Karimpumannil Mathai George (1914–2002), popularly known as Dr. K. M. George, was an eminent
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
writer and educator. An erudite scholar and literary critic with astute organisational capabilities, he is best known as a pioneer of Comparative Indian Studies and Literatures. He was a recipient of the fourth highest Indian civilian honour, the
Padma Shri
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
, the highest literary award of the Government of Kerala, the
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary honour is given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Government of Kerala. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, the father of the Malayalam language and consists of a cash prize of 5,00,00 ...
and the third highest Indian civilian award, the
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...
, besides other honours.
Biography
K. M. George was born on 20 April 1914 at Edayaranmula, in the present-day
Pathanamthitta district
Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalities in Pathanamthitta: Adoor, Pandalam, Pathanamthitta and Thiruval ...
of the south Indian state of
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
to Kurien Mathai and Mariamma.
After schooling at Malakkara Primary School, Edayaranmula Marthoma School and St. Thomas School, Kozhenchery, he passed the intermediate course from
Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College (MCC) is a liberal arts and sciences college in Chennai, India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. The college is affiliated to the University of Madras but functions as an autonomous institu ...
(MCC) before graduating in Mathematics from the
Union Christian College, Aluva
Union Christian College, Aluva (known as UC College) is a college affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
It is one of the earliest colleges in India to be established and managed by Indian Christians. It was founded in 1921 by four ...
. Starting his career as a lecturer at his alma mater, MCC, he continued his studies and secured a master's degree in Malayalam literature from the
University of Madras
The University of Madras (informally known as Madras University) is a public university, public State university (India), state university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1857, it is one of the oldest and among the most prestigiou ...
in 1941.
He was a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, and at Chicago and California Universities.
He was also a Senior Specialist at the
East–West Center
The East–West Center (EWC), or the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peopl ...
,
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, engaged in research on the impact of the West on Indian writing.
He was associated with
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
(Indian Academy of Letters) right from its inception and was the Secretary of its Southern Region. He was also the vice president of
Kerala Sahitya Akademi
The Kerala Sahitya Akademi or Academy for Malayalam literature is an autonomous body established to promote the Malayalam language and Malayalam literature, literature. It is situated in City of Thrissur, Kerala in India.
History
The academy ...
(Kerala Academy of Letters).
George was married to Eliyamma, the marriage taking place in 1944. He died on 19 November 2002, at Thiruvananthapuram. at the age of 88.
Writing
His writings encompass various aspects in literature. He was a learned writer of articles in the media, father of the encyclopaedia in Kerala, editor of Indian literature, researcher of place names of Southern India, travel writer (having travelled the world over), dramatist, biographer, literary critic and auto biographer. Equally well versed in English and in Malayalam, he had a good knowledge of many Indian languages. He has published more than 50 works, translated some works to Malayalam and edited more than 10 great anthologies.
He authored some of the authoritative books on the history of Malayalam literature in English such as ''A Survey of Malayalam Literature'' (1968) and ''Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature'' (1972). His other works in English include ''Ramacharitam and the Study of Early Malayalam'', which is his doctoral thesis in the field of Dravidian Linguistics, and ''American Lives through Indian Eyes'', an account of the American way of life. He also wrote travelogues about his journeys to the Soviet Union and the United States.
He was also the chief editor of ''Malayalam Encyclopaedia'' and ''Comparative Indian Literature''.
Awards and honours
* The Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1987 shared with
P. N. Haksar and
R. K. Narayan
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001) was an Indian writer known for his work set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was a leading author of early Indian literature in English along with Mul ...
* The
Padma Sri
Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferr ...
in 1988
* The
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...
in 2001
* The
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary honour is given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Government of Kerala. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, the father of the Malayalam language and consists of a cash prize of 5,00,00 ...
in 1996 (the highest literary award given by the Government of Kerala)
* The Suranad Kunjan Pillai Award in 1997
* The
Vallathol Award
Vallathol Award is a literary award given by the Vallathol Sahithya Samithi for contribution to Malayalam literature. The award was instituted in 1991 in memory of Vallathol Narayana Menon
Vallathol Narayana Menon (Malayalam: വള്ളത ...
in 1998
* The
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship is an honour of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy), given to writers of Malayalam literature
Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Laksha ...
in 1989
* Emeritus Fellowship from the Central Government
* Sahitya Ratna Puraskaram – the highest award given by the Mar Thoma Church
The Government of Kerala has established a research centre in his honour, the ''Dr. K. M. George Study and Research Centre'', for facilitating research on literature and other educational matters.
Bibliography
Authored works
* Vedapusthakamahathmyam (1935)
* Saadhu Kochunju (1947)
* Ekaanka Mandalam (1947)
* Radio natakankal (1947)
* Prabandhachandrika (1953)
* Munthirichaaru (1950)
* Sardar Patel (1950)
* Vicharakowthukam (1952)
* America – ChilaVasthuthakal (1953)
* Edward Jenner (1954) (Translation)
* Janangalude Bharanam (1954)
* Valarunna Kairali (1954)
* Nirikshana Nilayam (1955)
* Thathvavignanathil Punarnirmaanam (1955)
* Snehathinte Shiksha (1955) (Translation of Tagore’s "The Wreck")
* Ramacaritham and the study of early Malayalam (1956)
* 9 Radio Natakankal (1957)
* Samskara Sarani (1957)
* Thoreau (1962) (Translation)
* Tagore (1962) (Translation)
* Indiacharithrathile Bhoomishastrakadakangal (1962)
* Jeevacharithra Sahityam (1964)
* Soviet Naattil 3 Aazhcha (1964)
* Americayil Poyakatha (1967)
* American Life Through Indian Eyes (1967)
*
* Malayalam Grammar and Reader (1971)
*
* Kumaran Asan (1972)
* Avalokanangal (1978)
* Tamizh Sahityam (1977)
* A.R.Raja Raja Varma (1979)
* Bharathathile Bhashakal (1979) – Children’s literature
* Anveshanangal Padanangal (1980)
* Amercayile Anubhavangal (1980-Abridged edition)
* Sahitya Vignanavum Vignanasahityavum (1983)
* Aartha Maanavu Thalamurakalilude (1985-tr. of Maxim Gorky)
* Enneaakarshicha Prathibhashalikal (1985)
* Bharathiya Sahitya Pattanam (1985)
* Place Names of Southern India (1986)
* Kavikal Nirupanarangathu (1986)
* Kesari Balakrishna Pillai (1989)
* K M Georginte Prabhandangal (1989)
* Soviet NaattilVeendum (1989)
* Arivukal Avalokanangal (1991)
* Veekshanangal Vichinthanangal (1991)
* A Many Branched Tree (1991)
* Renaissance in Indian Literature and its Social Implications (1991)
* Mookanarthakan (Translation of play by Asif Currimbhoy – 1991)
* Facets of Indian Literature (1994)
* Bharathiya Sahitya Sameeksha (1994)
* Enne Njan Kaanumbol (1999)
* The Role of Sanskrit in the development of Dravidian Literature (2000)
Edited works
*
*
"‘ആധുനിക മലയാളസാഹിത്യചരിത്രം പ്രസ്ഥാനങ്ങളിലൂടെ’"
DC Books
DC Books is a publisher in Kerala publisher of books in Malayalam, and one of the publishers in India . It also operates one of the largest book store chains in India, with a network of over 45 bookshops under the DC Books and Current Books b ...
. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
* Sarvavignanakosham volumes 1&2
* Mahakavi Ulloor
* Bharathiya Sahitya Charithram 2vols.
* Comparative Indian Literature 2vols.(1984)
*
*
*
* Masterpieces of Indian Literature – 3 vols.
* Aadhunika Malayala Sahitya Charitram Prasthanangalilude
* Commonwealth Literature – Themes & Techniques
* The best of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
See also
* List of Malayalam-language authors by category
The field of Malayalam writers include the following people, from various disciplines and periods.
Art criticism
*Mani Madhava Chakyar (1899–1990)
Poetry
* Arnos Paathiri (1681–1732)
*Cherusseri Namboothiri
*Irayimman Thampi
*Kattakayam ...
* List of Malayalam-language authors
List of Malayalam-language authors lists writers in Malayalam who already have Wikipedia pages. References for the information appear on the linked Wikipedia pages. The list is incomplete – please help to expand it by adding Wikipedia page-own ...
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, K. M.
Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education
Malayali people
Malayalam-language writers
Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education
Indian literary critics
Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award
Malayalam literary critics
1914 births
2002 deaths
20th-century Indian novelists
People from Pathanamthitta district
Scholars from Thiruvananthapuram
Indian editors
Indian children's writers
20th-century Indian translators
Indian travel writers
20th-century Indian linguists
20th-century Indian biographers
20th-century Indian educational theorists
Writers from Thiruvananthapuram
Novelists from Kerala
20th-century Indian male writers
Madras Christian College alumni
University of Madras alumni