Chandran Nair

Chandran Nair Biography

Chandran Nair is a Malayali poet from Singapore. Born in Kerala, he moved to Singapore as a child where he got settled. In the past four decades, he has published a few collections of English poems, apart from translation and non-fiction works. Once the Horsemen and Other Poems (1972), After the Hard Hours, This Rain (1975) and Reaching for Stones: Collected Poems (1963-2009) are his anthology of published poetry works till now. In 1987 he authored a book on management, and has also co-translated The Poems & Lyrics of Last Lord Lee: A Translation in 1975. Nair has also edited a few books. He is a marine biologist, though he dedicates his time to writings.

Born in Kerala in 1945, he moved to Singapore at the age of seven. His father V. R. Gopala Pillai was a popular novelist who wrote under the pen name, G.P. Njekkad. Nair married Ivy Goh Pek Kien in 1973 and settled in Singapore itself, like his father. Since school days he wrote poetry and regularly published them in school magazines. His first collection of poems - Once The Horsemen and Other Poems was published in 1972. After that he published two more poetry collections, apart from a translation work and a non-fiction book titled - Book Promotion, Sales and Distribution, Management Training Course in 1987.

Quite busy with his literary publishing, he later took up the job of a consultant with UNESCO. In 1973, he received First Prize at New Nation Short Story Contest, for his short story – Leta. He is the founder President of the Society of Singapore Writers from 1976 to 1981. His poem "Grandfather" was used by  University of Cambridge for board examination.

Published: N/A

Updated: March 12, 2016