Kovilan

Kovilan Biography

Kovilan’s real name is Kandanisseri Vattomparambil Velappan Ayyappan and also known by the short name, V. V. Ayyappan. He was a Malayalam novelist and freedom fighter from Kerala. He is considered as one of the most prolific writers of contemporary Indian literature and many of his works are regarded as milestones of Malayalam modern literature. In total he has published 11 novels, 10 collections of short stories, three essays and a play. Initially he was branded as a writer of military stories. But through his later works, he proved that he looked at life with its varied dimensions. He brought to bear a universal dimension on all his literary works.

His work, Thattakam, is widely regarded as his masterpiece – the work for which he received Kendra Sahitya Academy award in 1998. Other noted works include - Thottangal, A Minus B and Ezhamedangal. He has also won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award twice in 1972 (Thottangal) and 1977 (Sakunam). He had been a Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi since 1997 and Sahitya Akademi since 2005. He is also a recipient of Ezhuthachan Puraskaram – the highest literary honour of Kerala.

Kovilan was born in Kandanassery in Guruvayur as the son of Vattomparambil Shanku Velappan and Kotakkattil Kunjandi Kali on July 9, 1923. During his college life, he quit studies to join Quit India Movement. Later he didn’t restart again and concentrated on his literary works. He joined the Royal Indian Navy in 1943 and served in Bengal Sea, Burma and Singapore. He quit service following the Royal Indian Navy mutiny of 1946 and returned home. He also took part in the trade union movements and completed SSLC in 1948. He worked as a stenographer for a short period and then joined the Indian Army Corps of Signals as Radio Mechanic. He spent 5 years in Himalayas and his experiences were well reflected in his works too. He retired from the Indian Army in 1968 as Havildar Major and returned to Kerala where he concentrated on to writing.

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Updated: February 18, 2014