Mullamangalath Raman Bhattathiripad (1908–2001), also known as M. R. Bhattathiripad, was an Indian social reformer, cultural leader and a

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.

Biography

He was born in 1908 into a

Nambudiri The Nambudiri (), also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Nampoothiri, and Nampūtiri, are a Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala, India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal el ...

family 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 ...

with limited resources due to which he received only nominal education. He joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with

V. T. Bhattathiripad Vellithuruthi Thazhathu Karutha Patteri Raman Bhattathiripad (1896–1982), also known as V. T. Bhattathiripad, was an Indian social reformer, dramatist and an Indian independence activist. He was best known for his contributions in the reforma ...

and his brother

Premji Mullamangalath Parameshwaran Bhattathiripad (23 September 1908 – 10 August 1998), commonly known as M. P. Bhatathirippad or Premji, was a social reformer, cultural leader and actor from Kerala state, India. Premji joined Yogakshema Sabha ...

. He was also an active member of ''Purogamana Sahitya Prasthanam''. When widow marriage was considered a taboo in Nambuthiri community, he married Uma Antharjanam, younger sister of VT's wife Sreedevi Antharjanam, on 13 September 1934. This was the first known widow marriage in the Kerala Nambuthiri community. The ceremony, though boycotted by orthodox Nambudiris, was attended by Arya Pallam and M. C. Joseph. Bhattathiripad's younger brother Premji later followed his brother in 1943 by marrying a 27-year old widow named Arya Antharjanam. When

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy is located in Thrissur city, of Kerala, in India. It was established on 26 April 1958, inaugurated by then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The academy started a cultural centre at the Bahrain Kerala ...

started its flagship publication, ''Keli'' in 1963, Bhattathiripad was the first editor. He died on 8 October 2001, aged 93. He is survived by his three daughters. His wife predeceased him in 1996. His brother

also predeceased him.

Works

MRB wrote 14 books. * Ente Omana – Play – 1927 * Marakkudakkullile Maha Narakam – Play – 1927 * Mazhavillu – Short stories – 1931 * Valkannadi – Novel – 1931 * Mukhachayakal – Travelogue – 1954 * Mula pottiya vithukal – Travelogue – 1956 * Kinavil oru yathra – Travelogue – 1962 * Kavisaparya – Travelogue – 1962 * Thamarayithalukal – Travelogue – 1967 * Ilakal Poovukal – Travelogue – 1969 * Valapottukal – Poetic memoirs – 1968 * Suvarnachaayakal

Awards and recognitions

He was a recipient of the

Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy is located in Thrissur city, of Kerala, in India. It was established on 26 April 1958, inaugurated by then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The academy started a cultural centre at the Bahrain Keral ...

Award, the

Kerala Sahithya Academy The Kerala Sahitya Akademi or Academy for Malayalam literature is an autonomous body established to promote the Malayalam language and literature. It is situated in City of Thrissur, Kerala in India. History The academy was inaugurated on 15 ...

Award (1992), the Basheer Puraskaram,Basheer Puraskaram
/ref> and the

Deviprasadam Trust Award This is a list of literary awards given for Malayalam–language. ---- Jnanapeetam Award (Jnanpith) Jnanpith Award, India's most prestigious literary honour, was won by the following Malayalam authors. Other major awards and their winners a ...

References

External links

Profile

Biography

Works

Awards and recognitions

See also

References

External links

Further reading