K. V. Ramanadhan (29 August 1932 – 10 April 2023) was an Indian children's writer in Malayalam. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 1994 for his work Atbhutha Nirali, the C. G. Santhakumar Award by the Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature in 2011 and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 2014 for his overall contribution to the field of children's literature.

K. V. Ramanadhan
Native name
കെ. വി. രാമനാഥൻ
Born(1932-08-29)August 29, 1932
Irinjalakuda, Kingdom of Cochin
DiedApril 10, 2023(2023-04-10) (aged 90)
Trichur, Kerala, India
OccupationWriter, teacher
LanguageMalayalam, English
GenreChildren's literature
Notable works
  • Appukuttanum Gopiyum,
  • Commander Gopi,
  • Aamayum Muyalum Orikkal Koodi,
  • Atbhutha Vanaranmar,
  • Atbhutha Nirali
Notable awards
SpouseK. K. Radha
Children2

Life edit

Ramanadhan was born in 1932 on Palace Road near the famous Koodalmanikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda in present-day Trichur district of Kerala state, India. His mother was Kizhakkevalappil Kochukutti Amma and his father was Manammal Shankara Menon.[1] He was educated at Irinjalakuda Sangameswaravilasam LP School, Ernakulam Govt Boys High School, Ernakulam Maharajas College, and Trichur Govt Training College. From 1951 to 1987, he served as a teacher and headmaster at Irinjalakuda National High School.[1] Some of his students during this period include oncologist V. P. Gangadharan, Indian Space Research Organisation former chairman K. Radhakrishnan, actor Innocent and playback singer P. Jayachandran.[2]

Ramanadhan died on 10 April 2023 at a private hospital in Trichur. He was survived by his wife K. K. Radha, retired principal, of Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Irinjalakuda; and two daughters.[3]

Literary career edit

Ramanadhan published his first story in 1949 in Deenabandhu newspaper's weekend edition.[3] He regularly contributed to several periodicals in the ensuing decades, kindling the imagination of an entire generation of children and instilling in them the power of dreams.[2] He also wrote for English magazines such as Shankar's Children's World, The Hindu's Young World, Young Expression, Young Communicator and Children's Digest.[3] His children's literature books Appukuttanum Gopiyum and Aamayum Muyalum Orikkal Koodi won awards from SPCS.[1] Atbhutha Vanaranmar won the Kairali Children's Booktrust Award and Atbhutha Nirali won the Bhima Smaraka Award and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature.[1] His other works include Commander Gopi, Swarnathinte Chiri, Munthirikkula, Kannuneer Muthukal, Visha Vriksham, Mantrika Poocha, Kuttikalude Sakunthalam, Ajnatha Lokam, Swarna Muthu (children's literature), Pravahangal, Chuvanna Sandhya (novel) and Ragavum Thalavum (short story).[1] Ramanadhan is also a recipient of the Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad Award for Short Story.[1]

In 2024, the Irinjalakuda unit of Yuvakalasahithy instituted a literary award in memory of K. V. Ramanadhan. The first award was won by E. P. Sreekumar.[4]

Works edit

Children's literature
  • Appukkuttanum Gopiyum
  • Mantrika Poocha
  • Kuttikalude Sakunthalam
  • Atbhutha Vanaranmar
  • Atbhutha Nirali
  • Adrisya Manushyan
  • Tagore Kathakal
  • Kuttikalkku Snehapurvam
  • Commander Gopi
  • Aamayum Muyalum Orikkal Koodi
  • Visha Vriksham
  • Swarnathinte Chiri
  • Kannuneer Muthukal
  • Kunjurumpum Kulakkozhiyum
Novel
  • Pravahangal
  • Chuvanna Sandhya
Short story
  • Ragavum Thalavum
  • Karmakandam
Others
  • Malayala Bala Sahityam: Udbhavavum Valarchayum (Study)
  • Ormayile Manimuzhakkam (Memoir)

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "കെ.വി. രാമനാഥൻ" (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Tearful adieu to noted children's writer K.V. Ramanadhan". The Hindu. 11 April 2023. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "കെ.വി.രാമനാഥന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു" (in Malayalam). 10 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  4. ^ "കെ വി രാമനാഥന്‍ സാഹിത്യപുരസ്‌കാരം ഇ പി ശ്രീകുമാറിന്" (in Malayalam). DC Books. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award" Archived 26 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in Malayalam). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Literary Awards" Archived 18 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  7. ^ "സമഗ്ര സംഭാവന പുരസ്കാരം" Archived 15 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Bal Sahitya Puraskar November 2014, Awards Presentation Ceremony" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2024.