relations.
He started his career as a journalist, in Veekshanam Vaarika as Assistant Editor. Later he joined Kerala Kaumudi and worked as its Kozhikode unit chief. He has held numerous posts including the State Vice-President of Kerala Pathrapravarthaka Union, Member of Kerala State Telephone Advisory Committee, Member of Calicut University Journalism Board of Studies, Vice-Chairman of Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Advisory committee member of National Book Trust and the director of Navakerala Co-operative Publishing House.
He began his literary career with a short story "Chalanam" at the age of 17. The story emerged around people whose lives and livelihood revolved around movie announcements being made with drum beats in the Payyoli market.
An element of sensitivity marks Kumaran's stories. They are held together by a spur – a smell, a sentence or a sensitive gesture. He wrote his first novel Valayam when still in college. An author of seven novels, he enjoys the wide canvas a novel presents. "It is a comprehensive landscape, peopled with characters and nature. Each character should grow and reach a point where they move towards a climax well. You cannot leave them mid-way, unfinished."[2]
He is married to Geetha. They have two children: Mridul Raj and Megha.
Awards
Kumaran has received numerous awards and recognitions including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Policukarante Penmakkal (2011) and Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair Award for Thakshankunnu Swaroopam (2012).[3][4] Other awards bestowed upon him include S. K. Pottekkatt Award, S. B. I. Sahitya Award, Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award, K. A. Kodungalloor Puraskaram, E. V. G. Puraskaram, Appan Thamburan Puraskaram, Tatapuram Sukumaran Puraskaram, J. C. Kuttikkad Puraskaram, Sahitya Samiti Puraskaram and Thoppil Ravi Puraskaram.
Works
Novels
- Valayam
- Oridathum Ethathavar
- Mulappaal
- Aasakthi
- Ezhuthappettathu
- Ottavaakkil Oru Jivitam
- Thakshankunnu Swaroopam
- Kananullathalla Kazhchakkal
Short story collections
- Puthiya Irippidangal
- Madutha Kali
- Paavam Kallan
- Atayalangal Vannukondirikkunnu
- Rail Palathil Oru Kudumbam Dhyanikkunnu
- Achchan Urangunnilla
- Orale Thedi Oraal
- Ottakkoru Stri Odunnathinte Rahasyamenth?
- Onninum Orakalavumilla
- Veedu Samsarikkunnu
- Madhu Shaityam
- Madhye Ingane Kaanunna Nerath
- Matibhramangalude Kaalam
- Kudumba Museum
- Policukaarante Penmakkal
- Tiranjedutha Kathakal
- Sancharikkunna Govani
- Priyappetta Kathakal
- Kannadakalkkappurath
- Valanja Kaalulla Kuta
- Dambathya Katha
Novelettes
- Malarnnu Parakkunna Kakka
- Prasava Ward
- Ellam Kanunna Njan
- Oro Viliyum Kaathu
- Kaanaappurangal
- Addheham
- Bhoothakaala Sancharam
- A. T. M.
- Viralatayalangal Illathavarude Nagaram
- Priyappetta Novelettukal
- Dinaratrangalude Ennam
- Sanghaditham
Others
- Gandhiji (Biography)
- Oru Bandhu Kaathirukkunnu (Memoirs)
- Anubhavam, Orma, Yathra (Memoirs and Travel notes)
References
- ↑ "UK Kumaran felicitated". Mathrubhumi. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ↑ P. Anima (4 August 2012). "Matters of the mind". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ↑ "Sahitya Akademi awards announced". The Hindu. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ↑ "Award for U.K. Kumaran". The Hindu. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.