Odakkuzhal Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 36 (2003) Winner
Paul Zacharia
ポール・ザカリア
Paul Zacharia
Aliases:
M. P. Scaria / Mundattuchundayil Paul Scaria / Zacharia
Pen Names:
Zacharia（Commonly used short form as an author name）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1945-06-05 （Urulikunnam, Travancore (present-day Kottayam district, Kerala, India)）
- Nationality
- Indian
- Languages
- Malayalam, English
- Residence History
- Urulikunnam (birthplace) → Mysore (education) → Bengaluru/Bangalore (education/work) → New Delhi (long-term work) → Coimbatore (short-term work) → Thiruvananthapuram (current residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Short story writer, Novelist (novellas), Essayist, Screenwriter, Columnist, Translator, Editor
- Active Years
- 1966-
- Affiliations
- Press Club of India (New Delhi), Thiruvananthapuram Club, Kerala Sahitya Akademi
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sree Dayananda Primary School (Urulikunnam) | — | — | — | 1950年代〜1960年（初等教育） | India |
| St. Thomas College, Palai (pre-university) | — | — | — | 1960–1961（プレユニバーシティ） | India |
| St. Philomena's College, Mysore | — | English Literature, History and Economics | Bachelor's degree | 1961–1964（学士） | India |
| Central College of Bangalore | — | English Literature (postgraduate) | Master's degree | 1964–1966（修士） | India |
Sree Dayananda Primary School (Urulikunnam)
Period:
1950年代〜1960年（初等教育）
Year of Graduation:
1960
Country:
India
Primary schooling in his native village
St. Thomas College, Palai (pre-university)
Period:
1960–1961（プレユニバーシティ）
Year of Graduation:
1961
Country:
India
Completed pre-university course
St. Philomena's College, Mysore
English Literature, History and Economics
Degree:
Bachelor's degree
Period:
1961–1964（学士）
Year of Graduation:
1964
Country:
India
Majored in English literature among other subjects
Central College of Bangalore
English Literature (postgraduate)
Degree:
Master's degree
Period:
1964–1966（修士）
Year of Graduation:
1966
Country:
India
Completed MA in English literature
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (Sahitya Akademi Award) | — | — | Sahitya Akademi (Indian National Academy of Letters) | 受賞 |
| 2020 | Ezhuthachan Puraskaram | — | — | Government of Kerala | 受賞 |
| 2019 | Vallathol Award | — | — | Vallathol Memorial Trust | 受賞 |
| 2023 | Mathrubhumi Literary Award | — | — | Mathrubhumi | 受賞 |
| — | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story | — | — | Kerala Sahitya Akademi | 受賞 |
| 2013 | Distinguished Fellowship of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi | — | — | Kerala Sahitya Akademi | 選出・叙勲 |
Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (Sahitya Akademi Award)
Organization:
Sahitya Akademi (Indian National Academy of Letters)
Result:
受賞
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
2020
Organization:
Government of Kerala
Result:
受賞
Vallathol Award
2019
Organization:
Vallathol Memorial Trust
Result:
受賞
Mathrubhumi Literary Award
2023
Organization:
Mathrubhumi
Result:
受賞
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story
Organization:
Kerala Sahitya Akademi
Result:
受賞
Distinguished Fellowship of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi
2013
Organization:
Kerala Sahitya Akademi
Result:
選出・叙勲
Awards & Nominations
Muttathu Varkey Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 14 (2005) Winner
Padmarajan Award (Padmarajan Puraskaram)
1 appearances
-
Edition 18 (2009) Winner
Vallathol Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 29 (2019) Winner
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
1 appearances
-
Edition 28 (2020) Winner
Works
Major Works
Kunnu
1969 Short story collectionAn early collection of short stories showcasing Zacharia's characteristic humour and observation of everyday life.
HumourSocial observationIdentity
Bhaskara Pattelar and Other Stories
1994 Short story collection (English translation)A selection of notable short stories translated into English, bringing Zacharia's work to a wider audience.
Local and globalCultural identityReligion and secularism
Translations
- English: Bhaskara Pattelar and Other Stories (1994)
Praise the Lord!
1996 Novella / Two novellasNovellas that treat religion and faith with satirical and observational prose characteristic of Zacharia.
Religious satireFaith and contradictionSocial critique
Oru African Yaathra (A Journey in Africa)
2005 TravelogueA travelogue recounting visits to Africa, using travel experience to explore cultural comparisons and social observation.
TravelCultural comparisonObservational record
Bibliography
- Kunnu (1969)
- Ambadi (1969)
- Oridathu: Zacharia's Stories (1978)
- Oru Nasrani Yuvavum Goulisasthravum (1983)
- Aarkariyam: Stories (1986)
- Salaam America (1993)
- Kannaadi Kaanmolavum: Stories (1997)
- Kanyakumari: Stories (1999)
- Zacharia's Women's Stories: Stories (2001)
- Zacharia's Stories (2002)
- Prathikathakal (2003)
- Zacharia's Jesus (2007)
- My Favourite Stories (2008)
- Alphonsamma's Death and Funeral Rites (2011)
- Then (2016)
Adaptations
- TV serial 'Kairalivilasam Lodge' (writer, 1988)
- Partial records of film/stage adaptations (details unknown)
Translations by Author
- Bhavanayude Anthyam (Malayalam translation of Arundhati Roy, 1999)
- Njangal Ningalkku Bhoomi Vittaal (Translation of Chief Seattle's speech, 2010)
- Oru Enthinenthinu Penkutty (Translation of Mahasweta Devi, 2003)
Translations of Works
- English translation 'Bhaskara Pattelar and Other Stories' (1994)
- English 'The Reflections of a Hen in Her Last Hour and Other Stories' (1999)
- German 'Bhaskara Pattelar und andere Geschichten' (2004)
- Kodava 'Babu Patela' (1996)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Concise, observational prose with humour and ironyConcentration on short stories and novellasIntermingling of polemical/essayistic commentary
- Recurring Motifs
- Tension between religion and secularismTravel and cross-cultural encountersMismatch between individual and societyIdentity and names/nominal conventions
Legacy
Paul Zacharia is an important writer in Malayalam literature, known for his short stories and novellas marked by distinctive humour and critical spirit. He has received major state and national awards in India and has been introduced internationally through translations.
Academic Societies
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi
In Popular Culture
- Co-host of television program review 'Patravisesham' on Asianet
- Public intellectual presence through newspaper columns and media
Trivia
- Worked for many years with media and publishing houses in New Delhi
- Was part of the founding group of Asianet and co-hosted the TV review show 'Patravisesham'
- Often compared to Jorge Luis Borges for focus on short stories and novellas
- Recipient of Ezhuthachan Puraskaram (2020) and Vallathol Award (2019)