M. R. Chandrasekharan Explained

Malappurath Raman Chandrasekharan (ml| മലപ്പുറത്ത് രാമൻ ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ; 26 February 1929 – 4 December 2024), popularly known as M.R. Chandrasekharan (ml|എം. ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ) or simply M. R. C. (ml|എം.ആര്‍.സി.), was an Indian Malayalam literary critic and author from Kerala. Chandrasekharan published more than 50 books in different literary sections like literary criticism, translations, politics, social etc. He also worked 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 his 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 also worked as Malayalam Professor in Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.

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

Chandrasekharan died on 4 December 2024, at the age of 95.^[2]

Positions held

Chandrasekharan was very much involved in The All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (AKPCTA)^[3] 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.^[4]

Chandrasekharan was one of the directors of the Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank^[5] from 2006 to 2013.

He was a member of the Academic Council of Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University^[6] established in 2012^[7]

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.^[8]

He published the literary critical journal Sahithya Samithi Masika from Payyanur from 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 (ml|വിജ്ഞാനകൈരളി).

After retirement in 1989, he took up the editorship of a magazine called Chindana (ml|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 won the 2010 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism for his book Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum.^[9]

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.

Chandrasekharan 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^[10]

Bibliography

Literary criticism

Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Laghuniroopanangal ml|ലഘുനിരൂപണങ്ങള്‍ Light Critical Works 1964, P.K.Bros Calicut 2 Niroopakante Raajyabaaram ml|നിരൂപകന്‍റെ രാജ്യഭാരം The Critic's Sway 1965, Current Books Thrissur 3 Sathyavum Kavithayum ml|സത്യവും കവിതയും Reality and Poetry 1979, Poorna Publications Calicut 4 Gopuram ml|ഗോപുരം The Tower 1989, Current Books Thrissur 5 Grandhapooja ml|ഗ്രന്ഥപൂജ Worshiping Books 1996, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 6 Communist Kavithrayam ml|കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ് കവിത്രയം[11] Three Communist Poets - P. Bhaskaran, Vayalar Ramavarma, O.N.V. Kurup 1998, Current Books Thrissur 7 Malayala Sahityam Swaathanthrya Labdikku Shesham ml|മലയാളസാഹിത്യം സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യലബ്ധിക്കുശേഷം Malayalam Literature after the attainment of Independence 1999, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 8 Ezhuthile Ponnu ml|എഴുത്തിലെ പൊന്ന് The Golden Writing 2001, Prabhat Book House Trivandrum 9 Maneeshikal ml|മനീഷികള്‍ The visionaries among writers 2005, Lipi Book Publishers Calicut 10 Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum ml|മലയാളനോവല്‍ ഇന്നും ഇന്നലെയും Malayalam Novel - Today and Yesterday 2007, Samayam Books Kannur 11 Mundassery - Sahithya Vimarshanathinte Prathaapa Kaalam ml|മുണ്ടശ്ശേരി - സാഹിത്യവിമര്‍ശനത്തിന്‍റെ പ്രതാപകാലം [12] [13] Mundasseri - Golden Years of Literary Criticism 2008, Green Books Thrissur 12 Krishnagadha Vimarshanam - chila thiruthalukal ml|കൃഷ്ണഗാഥാ വിമര്‍ശനം - ചില തിരുത്തലുകള്‍ Criticism of Krishnagatha- Some Corrections 2008, Poorna Books Calicut 13 Adyathma Ramayanam Vimarshanam ml|അദ്ധ്യാത്മരാമായണം വിമര്‍ശനം Criticism of Ramayana, The Epic 2008, Samayam Books Kannur 14 Shishirathile Pookkal ml|ശിശിരത്തിലെ പൂക്കള്‍ Flowers in the Winter 2010, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 15 Karamullum Kaattupookkalude Karachilum ml|കാരമുള്ളും കാട്ടുപൂക്കളുടെ കരച്ചിലും The Thorns and Cries of Wild flowers 2012, Kerala Sahithya Academy Thrissur 16 Theechoolayil Venthurukaathe ml|തീച്ചൂളയില്‍ വെന്തുരുകാതെ Life inside a Furnace 2012, S.P.C.S.Ltd Kottayam 17 Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram - Sahithya prastana padanam ml|കേരളത്തിലെ പുരോഗമനസാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനത്തിന്‍റെ ചരിത്രം - സാഹിത്യപ്രസ്ഥാനപഠനം History of Forward Thinking Literary Movement in Kerala 1996, Olive Books Calicut 18 Swapnadanam ml| സ്വപ്നാടനം Literary Criticism of selected works of O.V.Vijayan and Mohan Kumar. 2022, India Books Calicut 18 Mahakavi Sapthakam ml| മഹാകവി സപ്തകം Poetical Criticism of seven Poets in malayalam 2020, Green Books, Thrissur

Political thinking

Name Translation in English Year of publishing, publisher 1 Communism chila thiruthalukal ml|കമ്മ്യൂണിസം-ചില തിരുത്തലുകള്‍ Communism - Some Critical notes 1999, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut 2 Keralathile Communism ml|കേരളത്തിലെ കമ്മ്യൂണിസം Communism in Kerala 2000, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut 3 Kerala modelilekku oru kilivaathil ml|കേരളമോഡലിലേക്കു ഒരു കിളിവാതില്‍ An eye on the Kerala Model 2001, Haritham Books Calicut 4 Marx nte viplavavum Lenin nte athiviplavavum ml|മാർക്സിന്റെ വിപ്ലവവും ലെനിന്റെ അതിവിപ്ലവവും Revolution of Marx and Extreme revolution of Lenin 2018, Self Publication 5 Chenkodi parvam ml| ചെങ്കൊടി പര്‍വം The Reds 2022, India Books

Social

List of Social Books by M. R. C.

Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Manushyavakaashangal ml|മനുഷ്യാവകാശങ്ങള്‍ Human Rights (Translation) 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras 2 India innu evide nilkkunnu ml|ഇന്ത്യ ഇന്ന് എവിടെ നില്‍ക്കുന്നു whither stands India Today 2003, State Institute of Languages Trivandrum 3 Universitykalile Upaplavangal ml|യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റികളിലെ ഉപപ്ലവങ്ങൾ Heteronomy in Universities 2021, India Books Kozhikode

Memoirs

Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Oormayude Pushtakam ml|ഓര്‍മ്മയുടെ പുസ്തകം A Book of Memories 2003, Current Books Thrissur 2 Sahithyathil Diggajangalude oru kalaghattam ml|സാഹിത്യത്തില്‍ ദിഗ്ഗജങ്ങളുടെ ഒരു കാലഘട്ടം The Time of Colossal figures in Malayalam Literature 2006, Poorna Publications Calicut 3 Ente jeevithakadhayile N.V parvam ml|എന്‍റെ ജീവിതകഥയിലെ എന്‍.വി. പര്‍വ്വം The N. V. Chapter in my literary life story 2010, 2016 2nd Edition Green Books Thrissur 4 Kudumba parvam ml|കുടുംബപര്‍വ്വം The Family Chapter of my life story 2011, Maluban Publishers Trivandrum 5 Balikuteerangalkkoru Ormapusthakam ml|ബലികുടീരങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഒരു ഓര്‍മ്മപുസ്തകം A memoir for sacrificial stone temples 2015, Green Books Thrissur 6 Samgrama parvangal ml|സംഗ്രാമ പര്‍വങ്ങള്‍ Different battles of my life 2022, India Books Calicut

Novel translation

Name Translation in English Original Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Padivathilkkal ml| പടിവാതിൽക്കൽ At the outer gate 1955, Prabhath Book House Ernakulam 2 Kokoro ml|കൊകോറോ Kokoro[14] Japanese Novel 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras 3 Uzhuthumaricha Puthumannu ml|ഉഴുതുമറിച്ച പുതുമണ്ണ് Virgin Soil Upturned 1962, CICC Books Ernakulam 4 Don Nadeetheerathe Koithu ml|ഡോണ്‍നദീതീരത്തെ കൊയ്ത്ത് Harvest on the Don 1962, CICC Books Ernakulam 2015, S.P.C.S. Ltd. Kottayam 5 Genghis Khan ml|ഝഖിസ്ഖാന്‍ Genghis Khan-The world Conqueror (Historical Biography) 1963, Current Books Thrissur 6 Timoor ml|തിമൂർ Timoor Historical Biography 1963, Current Books Thrissur 7 Maattivecha Talakal ml|മാറ്റിവെച്ച തലകള്‍ The Transposed Heads 1979, Chintha Books Trivandrum 8 Kalanju Kittiya Mookku ml|കളഞ്ഞുകിട്ടിയ മൂക്ക് 2006, Lipi Publications Calicut

Science translation

Name Translation in English Year of publishing 1 Naam jeevikkunna ee lookam ml|നാം ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഈ ലോകം The World We Live in 1959, Mathrubhumi Co Calicut 2 maanathekku nookkumpol ml|മാനത്തേക്കു നോക്കുമ്പോള്‍ Let us Look at the Sky 1961, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras

Children's literature

Name Translation in English Original Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Srugaalan enna kurukkan ml|സൃഗാലന്‍ എന്ന കുറുക്കന്‍ A Fox Named Srigalan Reynard the fox(British Folklore) 2004, Current Books Thrissur 2 moonnu bala saahithya kruthikal ml|മൂന്നു ബാലസാഹിത്യകൃതികള്‍ Three Stories for Children Oscar Wilde 2010, Lipi Publications Calicut

Other genres

Name Translation in English Year of publishing, publisher 1 Mushaayira ml|മുശായിര Poem Collections Kerala Sahithya Samiti 2004, Prabhakar Book Stall Shornur 2 aana undaayirunna veedu ml|ആന ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന വീട് A House which owned an elephant (novel) 2012, Samayam Books Kannur 3 Vilakkukal Puthiyathum Pazhayathum ml|വിളക്കുകൾ പുതിയതും പഴയതും Collection of literary articles 2016, S.P.C.S Ltd. Kottayam 4 Vilakkukal Puthiyathum Pazhayathum ml|എൻ വി യുടെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത പ്രബന്ധങ്ങൾ Collection of essays by N.V.Krishna Warrier 2006, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur

Journals edited

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

External links

• Web site: AKPCTA district convention . The Hindu . 5 February 2006 . 30 March 2024.
• Web site: M R Chandrasekharan . indulekha.com. 30 March 2024.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Malabar Christian College.
2. News: സാഹിത്യ നിരൂപകന്‍ എംആര്‍ ചന്ദ്രശേഖരന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു . 4 December 2024 . Deshabhimani . 4 December 2024.
3. Web site: AKPCTA Official Website - Official Website. 18 April 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063837/http://akpcta.in/. dead.
4. 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.
5. Web site: Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank Ltd..
6. Web site: Malayalam Sarvakalasala.
7. 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.
8. 3516305. Deshabhimani Study Circles: Literary Movement in Kerala. P. Govinda. Pillai. 1 January 1975. Social Scientist. 4. 2. 56–60. 10.2307/3516305.
9. [Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism]
10. https://www.mathrubhumi.com/print-edition/kerala/thiruvananthapuram-1.3290187 എം.വി.ആർ. അവാർഡ്‌ എം.ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരന്‌
11. Web site: JustBooksCLC.
12. Book: Mundassery, Joseph. Vimarshanathinte Prathapakalam . 2023-09-26. January 2012 . Green Books . 979-8184230573.
13. 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 .
14. [Kokoro]