U A Khader

U A Khader Biography

U A Khader is a noted novelist of Malayalam literature. He has published about 50 books in Malayalam and many of them have been translated to other languages including Hindi, English and Kannada. His works include - novels, novellas, short-stories, travelogues and non-fiction. He is always regarded as one of the major writers in modern Malayalam literature. Now he is the president of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, an organization of artists. His travelogue ‘Ormakalude Pegoda’, based on his visits to his motherland was published in Madhyamam weekly since 2012 January.  

He was born in 1935, in Billeen village, near Rangoon (Yangon), Myanmar. His father Ussangaantakathu Moithootti Haji was a Muslim from Kerala, while his mother Mamaidi was Burmese in origin. She died a few days after Khader’s birth, being affected by chicken pox. On the outbreak of Second World War, they need to flee from Burma in search of a safer zone and reached Kerala at last. At the age of seven, Khader returned to India and grew as a Keralite at his father's native place in Koyilandi.

He had his schooling from Koyilandi High School and obtained a degree in painting from the Madras College of Arts. Khadar got an opportunity to meet K.A.Kodungalloor, a writer and social reformer, C. H. Mohammed Koya who encouraged him to find his own world in literature.  Eventually, Khader's first story was published in Chandrika weekly in 1953. It was based on his real life incident written in his style. Very soon, he published numerous short stories of his own. But it was his work, Thrikkottur Peruma that brought him to limelight.

He has also worked in government sector under different departments - Kerala Government Health Services, Kozhikode Akasavaani and Institute of Maternal and Child Health-Calicut Medical College. He has also worked as editor of many magazines and had held posts for many art and literary associations. His notable works include - Katha Pole Jeevitha, for which he won S.K.Pottakad award in 1993, Kalimuttamfor which he got C. H. Mohammed Koya Award in 1999 and Oru Piti Vattu (Abudabi Shakti Award in 1993). His work, Thrikkottur Peruma has given him both Kendriya Sahitya Academy award as well as Kerala Sahitya Academy award.  

Published: N/A

Updated: September 10, 2013