Paul Chirakkarode

Paul Chirakkarode was a noted Malayalam- and English-language novelist, short story writer, biographer, essayist, thinker, social critic, orator and human rights activist. It was through his literary interventions that the miserable and subhuman life of the downtrodden people of Kerala was exposed before the world of letters in an aesthetic manner. The celebrated author has been considered as one of the pioneer's of Dalit Literary Movement in India.

Personal life

Paul Chirakkarode was born on 4 September 1938 in Maramon, a small village situated on the banks of Pamba river, near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. He belonged to a Dalit Christian Family. His father Rev LT Daniel was well known among the natives of his village as a teacher, social worker and as a Christian Missionary. His mother was Elikutty. Paul Chirakkarode had his education at Maramon High School; St. Thomas College, Kozhancherry; SB College, Changanassery; Sacred Heart College, Thevara; University College, Thiruvananthapuram; And Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. He took Master's Degree in English Literature, Malayalam Literature, Economics, Sociology, and in law.

Paul Chirakkarode died in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala, on 4 August 2008.

Literary life

Paul Chirakkarode started his literary life in 1955, at the age of seventeen, by publishing his first novel Alinju Theernna Athmav (Dissolved Soul)–a poetic novel of a romantic type. Then there was a stream of creative writings from his pen, including novels and short stories, such as Pravasam (Living in Exile), Aavaranam (The Covering), Sathyathinte Mugham (The face of Truth) etc. Pulayathara (The land of Pulayas). Among these novels, Pulayathara has been considered as one of his masterpieces. In this the novelist traces the saga of Dalit Christians and their aspirations in a picturestique style. Paul's woks came out even before the dawn of Dalit Literary Movement emerged in Maharashtra during the 1970s.

Through his study on Bertrand Russell, Paul proved his creative talent as a biographer. This study collected a special award from the Kerala Sahithya Academy, in 1962. And the Government of Kerala selected it as the best book of the year.

Besides the biography of Bertrand Russell, Paul Chirakkarode wrote the biographies of David Livingstone and Rabindranath Tagore too. The critical studies of Paul include Ambedkar: Bhauthika Vikshobhanathinde Theejwala (Ambedkar: the flare of intellectual turbulance), Dalit Chritians Keralathil (Dalits Christian in Kerala) and Dalit Sahithya Pathangal (Dalit literary studies 2 Vols.) His study on Ambedkar, is considered as one of the best book ever written in such a manner in Malayalam on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Architect of Indian Constitution, and his thoughts. Paul Chirakkarode’s critical studies in English includes Dalits and the left; The Subalttern Emergence, and several essays. These works mainly analyze the Subhuman socio – economic conditions of the subaltern sections of the caste ridden Indian society.

He was the founder editor of Padavukal, a news journal magazine published by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Kerala, during 2001–2005. In the second phase of his writings, Paul Chirakkarode entered the zone of socio-literacy critical studies. Among these studies four works were published in Malayalam and two were in English. During this period he wrote around 56 novels and 2 biographies.

His Works

Academic Activities

Paul Chirakkarode served as faculty in various academic Institutions in India such as the United Theological College in Bangalore, Dalit Open University in Andhara Pradesh, Gurukkal Theological College in Chennai, and Ambedkar Academy in New Delhi. Considering his lifetime contribution to literature and social studies, the Anglican Academy of Religious Studies, Philadelphia, honored him by awarding a doctoral degree in June 2006.

Human Rights Activities

As a human rights activist Paul Chirakkarode stood strongly along with the crusade of the downtrodden people in India and their socio-cultural revolts in modern times. He was one among the leaders of Guruvayoor Padhayathra conducted by Indian Dalit Federation demanding the abolition of separate and, discriminatory feedings systems existed in Guruvayoor temple under the chains of caste system. The much debated agitation was conducted by the Indian Dalit Federation, a Social Organization in 1983. In 1989, Paul Chirakkarode lead a tribal march from Sulthan Batheri to Trivandrum, demanding the alienated land for the tribal people of Kerala. This agitation is considered as first emergence of tribal movement in Kerala for their alienated land. He was one among the leaders who took initiative in the formation of NAPM in associated with the noted environment activist Medha Patkar. He was also in the leadership of Indian Labour Party and Bahujana Samaj Party during its formation in Kerala.

References

1.Malayalam Sahithyakara Directory

2.Padavukal Magazines 2001–2005 editions

3.Vijnakairali Magazine 2008 August – September edition.

4.Pachakuthira Malayalam Magazine 2006 July–August edition

5.Malayalam Encyclopedia Published by the State Institute of Encyclopedia Publication.

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