Kakkanadan

Kakkanadan Biography

George Varghese Kakkanadan, shortly known as Kakkanadan was a very famous novelist and short story writer of Malayalam. In 2005, he received Kendra sahitya Academy award for his collection of short stories - Jappana Pukayila. His works are regarded as path breaking in post independent Malayalam literature and freed it from neo-realism. He is often credited with laying the foundation of modernism in Malayalam literature. He received Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award twice – in 1980 for his short story collection, Aswathamavinte Chiri and in 1984 for the novel, Orotha. In 2002, he received Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Lifetime Achievement in Malayalam Literature. In 1990, he got Viswadeepam Award for the work, Alwar Thirunagarile Pannikal. In 1970, he received Malayalanadu Award  for Yuddhaavasaanam. Balamaniamma Award, Padma Prabha Award, Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Sahitya Award, Indian Association Sharjah Award and Muttathu Varkey Award are the other major honours received by him.

Kakkanadam was born in Thiruvalla as the son of George Kakkanadan and Rosamma on April 23, 1935. His childhood days were spent at Kollam and Kottarakkara. Though his family was true believers of Christianity, he was a Left sympathizer. He completed BSc Chemistry from SN College, Kollam and took profession as a teacher. In 1957, he joined Southern Railway in Tamil Nadu. In 1961 he shifted to Ministry of Indian Railways in New Delhi and in 1967, he went to Germany to pursue a research in literature. He abandoned it in the middle and returned to his home town and continued writing. He has also served as editor of Malayalanadu for a couple of years during 1970’s.

Kakkanadan married Ammini in 1965. Artist Rajan Kakkanadan and writers Thampi Kakkanadan and G. Ignatius Kakkanadan are his brothers. His major novels are Kakkanadan's major novels are Sakshi, Ezham Mudra, Vasoori, Ushnamekhala, Kozhi, Parankimala, Ajnathayude Thaazhvara, Innaleyude Nizhal, Adiyaravu, Orotha, Ee Naaykkalute Lokam and Barsaathi. His most noted short story collections are Yuddhaavasaanam, Purathekkulla Vazhi, Aswathamaavinte Chiri, Sreechakram, Alwar Thirunagarile Pannikal, Uchayillaatha Oru Divasam and Jaappaana Pukayila.

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Updated: February 18, 2014