Nalapat Narayana Menon

Nalapat Narayana Menon Biography

Nalapat Narayana Menon was a celebrated writer and poet of Malayalam literature. He belonged to a family of blessed Malayalam writers. He translated Victor Hugo's Les Misérables to Malayalam titled Pavangal (which literally means Poor people). Despite being a translation work, Pavangal is regarded as a milestone of Malayalam literature. Kannuneerthulli is his next noted work, an elegy written after his wife’s death. He belonged to Ponnani, Kannur of Malabar. Noted Malayalam poetess Balamani Amma was his niece. Blessed writer of Malayalam - Kamala Surayya, also known as Madhavikutty and Kamala Das was his grandniece. Great poet Vallathol Narayana Menon was his friend since 18. They had an age difference of about 10. Vallothol has influenced in his early poems a lot.

He was born in Punnayurkulam in the year 1887. As a poet he was influenced by the writings of great poet Vallathol Narayana Menon and Robert G. Ingersoll. He was an atheist in his youth. But later on he was influenced by Indian philosophy and religion and was deeply drawn towards the ideologies of great thinkers - Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda. Thus earliest works showed traces of Indian philosophy also.

His celebrated work Pavangal is deeply linked to the socio-political reforms of Kerala in the 20^th century. Communist movement of Kerala during mid-20^th century has been heavily influenced by this celebrated work and helped a lot to make this party popular in the state and make a ‘left impact’ in the state. The most prominent communist leader of Kerala, E. M. S. Namboodiripad regards it as Nalapat’s best work. His other noted works include – Sulochana, Rathi Samrajyam, Chakravalam, Pulakankuram, Valmiki Prashnam, Lokam, Nimitha Sastram, Pukayila Mahatmyam Kilippattu and Veshu Ammayude Vishari.

Published: N/A

Updated: May 23, 2014