Thachom Poyil Rajeevan (28 June 1959 – 2 November 2022) was an Indian novelist and poet originally from Palery who wrote in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

and English languages.

Works

In Malayalam, Rajeevan published two novels ( ''Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha'', and ''KTN Kottoor: Ezhuthum Jeevithavum''); six poetry collections (''Vathil, Rashtratamtram, Korithachanal, Vayalkkarayil Ippolillatha, Pranayasatakam'', and ''Dheergakalam''); a travelogue (''Purappettu Poya Vakku''); and an essay collection (''Athe Akasam Athe Bhoomi''. Both of his novels in Malayalam were made into films. Rajeevan wrote ''Paleri Manikyam'' first in English when residing in

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...

, United States, in 2009. He translated it into Malayalam after coming back to Kerala. However, the English version, titled ''Undying Echoes of Silence'', only appeared in August 2013. Rajeevan was awarded the

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1958, by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy), to Malayalam writers for their outstanding books of literary merit. The awards are given in various categories.

for his novel ''KTN Kottor: Ezhuthum Jeevithavum'', in 2014. In English, he published ''Undying Echoes of Silence'' and two poetry collections (''Kannaki'' and ''He Who Was Gone Thus''). Rajeevan also edited an anthology of poems (''Third Word: Post Socialist Poetry'') with Croatian poet, Lana Derkac.

Reviews

Rajeevan received praise from Sashi Tharoor who wrote in ''The Hindu'': "That the

University of Calicut The University of Calicut, also known as Calicut University, is a state-run public university headquartered at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district of the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1968, it is the first university to be set up in n ...

harbours such talent in its midst is itself a priceless public relations asset of which I hope the University's administrators are proud." Regarding ''He Who Was Gone Thus'', Anita Nair stated in

the Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...

that it would dazzle even a reader who skims through it.

Awards and fellowships

Rajeevan received a Ledig House International Writers Residency in 2008. He was the second recipient from

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 ...

, and the eighth from India.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajeevan, T.P. 1959 births 2022 deaths People from Kozhikode district Novelists from Kerala Indian literary critics English-language poets from India Malayalam-language writers Malayalam novelists Malayalam poets Malayalam literary critics Indian male novelists 20th-century Indian novelists 20th-century Indian poets Indian male poets Poets from Kerala 20th-century Indian male writers