Vallathol Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 4 (1994) Winner
Ponkunnam Varkey
ポンクンナム・ヴァーキー
Ponkunnam Varkey
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1910-07-01 （Edathua, Alleppey, Travancore）
- Died
- 2004-07-02 （Pampady, Kottayam, Kerala, India） age 94
- Nationality
- Indian
- Languages
- Malayalam
- Religion
- Catholic (Christian)
- Residence History
- Edathua (birthplace) → Ponkunnam (grew up / base) → Pampady (residence / teaching) → Kottayam, Kerala (later life)
Career
- Occupations
- writer, activist, teacher, freedom fighter, playwright, screenwriter, film producer
- Active Years
- 1939-2004
- Affiliations
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society (SPCS), Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (progressive writers' forum)
- Memberships
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi (president), Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society (president), Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (served as secretary / leader)
- Influenced By
- socialist and progressive thinkers/movements, D. C. Kizhakemuri (associate in publishing/cooperative movement)
- Influenced
- later Malayalam short story writers depicting workers and farmers, progressive literary movements in Kerala
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vidwaan examination (Malayalam qualification) | — | — | — | — | India |
Vidwaan examination (Malayalam qualification)
Country:
India
Passed the Vidwaan Malayalam qualifying examination and subsequently worked as a school teacher. Detailed formal education records not available.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Madras Government Award (for Thirumulkazhcha) | Thirumulkazhcha (poetry collection) | — | Madras government | 受賞 |
| 1994 | Vallathol Award | — | — | Vallathol award committee | 受賞 |
| 1997 | Ezhuthachan Puraskaram | — | — | Government of Kerala | 受賞 |
| 2002 | Lalithambika Sahitya Award | — | — | Lalithambika award body | 受賞 |
| 2002 | Muttathu Varkey Award | — | — | Muttathu Varkey award body | 受賞 |
| 1989 | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship | — | — | Kerala Sahitya Akademi | 受章 |
Madras Government Award (for Thirumulkazhcha)
1939
Work:
Thirumulkazhcha (poetry collection)
Organization:
Madras government
Result:
受賞
Vallathol Award
1994
Organization:
Vallathol award committee
Result:
受賞
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
1997
Organization:
Government of Kerala
Result:
受賞
Lalithambika Sahitya Award
2002
Organization:
Lalithambika award body
Result:
受賞
Muttathu Varkey Award
2002
Organization:
Muttathu Varkey award body
Result:
受賞
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
1989
Organization:
Kerala Sahitya Akademi
Result:
受章
Awards & Nominations
Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
1 appearances
-
Edition 5 (1997) Winner
Muttathu Varkey Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 11 (2002) Winner
Works
Major Works
Thirumulkazhcha (poetry collection)
1939 poetryA poetry collection published in 1939 that received contemporary acclaim and a Madras government award.
social conditionsrural life
Sabdikkunna Kalappa
short storyA short story about the close bond between a farmer and his ox, regarded as one of the notable short stories in Malayalam literature.
human-nature relationshiprural society
Ente Vazhithirivu (autobiography)
autobiographyAn autobiographical account detailing his life, activities and literary outlook.
autobiographyliterary activism
Navalokam (film / screenplay)
1951 screenplay / filmA screenplay laden with pro-labour dialogues; the film underwent heavy cuts by the Censor Board.
laborsocial justice
Adaptations
- [film] Navalokam (1951)
Bibliography
- Kunakiriyam
- Aniyara
- Anthithiri
- Veliyil Enikku Sthalamilla
- Nivedanam
- Idivandi'ailil ninnu
- Model
- Ezhakal
- Pottiya Izhakal
- Nattuvelicham
- Daham
- Daivathekkal Njan pedikkunnathu
- Hridayanadam
- Sabdikkunna Kalappa
- Democracy
- Kathirukanakkili
- Bharthavu
- Jethakkal
- Premaviplavam
- Swargam Nanikunnu
- Pooja
- Njan oradhikappattanu
- Vazhi Thurannu
- Visarikku Kattu Venda
- Chalanam
- Thirumulkazhcha (poetry)
- Neeravi
- Ente Vazhithirivu (autobiography)
Adaptations
- Navalokam (screenplay / film)
- Snehaseema (screenplay contribution)
- Bharya (screenplay contribution)
- Makam Piranna Manka (produced)
- Chalanam (produced / play)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- direct, simple, unostentatious styleuses colloquial, spoken-like expressions
- Recurring Motifs
- ordinary rural folk (farmers, workers)decadence of power elitescorruption among clergyrelationship between humans and nature
Legacy
Ponkunnam Varkey was a pioneer of the progressive writers' forum and the writers' cooperative in Kerala, playing a significant role in Kerala's literary scene. Through short stories, plays and screenplays he critiqued social injustice and influenced regional literature.
Academic Societies
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi
- Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham
Archives
- Archives of Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society (Kerala)
In Popular Culture
- Influence on Malayalam cinema through screenwriting and film production
Trivia
- In 1946 his short stories 'Manthrikkettu' and 'Model' were banned by the Travancore government on charges of treason; Varkey was imprisoned for six months.
- He started the National Book Stall in 1944; it later merged with the Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society, of which he served as president.
- The 1951 film 'Navalokam', for which he wrote story and dialogue, was heavily cut by the Censor Board.
- His wife Claramma died in 1991. They had four sons and three daughters.