Panikkassery Keshavan "P.K." Balakrishnan (March 2, 1925 – April 3, 1991) was an Indian novelist and critic. A doyen of Malayalam literature, he is best known for his novel, Ini Njan Urangatte (And now, Let me Sleep), a novel based on Mahabharata as well as a number of critical studies which include Chandu Menon Oru Padanam, Novel Siddhiyum Sadhanayum, Kavyakala Kumaranasaniloode, and Ezhuthachante Kala: Chila Vyasabharatha Patanangalum. His Jathivyavasthayum Kerala Charitravum is a work in social history.
P. K. Balakrishnan was born on March 2, 1925, at Edavanakad at Vypin island in Kerala to Keshavan and Mani Amma.[1] After early schooling in Edavanakkad, he joined Maharaja's College, Ernakulam but his studies were disrupted after four years when he participated in Quit India Movement and was jailed.[2]
Later, he took up the editorship of Dinaparabha but he had to quit following a public speech he made at a temple in Kozhikode. Later, he became associated with such publications as Kerala Bhooshanam, Kerala Kaumudi and Madhyamam.[3]
Balakrishnan died on April 3, 1991, at the age of 66.[1]
Legacy
The first of Balakrishnan's published works was a book on Narayana Guru, which was a compilation of writings on Guru, including biographical sketches, narratives on Guru's activities and his literary contributions.[4][5][6] This was followed by critiques[7]Chandu Menon, Kumaran Asan and Ezhuthachan.[8]
In his writings, he first dealt with Kerala history in the anthology on Narayana Guru, the great social reformer of Kerala who changed the face of its caste-ridden society. He brushes with Kerala history again to study why Tipu Sultan, an able ruler and administrator is perceived as an aggressor and a religious fanatic. The culmination of these studies over 3 decades was his work on the social history which departed from the established narration, titled Jaathivyavasthayum Kerala Charitravum (The Caste System and History of Kerala).[9]
Pluto, Priyapetta Plutto, was his first novel, was a real life story about his own dog.[10] His next novel, Ini Njan Urangatte, a Mahabharata inspired work, is considered by many to be his magnum opus.[11] This novel, has been translated into English by K.C. Sarsamma under the title And Now Let Me Sleep. Two decades after P. K. Balakrishnan's death, his daughter P. K. Jayalekshmy has been made another English translation under the title Battle beyond Kurukshetra.[12] Balakrishnan also wrote a number of articles, of which only four collections have been published; two of them were published after his lifetime.[13]
Awards and honours
P. K. balakrishnan received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1974 for his work, Ini Njan Urangatte.[14] Four years later, the same novel fetched him another major award in the form of Vayalar Award of 1978.[15] He received the Kerala History Association Award for the book, Jaathivyavasthithium Keralacharithravum.[1] He was also a recipient of SPBF Award, Prof. Velayudhan Endowment Award and Kesari Award.
Works
P. K. Balakrishnan, ed. (1954). Narayana Guru. DC Books. an anthology on the social reformer of Kerala
Keraleeyatayum Mattum (The Essence of Kerala etc.) (2004) - a collection of 20 articles published in various periodicals over a time
P. K. Balakrishnan (2011). Veritta Chintakal. Pratheeksha Books. Thoughts Apart - Commentaries on social and political history of India triggered by contemporary events. Collected from articles written in Malayalam daily Madhyamam
P. K. Balakrishnan (2001). Ini Naan Urangattum. Translated by A. Madhavan. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN8126010843. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019. Tamil translation
