M.R. Chandrasekharan

M. R. Chandrasekharan എം. ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ
Born	26 February 1929 Pottore, Thrissur
Residence	Palghat, Kerala, India
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	India
Education	Master's
Alma mater	Lower Secondary School, Tirur Vivekodayam High School, Thrissur Sree Kerala Varma College Thrissur Madras University Kerala University
Occupation	Literary Critic, Professor , Editor
Title	Professor
Spouse(s)	Vappalakalathil Vijayakumari
Children	Ramkumar, Priya
Parent(s)	Malappurath Raman Vaidyar, K.S. Devaki

Malappurath Raman Chandrasekharan (Malayalam: മലപ്പുറത്ത് രാമൻ ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ; born 26 Feb 1929), popularly known as M.R. Chandrasekharan (Malayalam: എം. ആർ. ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ) or simply M. R. C. (Malayalam: എം.ആര്‍.സി.), is a Malayalam literary critic and author from Kerala, India. Chandrasekharan has published more than 40 books in different literary sections like literary criticism, translations, politics, social etc. He is also noted for his work in the field of journalism and education. He won the 2010 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism.

Biography

Chandrasekharan was born to Malappurath Raman Vaidyar and K. S. Devaki on 26 Feb 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 the 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 leaning.

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 has also worked as Malayalam Professor in Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.

He is now settled at Ananganadi P.O.Panamanna, Ottappalam in Palghat district, Kerala. He is active with his writings and also enjoys the challenge of organic farming. His wife Vappalakalathil Vijayakumari died in December 2013. His son Ramkumar C and daughter Priya Shankar are both engineering degree holders.

Positions Held

Chandrasekharan was very much involved in The All Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association(AKPCTA^[2]) and served as 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.^[3]

Chandrasekharan was one of the Directors of the Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank^[4] from the year 2006 till 2013

Chandrasekharan is member of the Academic Council of Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University^[5] established in 2012^[6]

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 later served as General Secretary and President of the organisation.

He was also involved in the formation of the Deshabhimani Study Circle, sited as a vigorous and widespread Literary Movement in Kerala along with E. M. S. Namboodiripad, M.S.Devadas, and P.Govindapillai in 1969^[7]

He published the literary critical journal "Sahithya Samithi Masika" from Payyanur during 1976-80.

In 1969 when he was the Research Officer at Kerala Bhasha Institute, he worked as the Executive Editor of the magazine "Vignana Kairali" (Malayalam: വിജ്ഞാനകൈരളി ).

After retirement in 1989, he took-up the editorship of a magazine called "Chindana" (Malayalam: ചിന്തന ) published from Kannur.

He was the Editor of CMP's weekly journal 'Malayala Mannu" (Malayalam:മലയാളമണ്ണ് ). He served the journal from 1990 till 2013

Awards and honours

Chandrasekharan has won the 2010 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism for his book "Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum"^[8]

He won Dr. C.P.Menon Award for The study of the Progressive School in Literature for his book Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram for the year 2005

He has also won the M. N. Sathyaardhi Award in recognition of his contributions to Malayalam literature as a translator.The award is 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.

Bibliography

Literary Criticism

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

Political Thinking

List of Political Monographs by M. R. C. # Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Communism chila thiruthalukal Malayalam: കമ്മ്യൂണിസം-ചില തിരുത്തലുകള്‍ Communism - Some Critical notes 1999, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut 2 Keralathile Communism Malayalam: കേരളത്തിലെ കമ്മ്യൂണിസം Communism in Kerala 2000, Kalaveekshanam Books Calicut 3 Kerala modelilekku oru kilivaathil Malayalam: കേരളമോഡലിലേക്കു ഒരു കിളിവാതില്‍ An eye on the Kerala Model 2001, Haritham Books Calicut

Social

List of Social Books by M. R. C.

List of Social Books by M. R. C. # Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Manushyavakaashangal Malayalam: മനുഷ്യാവകാശങ്ങള്‍ Human Rights (Translation) 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras 2 India innu evide nilkkunnu Malayalam: ഇന്ത്യ ഇന്ന് എവിടെ നില്‍ക്കുന്നു whither stands India Today 2003, State Institute of Languages Trivandrum

Memoirs

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

Novel Translation

List of Novel Translation by M. R. C. # Name Translation in English Original Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Padivathilkkal Malayalam: പടിവാതിൽക്കൽ At the outer gate On the eve, Russian, Ivan Turgenev 1955, Prabhath Book House Ernakulam 2 Kokoro Malayalam: കൊകോറോ Kokoro[12] Japanese Novel 1962, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras 3 Uzhuthumaricha Puthumannu Malayalam: ഉഴുതുമറിച്ച പുതുമണ്ണ് Virgin Soil Upturned Russian, Mikhail Sholokhov 1962, CICC Books Ernakulam 4 Don Nadeetheerathe Koithu Malayalam: ഡോണ്‍നദീതീരത്തെ കൊയ്ത്ത് Harvest on the Don Russian, Mikhail Sholokhov 1962, CICC Books Ernakulam 2015, S.P.C.S. Ltd. Kottayam 5 Genghis Khan Malayalam: ഝഖിസ്ഖാന്‍ Genghis Khan-The world Conqueror (Historical Biography) Harold Lamb 1963, Current Books Thrissur 6 Timoor Malayalam: തിമൂർ Timoor Historical Biography Tamerlane Harold Lamb 1963, Current Books Thrissur 7 Maattivecha Talakal Malayalam: മാറ്റിവെച്ച തലകള്‍ The Transposed Heads German, Thomas Mann 1979, Chintha Books Trivandrum 8 Kalanju Kittiya Mookku Malayalam: കളഞ്ഞുകിട്ടിയ മൂക്ക് The Nose Russian, Nikolai Gogol 2006, Lipi Publications Calicut

Science Translation

List of Science Translation by M. R. C. # Name Translation in English Year of publishing 1 Naam jeevikkunna ee lookam Malayalam: നാം ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഈ ലോകം The World We Live in 1959, Mathrubhumi Co Calicut 2 maanathekku nookkumpol Malayalam: മാനത്തേക്കു നോക്കുമ്പോള്‍ Let us Look at the Sky 1961, Southern Languages Book Trust Madras

Children's Literature

List of Children's Literature by M. R. C. # Name Translation in English Original Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Srugaalan enna kurukkan Malayalam: സൃഗാലന്‍ എന്ന കുറുക്കന്‍ A Fox Named Srigalan Reynard the fox(British Folklore) 2004, Current Books Thrissur 2 moonnu bala saahithya kruthikal Malayalam: മൂന്നു ബാലസാഹിത്യകൃതികള്‍ Three Stories for Children Oscar Wilde 2010, Lipi Publications Calicut

Other Genres

List of other genres by M. R. C. # Name Translation in English Year of publishing, Publisher 1 Mushaayira Malayalam: മുശായിര Poem Collections Kerala Sahithya Samiti 2004, Prabhakar Book Stall Shornur 2 aana undaayirunna veedu Malayalam: ആന ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന വീട് A House which owned an elephant (Novel) 2012, Samayam Books Kannur 3 Vilakkukal Puthiyathum Pazhayathum Malayalam: വിളക്കുകൾ പുതിയതും പഴയതും Collection of literary articles 2016, S.P.C.S Ltd. Kottayam

Journals Edited by MRC

List of journels edited by M. R. C. # Name Publisher 1 Yuva Bhavana Malayalam: യുവഭാവന Published from Calicut 2 Vijnana Kairali Malayalam: വിജ്ഞാന കൈരളി Journal of Kerala Language Institute, Tvm 3 Sahithya Samithi Masika Malayalam: സാഹിത്യ സമിതി മാസിക Published from Payyannur, Kannur District 4 Chinthana Weekly Malayalam: ചിന്തന Published from Kannur District 5 Malayala Mannu Weekly Malayalam: മലയാള മണ്ണ് Published from Kannur District

References

1. "Malabar Christian College".
2. "AKPCTA Official Website - Official Website".
3. "Administration of the Akademi".
4. "Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank Ltd.".
5. "Malayalam Sarvakalasala".
6. "The Academic Council - Malayalam Sarvakalasala".
7. Pillai, P. Govinda (1 January 1975). "Deshabhimani Study Circles: Literary Movement in Kerala". Social Scientist. 4 (2): 56–60. doi:10.2307/3516305. JSTOR 3516305 – via JSTOR.
8. Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism
9. "JustBooksCLC".
10. http://www.amazon.in/Joseph-Mundassery-Vimarshanathinte-M-R-Chandrasekharan/dp/B00DCQIYOS
11. https://www.booknbooks.com/joseph-mundassery-vimarshanathinte%20Prathapakalam-mr-chandrasekharan
12. Kokoro

Other Links
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/akpcta-district-convention/article3174584.ece
http://www.amazon.com/M.R.Chandrasekharan/e/B00JQAO64G
http://www.indulekha.com/index.php?route=product/author/product&author_id=1709
http://www.mkbhasi.com/mypdf/Mazha1/M%20R%20Chandrasekharan.pdf