K. M. Tharakan

Prof. Dr. K.M.Tharakan
Born(1930-10-06)6 October 1930
Puthencavu, Chengannur, Travancore, British India
Died15 July 2003(2003-07-15) (aged 72)
Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Alma materBanaras Hindu University Mahatma Gandhi University
Occupation(s)Writer, critic, novelist, professor, editor, orator
SpouseRachel Tharakan

K. M. Tharakan (1930–2003) was a noted Indian critic, novelist, litterateur and educationalist from Kerala. He was the President of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.[1][2]

Biography

Early life

K. M. Tharakan was born on 6 October 1930 at Puthencavu, the son of Mariamma and Mahakavi Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan.[3] He was married to Rachel Tharakan. He had two sons and two daughters.[3]

In 1946, he completed his SSLC in English medium from the Chengannur English High School. He obtained his Master of Arts degree in Literature from the Banaras Hindu University. After his MA he continued with his studies in Religion & Culture at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.[4]

Career

Tharakan worked as a lecturer at St. Albert's College from 1952 to 1959.[5] From 1959 to 1979, he worked at Mar Athanasius College of Arts, Kothamangalam, retiring in 1980 as the department head.[6] He was appointed as the editor of the Malayala Manorama Weekly in 1979 and also served as the editor of Bhashaposhini. In 1991 he was appointed as the President of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.[1][2] He authored over 50 books and various literary critiques and articles. He also translated many Malayalam works into English. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Mahatma Gandhi University in 1995 for his thesis, Theory of Synaesthesis in the Perspective of Rasa Sidantha.[7]

Among other awards, he was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1975 for his work Paschathya Sahitya Thatwasastram, a literary criticism.[8]

Death

K. M. Tharakan died on 16 July 2003, at a private hospital in Tiruvalla after a prolonged illness.[9] He was buried at St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Puthencavu.

K. M. Tharakan Foundation

The K. M. Tharakan Foundation was set up in 1990 in his honour. The foundation awards the Aacharya Award, which carries a citation and a cash prize of US$100. The award is given to individuals who make significant contributions in the fields of society, culture and education.[10] Winners of the Aacharya Award include Cyriac Thomas, D. Babu Paul[11] and Fr. V. M. Varghese Kallooparambil.[12]

Selected works

Critiques

  • Tarangini (1970)[13]
  • Pattu novalukal (1970)[13]
  • Atyadhinika sahityam (1971)[13]
  • Adhhunikha sahityadarshanam (1980)[13]
  • Nobel Sammanrhar (1981)[13]
  • Moral foundations of the Indian civilisation[14]
  • Western and Eastern Poetics: A Comparative Study of Reader Response in I. A. Richards and Abhinavagupta[15]

Novels

  • Avalannu bharya [16]
  • Ninakkayi mathram
  • Ormakalude rathri
  • Athmavil sugandham
  • Ennil aliyunna dukham

Biographies

  • M P Paul (1999)[17]
  • O Chanthumenon (1994)[17]
  • K C Mammen Mappilai – Portrait of KC Mammen Mappilai (1998)[17]
  • Kesava Dev – Thoolika padavaalakiya Kesava Dev (1986)[17]
  • Anugraheethanaya Basheer (1989)[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Succession list of Presidents, Vice Presidents and Secretaries". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b S P Agrawal (1993). "Awards". Development/Digression Diary of India – 3rd Companion volume to Information India (First ed.). New Delhi: Concept Publishing Co. p. 34. ISBN 81-7022-305-9.
  3. ^ a b "K M Tharakan". Profile (in Malayalam). India: Puzha Books. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  4. ^ "കെ.എം. തരകന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു" (in Malayalam). One India. 16 July 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Alumni". St. Albert's College. Archived from the original on 10 December 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  6. ^ "English Department". Mar Athanasius College of Arts. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  7. ^ K M Tharakan (November 1995). Theory of Synaesthests in the Perspective of Rasa Siddhanta. (Synaesthesis and Santa Rasa) (PhD thesis). Mahatma Gandhi University. hdl:10603/644 – via Shodhganga.
  8. ^ "List of winners from 1966–2003" (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Literary critic K M Tharakan dies". The Times of India. Pathanamthitta. PTI. 16 July 2003. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Award to TK Thomas" (PDF). CCA News. Christian Conference of Asia. December 2000. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Dr.Babu Paul has been awarded Dr. K. M. Tharakan Foundation "Achaarya" Award". Malankara Syriac Voice. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Acharya award for Fr Varghese Kalloparambil". Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d e Sahitya Akademi (1992). Mohan Lal (ed.). Encyclopedia of Indian Literature: sassay to zorgot (Book) (First -reprinted 2001 ed.). Sahitya Akademi. p. 4325. ISBN 81-260-1221-8. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  14. ^ Moral foundations of the Indian civilization. India Peace center. 1990.
  15. ^ Western and Eastern Poetics. India: Sangam Books Limited. 1999. ISBN 978-0-86132-383-8.
  16. ^ "Avalanu Bharya". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  17. ^ a b c d "Biography Archives" (PDF). List of biographies in KCHR archives. Kerala: Kerala Council for Historic Research. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  18. ^ Anugraheethanaya Basheer. Cochin: Janata Services. 1989. ISBN 978-81-87649-52-6.