N. N. Kakkad

Narayanan Nambuthiri Kakkad (Malayalam: നാരായണൻ നമ്പൂതിരി കക്കാട്; 14 July 1927 – 6 January 1987), commonly known as N. N. Kakkad, was an Indian poet of the Malayalam language. Known for works such as Saphalmee Yathra, Pathalathinde Muzhakkam and Changatham, he was a Sanskrit scholar and was known to have been proficient in painting and music. He was a recipient of several awards including Odakkuzhal Award, Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry and Vayalar Award.

N. N. Kakkad
Born(1927-07-14)July 14, 1927
Avitanallur, British India (Kerala, India)
DiedJanuary 6, 1987(1987-01-06) (aged 59)
OccupationTeacher, poet, essayist, translator
Notable works
  • Saphalmee Yathra
  • Pathalathinde Muzhakkam
  • Changatham
Notable awards
SpouseSreedevi Kakkad
Relatives
  • Narayanan Namboothiri (father)
  • Devaki Antharjanam (mother)

Biography

Kakkad was born on July 14, 1927 at Avitanallur of Kozhikode district, in the south Indian state of Kerala, in an orthodox Brahmin family to Kakkad Valiya Narayanan Namboothiri and Devaki Antharjanam.[1] His early education was in Sanskrit in the traditional way and he also studied painting, classical music and flute. It was only at the age of 16, he could start his formal education which at the 6th standard and in 1943, he joined the Zamorin's High School, Kozhikode in 7th standard. Two years later, he moved to Vivekodayam High School from where he completed schooling and joined Sree Kerala Varma College in 1948, where he had the opportunity to study under N. V. Krishna Warrier, the noted poet and scholar, who nurtured his literary skills.[2] After earning the graduate degree of BOL, he started his career as a teacher at Naduvannur High School but his tenure there was short-lived as he resigned following a dispute with the school management to move to a tutorial college in Kozhikode. Later, he switched to broadcasting by joining the Kozhikode station of the All India Radio[3] as a script writer and spent the rest of his career there to superannuate in 1985 as a producer.[2]

Kakkad was married to Sreedevi, the marriage taking place on April 25, 1955.[2] He died on January 6, 1987, at the age of 59, succumbing to cancer.[4]

Career

He started writing poetry during his school days.[5] His first book, Salabha Geetham, appeared in 1957, followed by ten other books of poetry and three essay compilations.[6] He is considered by many critics as a pioneer of avant-garde poetry in Malayalam[7][8] and as the one of the founders of modernist movement in Malayalam literature.[9][10] Kanwan and Nineteen Sixty Three, published in Mathrubhumi weekly in early 1960s revealed Eliotean influence and established him as a modern poet. Saphalamee Yathra, which fetched him a number of awards and considered by many as his magnum opus was published in 1985. Two of his works, Nadan Chinthukal and Pakalaruthikku Munpu, were published after his death.[2]

Kakkad was also involved in politics, starting as a member of the Indian National Congress but later, moving to the Communist Party of India.[5] He unsuccessfully contested the Malabar District Board elections from Balussery under the Communist banner and was an office bearer of the All India Radio Staff Association.[1] He also sat in the councils of Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Kerala Sahitya Samithi, Vallathol Vidyapeedam, Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham.[2]

Awards and honours

Kakkad received the Odakkuzhal Award in 1985 for his work, Saphalamee Yathra;[11] and the Cherukad Award for the poetry anthology, Kavitha, the same year.[12] Kerala Sahitya Akademi selected Saphalamee Yathra for their annual award for poetry in 1986[13] and he received one more award in 1986, the Vayalar Award, Saphalamee Yathra again fetching him the honour.[14] He received the 1989 Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram as a posthumous honor.[15]

Works

Poetry
  • Kakkad, N. N. (1957). Salaba Geetham (1 ed.). Thrissur: Current Books.
  • N. N. Kakkad. Agniradham. Kozhikode: Poorna Publications. p. 224. ISBN 978-8130008295.
  • N. N. Kakkad (1971). Pathalathinte Muzhakkam. Sāhityapr̲avartaka Sahakaraṇasaṅghaṃ.
  • Kakkad, N. N. Vajrakundalam. Kottayam: National Book Stall.
  • N. N. Kakkad (1985). Saphalamee Yathra. Kochi: Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 8182648726. ASIN 8182648726.
  • Kakkad, N. N. (1980). Kavitha.
  • Kakkad, N. N. Nanni Thiruvoname Nanni.
  • Kakkad. N. N (1970). Ayirathi thollayirathi Arupathi moonnu. Poorna publications: Poorna publications.
  • N. N.Kakkad (1986). Itha Ashramamrugam Kollu, Kollu. Payyannur: BR Book Publishers.
  • Kakkad, N. N. Pakalaruthikku Munpu.
  • N N Kakkad (1987). Nadan chinthukal. Malayalam Publication, Kozhikode: Malayalam Publication, Kozhikode.
  • Kakkad, N. N. Kachacharitham (Kalam[pattu).
  • Kakkad, N. N. Kachavrutham.
  • Kakkad, N. N. Sishyanaya Guru.
  • N. N. Kakkad (2002). Kakkadinte Krithikal. Current Books. p. 591.
  • N. N. Kakkad (2011). Kakkadinte Kavithakal. Kochi: Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 978-8182650862.

Essays

See also

References
  1. ശിവാനന്ദ്, അഖില്‍. "സഫലമീ കാവ്യയാത്ര". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  2. "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  3. "N. N. Kakkad - Veethi profile". veethi.com. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  4. എന്‍, ഡോ അദിതി. "ആര്‍ദ്രമീ ധനുമാസരാവില്‍..." Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  5. Bhaskar, B.R.P. (8 July 2003). "Monograph on a poet". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  6. "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  7. Malayala Kavithasahithya Charithram; M. Leelavathy, Kerala Sahithya Akademy, Trichur
  8. The Book Review. C. Chari for Perspective Publications. 2002.
  9. Vishwanathan, R. (1998). "A Journey Of Fulfilment : N.N. Kakkad (1927-87)". Indian Literature. 41 (1 (183)): 136–138. JSTOR 23341307.
  10. Ke. Eṃ Tarakan (1990). A Brief Survey of Malayalam Literature: History of Literature. K.M. Tharakan.
  11. "Winners of Odakkuzhal Award". www.keralaculture.org. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  12. "Cherukad Award". www.keralaculture.org. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  13. "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 22 April 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  14. "Winners of Vayalar Award". www.keralaculture.org. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  15. "Winners of Asan Prize". www.keralaculture.org. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.

Further reading
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