Punathil Kunjabdulla

Punathil Kunjabdulla Biography

Dr. Punathil Kunjabdulla is a prominent writer belonging to Malayalam literature. He is a well-known novelist as well as a short story writer. He is a doctor by profession. Known as a modernist of Malayalam literature, he bagged his first Kendra Sahithya Academy Award in 1980 for his celebrated novel, Smarakasilakal. Same novel earned him Kerala Sahitya Academy award also, for the year 1978. Marunnu and Malamukalile Abdulla are other noted works. Malamukalile Abdulla earned him Kerala Sahitya Academy award for the year 1980. He is also a recipient of Vishwadeepam Award, Muttathu Varkey Award, Mathrubhumi literary award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship for the year 2010. Apart from novels and short stories, he has also published travelogues, memorials and cookery books. Nashtajaathakam is his autobiography work.

Kunjabdulla was born in Vadakara, Kozhikode, Kerala. He took MBBS degree from Aligarh Muslim University. He is a doctor by profession and currently runs a hospital in his hometown. In his childhood he dreamt to become a painter. Yet he reached a profession he has never dreamt about. The first picture he drew was that of his pet cat, Vappan. He wrote a lot about social life and injustice that existed in the society. He has also portrayed the strange incidents that took place since his childhood through his works. His autobiography work is among the best literal works of Malayalam in this sector. He is fondly called Kunjikka.

He started writing at the age of 13. He is regarded as a genius among the experienced writers of Malayalam of modern literature at present. Now he is parted from his wife and leads a lonely life. Yet he enjoys being single and concentrates on his writing. He is now a vegetarian too.

He died at Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode on 27 October 2017, aged 77.

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Updated: October 28, 2017