Sanjayan

Sanjayan Biography

Sanjayan is the pen name of Professor Mannikoth Ramunni Nair or simply M.R. Nair. He was a prolific writer and satirist associated with Malayalam literature. His satirical essays criticizing the contemporary social state, places Sanjayan among the top writers of Malayalam all-time. A stalwart of journalism, he was closely associated with journal, "Kerala Patrika", and also served as the editor-in-chief of Viswaroopam, a satirical magazine in the Malayalam language. His full works were published in two volumes titled - Sanjayan Sampoorna Kruthikal. He died at a comparatively young age of 41.

Sanjayan was born in Thalassery, a town in Kannur District of Kerala in 1903, June 13. He was born in a Nair family, Othayoth. Madavil Kunjiraman Vaidyar and Paru Amma were his parents. He lost his father at a young age of 8 and he was brought up by his mother. In 1927 he completed graduation in English literature with honours. Since young he learnt Sanskrit and by the time he completed graduation, he was prolific in Sanskrit language as well. He also learnt German and French languages. Though he joined government service soon after studies, he resigned the job and started his career as a lecturer at Malabar Christian College. Though he joined law studies while doing his profession, he couldn’t complete it several times due to illness (tuberculosis).

During 1933-1935 period he became an avid reader and also learnt philosophy and astrology. In 1927 he married Karthyayani Amma who passed away three years later. The child born in the wedlock passed away in 1939. In 1935 he shifted to Kozhikode where he started his illustrious journey as a journalist. While going through the deep stresses and losses of family life, he gained attraction from readers through his satire works. After Kunjan Nambiar, he was the writer from Malayalam who gained popularity as a satirist in the language. After a short-lived life, he passed away on September 13, 1943.

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Updated: March 06, 2016