S. K. Pottekkatt

Sankaran Kutty Kunjiraman Pottekkatt (14 March 1913 – 6 August 1982), popularly known as S. K. Pottekkatt, was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature and a politician from Kerala, India. He was also a great traveller among the Keralites, who wrote many travelogues for the people who have been unintroduced to the outside world. He was the author of nearly sixty books which include ten novels, twenty-four collections of short stories, three anthologies of poems, eighteen travelogues, four plays, a collection of essays and a couple of books based on personal reminiscences. he was a recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, Sahitya Akademi Award and the Jnanpith Award. His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.

S. K. Pottekkatt
Born(1913-03-14)March 14, 1913
Calicut, Madras Presidency, British India
Died6 August 1982(1982-08-06) (aged 69)
Calicut, Kerala, India
OccupationTeacher, writer, Member of Indian parliament
GenreNovel, travelogue, short story, play, essay, poetry
Notable works
Notable awards
SpouseJayavalli
Relatives
  • Kunjiraman (father)
  • Kittuli (mother)

Biography
A bust of S. K. Pottekkatt facing S. M. Street in Kozhikode (Calicut).

S. K. Pottekkatt was born on March 14, 1913, in Calicut (Kozhikode) to Kunjiraman Pottekkat, an English school teacher and his wife, Kittuli.[1] After early schooling at Ganapath School, he matriculated from Zamorin's High School in Calicut in 1929 and passed the intermediate examination from Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, Calicut in 1934 but could not find a job for three years, a period which he utilised for studying classics from Indian and western literature. In 1937, he joined Calicut Gujarati School as a teacher where he taught for almost three years.[2] He was involved with activities of the Indian National Congress and attended the Tripuri session of 1939 for which he resigned from the job as the school authorities did not allow him to leave of absence. Subsequently, he moved to Bombay and Lucknow where he stayed until 1945, doing many jobs.[1] After returning to Kerala in 1945, he travelled to many parts of India and went on his first overseas tour in 1949 when he visited Africa, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and England. In 1952, he again went overseas to visit Ceylon, Malaya, and Indonesia.[2]

Pottekkatt married Jayavalli in 1950 and the couple had two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1980 and two years later, he suffered a paralytic stroke in July 1982, and he died on August 6, 1982, in a private hospital in Calicut.[3]

Literary career and travels

Pottekkatt published his first story, Rajaneethi, in the collge magazine of Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College in 1928. Makane Konna Madyam (poem published in Athmavidya Kahalam) and Hindu Muslim Maithri (story published in Deepam) were some of his notable early works. The story "Vydyutha Shakthi" came in the February 1934 issue of Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly. He wrote his first novel, Naadanpremam, a romantic story set in Mukkam, a small hamlet in Kozhikode district,[4] in 1939 while he was in Bombay and the novel was eventually published in 1941.[2][5] This was followed by Yavanikakku Pinnil, a short story anthology, and the second novel Vishakanyaka; the latter would receive a prize from the Madras government in 1949.[2] Two travelogues were the next two publications, Kappirikalude Naattil (In the Land of the Negroes) and Innathe Europe (The Europe Today), both based on his first overseas tour. He published Oru Theruvinte Katha in 1960 and his magnum opus, Oru Desathinte Katha, in 1971.

Pottekkatt was a writer of strong social commitment and ideals, possessing an individualistic vision.[2] He is reported to be the pioneer of the genre of travelogues in India[6] and its most notable practitioner in Malayalam literature[7] which earned him the moniker, the John Gunther of Malayalam.[8] Poetry anthologies like Sanchariyude Geethangal and Premashilpi, Achan (play), novels like Premashiksha and Moodupadam, short story anthologies such as Nishagandhi, Pulliman and Chandrakatham, travelogues viz. Simhabhoomi, Nile Diary and Pathira Sooryante Nattil as well as memoirs like Ponthakkadukal and Samsarikkunna Diarykurippukal are some of his other major works.[9] His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.[1] An Italian anthology of The Best Short Stories of the World published from Milan in 1971 included his Braanthan Naaya (Mad Dog). A collection of eleven of his short stories in Russian had a sensational sales of one hundred thousand copies in two weeks. His stories have made into feature films in Malayalam; Naadan Premam,[10] Moodupadam,[11] Pulliman[12] and Njavalppazhangal are some of them.[13]

Political career
Pottekkatt on a 2003 India Post stamp

Pottekkatt contested twice in elections to Indian Parliament from Thalassery under the banner of the Communist Party of India,[14] the first in 1957 to the 2nd Lok Sabha when he lost to M. K. Jinachandran by 1000 votes and the next in 1962 to the 3rd Lok Sabha when he defeated Sukumar Azhikode by a margin of 66,000 votes; he served out his term until 1967.[1]

Awards and honours

Oru Theruvinte Katha (The Story of a Street), a novel based on Mittai Theruvu, a popular street in Kozhikode nown for sweetmeat and halvah stalls, received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1961.[15] His biographical novel, Oru Desathinte Katha was selected for the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972.[16] Eight years later, in 1980, the novel earned Pottekkatt the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary jonour in India.[17][18] In 1982, the University of Calicut honoured him with the honoris causa degree of the Doctor of Letters.[19] India Post issued a commemorative postal stamp on him in 2003, as a part of their Jnanpith Award Winners.[20] Malayala Manorama and Madhyamam issued festschrifts on Pottekkatt on the occasion of his birth centenary.[21][22]

Bibliography

Novels
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1937). Vallikadevi.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1941). Naadan Premam. Kozhikode: Mathrubhumi. ISBN 9788182647275.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1937). Prema Shiksha.
  • S. K. Pottekkatt (1948). Moodupadam. Kozhikode: Mathrubhoomi.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1948). Vishakanyaka. Calicut: Poorna Pub.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1959). Karamboo. National Book Stall.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1960). Oru Theruvinte Katha. Kottayam: SPCS.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1971). Oru Desathinte Katha.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1974). Kurumulaku.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1979). Kabeena. Kozhikode: Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182656215.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1988). Bharathappuzhayude Makkal: Novatakam. Kottayam: S.P.C.S.
  • North Avenue (Incomplete)

Short stories
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1944). Chandrakaantham.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1944). Manimaalika.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1945). Rajamalli.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1945). Nisshagandhi.
  • Pottekkattu, S. K. (1945). Pulliman. Kozhikode: Pooran Publications.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1945). Meghamala.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1946). Jalatharangam.
  • Pottekkatt. S. K (1946). Vaijayanthi. Mangalodayam: Mangalodayam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1947). Pournami. Kozhikode: Poorna Publications. ISBN 9788130006345.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1947). Padmaagam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1947). Indraneelam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1948). Himavahini.
  • Pottekkatt. S. K (1949). Prethabhoomi. Mangalodayam: Mangalodayam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1949). Rangamandapam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1952). Yavanikkaku Pinnil.
  • Pottekkatt. S. K (1954). Kallippokkal. Mangalodayam: Mangalodayam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1954). Vanakaumudhi.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1955). Kanakaambaram.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1960). Antharvahini. Kozhikode: Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182654877.
  • Pottekkatt. S. K (1962). Ezhilam Pala. Kottayam Kottayam: N.B.S.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1967). Theranjedutha Kathakal.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1968). Vrindaavanam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1970). Kattuchembakam.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1971). Braandhan Naaya.
  • Pottekkatt. S. K (1978). S K Pottekkatinte Cherukadhakal. Jaya, Calicut: Jaya, Calicut.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1981). S.K. Pottekkattinte Cherukathakal. Calicut: Mathrubhumi.
  • S K Pottekkatt (1999). Kadha-Pottekkatt.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (2004). Sthree. Kozhikode: Mathrubhumi. ISBN 9788182640948.
  • S. K. Pottekkatt; Ravikumar, K. S. (2010). 'Ottaka'vum Mattu Pradhana Kathakalum. Kottayam: D C Books.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (2014). S. K. Pottekkattinte Kathakal Sampoornam. Kottayam: D C books. ISBN 9788126440184.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (2016). Sthree: Sthreekale Kurichu Kure Kathakal. Kozhikode: Poorna. ISBN 9788130018003.

Travelogues

Poetry

Drama
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1943). Achan.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1948). Achanum Makanum (Included in Himavahini).
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1954). Althara (A Radio play included in Vanakaumudi).
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1954). Theerandi Odunnu (A radio play included in Kallipookkal).

Others
  • Pottekkatt S. K. (under the pseudonym Arunan) (1947). Ponthakkadukal. Kozhikode: Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182656239.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1949). Gadhya mekhala. Kollom: Saindhava Books.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1975). Ente Vazhiyambalangal. Kottayam: National Book Stall.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. Et Al- (1978). Mohammed Abdurahman. Kozhikode: Mohammed Abdurahmansaheb Memorial Committee.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (1981). Samsarikkunna Diarikkurippukal (2nd ed.). Kozhikode: Mathrubhumi books. ISBN 9788182661073.
  • Kamalam (1995). Pottekkattinde Kathukal. Kozhikode P.K. Brothers: Kozhikode P.K. Brothers.
  • Pottekkatt, S. K. (2013). Paryadanam.

Translations into other languages

Films

Writings on Pottekkatt

References
  1. "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  2. "S K Pottekkatt - Centenary of a World Traveler". specials.manoramaonline.com. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  3. "സഞ്ചാരിയായ എഴുത്തുകാരന്‍!". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  4. "Telling the tale of Mukkom". The Hindu. 30 December 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  5. "Mukkom's tribute to a litterateur". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  6. Sisir Kumar Das (2005). History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 253–. ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9.
  7. K. M. George (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 255–. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  8. ഹരികൃഷ്ണന്‍, എച്ച്. "അനുസ്മരിക്കാം ഈ മാന്ത്രികസഞ്ചാരിയെ". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  9. "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  10. "Nadan Premam". IMDb. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  11. "Moodupadam". IMDb. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  12. "Pullimaan". IMDb. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  13. "Njaaval Pazhangal". IMDb. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  14. Thomas Welbourne Clark (1970). The Novel in India: Its Birth and Development. University of California Press. pp. 218–. ISBN 978-0-520-01725-2.
  15. "Kerala Sahitya Academy- Awards". Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  16. "Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (Malayalam)". Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  17. Jnanpith Award winners in Malayalam
  18. "Jnanpith Laureates Official listings". Jnanpith Website. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007.
  19. "Honorary degree by Calicut University" (PDF).
  20. "Postage Stamps:: Postage Stamps,Stamp issue calendar 2014, Paper postage, Commemorative and definitive stamps, Service Postage Stamps, Philately Offices, Philatelic Bureaux and counters, Mint stamps (unused stamps)". postagestamps.gov.in. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  21. "S K Pottekkatt Centenary Special". specials.manoramaonline.com. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  22. "മഹാസഞ്ചാരി - Madhyamam Weekly". archive.is. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2019.

Further reading
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