Ponkunnam Varkey
Encyclopedia
Ponkunnam Varkey was a writer and activist living in Kerala
, India
. He is
considered a leading figure of the 'progressive' school of Malayalam fiction.
Varkey was born on July 1, 1911 in a Syrian Christian family of Edathua
village in Kuttanad (Alappuzha district
), to Katappuram Varkey Joseph and Annamma Joseph. After his father's death Varkey went to his mother's house at Ponkunnam in Kottayam
.While studying in school, he was attracted to Indian independence movement and the subject matter of his early writings was related to this theme. After high school studies he passed the Malayalam 'Vidwan' examination; the then prevalent qualifying test for language teachers and joined a private school as teacher and later moved to a government school. His first collection of short stories 'Thirumulkazhcha' won the award of the Madras government in 1939. Soon he resigned his job and jumped into the freedom struggle and was imprisoned. He was associated with the Communist Party
for some time and was the secretary of Purogamana Sahithya Sanghadana' (progressive writers' forum) for five years. His short stories 'Manthrikkettu' and 'Model' were banned in 1946 by the government of the princely state of Travancore
(now forming southern Kerala) on the charge of treason and Varkey was imprisoned for six months .
He was one of the founders of S.P.C.S, world's largest writers' publishing cooperative and functioned as its president. In 1973 he was nominated as the president of Kerala Sahitya Academy. In 1997'Ezhuthachan Puraskaram' the highest literary honour of the Kerala government was awarded to Varkey . He died on July 2, 2004.
The recurrent themes of Varkey's writings are the decadence in the echelons of power and the corruption among the clergy. His style is direct, simple and unostentatious and the characters of his stories are ordinary rural folk, mostly farmers and workers.
Varkey has published 24 volumes of short stories ,16volumes of plays ,two collection of poems one collection of essays(profiles of some politicians and public figures) and a volume of autobiography .He wrote screen plays for several films and produced two films.
Major Works
Short Stories
Aniyara
Anthithiri
Veliyil Enikku Sthalamilla
Nivedanam
Idivandi
Vikarasadanam
Jailil ninnu
Ezhakal
Pottiya Izhakal
Nattuvelicham
Daham
Daivathekkal Njan pedikkunnathu
Hridayanadam
Sabdikkunna Kalappa
Democracy
Plays
Kathirukanakkili
Bharthavu
Jethakkal
Premaviplavam
Swargam Nanikunnu
Pooja
Njan oradhikappattanu
Vazhi Thurannu
Visarikku Kattu Venda
Karnan
Manushyan
Althara
Irumpumara
Chalanam
Thrumulkazhcha
Neeravi
Ente Vazhithirivu (Autobiography)
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He is
considered a leading figure of the 'progressive' school of Malayalam fiction.
Varkey was born on July 1, 1911 in a Syrian Christian family of Edathua
Edathua
Edathua is a place in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India.Situated 12 km from Thiruvalla Town, Edathua is famous for the St. George Catholic Church known as 'Edathua Palli' situated here.The church was built by Fr. Thomas Olakkapadil. The Church celebrates its major feast during the...
village in Kuttanad (Alappuzha district
Alappuzha district
Alappuzha is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala in India. It was formed as Alleppey District on August 17, 1957. The name of the district was officially changed to Alappuzha in 1990. The district is a widely known tourist destination, and is well known for its coir factories. Most of...
), to Katappuram Varkey Joseph and Annamma Joseph. After his father's death Varkey went to his mother's house at Ponkunnam in Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
.While studying in school, he was attracted to Indian independence movement and the subject matter of his early writings was related to this theme. After high school studies he passed the Malayalam 'Vidwan' examination; the then prevalent qualifying test for language teachers and joined a private school as teacher and later moved to a government school. His first collection of short stories 'Thirumulkazhcha' won the award of the Madras government in 1939. Soon he resigned his job and jumped into the freedom struggle and was imprisoned. He was associated with the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
for some time and was the secretary of Purogamana Sahithya Sanghadana' (progressive writers' forum) for five years. His short stories 'Manthrikkettu' and 'Model' were banned in 1946 by the government of the princely state of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
(now forming southern Kerala) on the charge of treason and Varkey was imprisoned for six months .
He was one of the founders of S.P.C.S, world's largest writers' publishing cooperative and functioned as its president. In 1973 he was nominated as the president of Kerala Sahitya Academy. In 1997'Ezhuthachan Puraskaram' the highest literary honour of the Kerala government was awarded to Varkey . He died on July 2, 2004.
The recurrent themes of Varkey's writings are the decadence in the echelons of power and the corruption among the clergy. His style is direct, simple and unostentatious and the characters of his stories are ordinary rural folk, mostly farmers and workers.
Varkey has published 24 volumes of short stories ,16volumes of plays ,two collection of poems one collection of essays(profiles of some politicians and public figures) and a volume of autobiography .He wrote screen plays for several films and produced two films.
Major Works
Short Stories
Aniyara
Anthithiri
Veliyil Enikku Sthalamilla
Nivedanam
Idivandi
Vikarasadanam
Jailil ninnu
Ezhakal
Pottiya Izhakal
Nattuvelicham
Daham
Daivathekkal Njan pedikkunnathu
Hridayanadam
Sabdikkunna Kalappa
Democracy
Plays
Kathirukanakkili
Bharthavu
Jethakkal
Premaviplavam
Swargam Nanikunnu
Pooja
Njan oradhikappattanu
Vazhi Thurannu
Visarikku Kattu Venda
Karnan
Manushyan
Althara
Irumpumara
Chalanam
Thrumulkazhcha
Neeravi
Ente Vazhithirivu (Autobiography)