Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan
Mathan Tharakan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 September 1903 |
| Died | 5 April 1993 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, Writer, Lyricist |
| Spouse | Mariamma |
Mahakavi Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan (born 1903) was a Malayalam poet.
Birth and family[edit]
He was born on 5 September 1903 at Puthencavu, a village in present day Alapuzha district of Kerala, South India, then in Travancore to Kizhakkethalakal Eapen Mathai and Mariamma.[citation needed]
He had 2 sons.[1] His son K. M. Tharakan was a chairman of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, noted critic, writer and novelist.[citation needed]
Surviving descendants of Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan, his great grand nephew C. John Mathai and family, currently reside in Alleppey.[citation needed]
Education and career[edit]
His early life was spent in Puthencavu. He was inspired by the work of his great-uncle George Mathan to pursue a career in literature together with academic work. By his own efforts, he was able to pass the Malayalam Vidwan exam and also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Malayalam in 1952, he joined Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta as a lecturer. He went on to become the Head of the Department of Malayalam and was the officiating Principal from 1957-1958.[2] He was also a member of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi from 1960-1964. In 1972, he obtained permission from the government and made a successful attempt to revive "Bhajemathaam", the political newsweekly run by M. Mathunny from Cengannur in the twenties. As a young nationalist Mathan Tharakan was associated with the paper.[3] A dedicated Congress man, he worked closely with Elanthoor Kumarji, the veteran Gandhian and Freedom Fighter, to promote Khadi and the nationalist ideology even after independence.
Works[edit]
Mathan Tharakan earned the title of Mahakavi for his magnum opus on the life of Christ - Viswadeepam[4] written in 1965.[5] As a lyricist, he penned the lyrics for 14 songs which were used in the second Malayalam movie ever made, Gnanambika in 1940.[6][7]
References[edit]
- ^ "Mathen Tharakan". Writer profile (in Malayalam). Puzha Books. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^ "List of Principals". Catholicate College. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^ K. Kumar and the Indian National Movement - article by Puthenkavu Mathan Tharakan in Kumarji Smaraka Grantham: 1974
- ^ Malayalam Literary Survey, Vol. 15. Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 1993. p. 49.
- ^ Amaresh Datta, ed. (1988). Encyclopedia of Indian Literature (1988 ed.). Sahitya Akademi. p. 1146. ISBN 81-260-1194-7. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^ "Puthankavu Mathan Tharakan - Lyricist - Gnaanaambika". Malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^ B. Vijayakumar (10 May 2008). "JNANAMBIKA 1940". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
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