Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan

Mahakavi Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan (born 1903) was a Malayalam poet. He was great-nephew of Rev. George Mathan. He, along with his son, Prof. K.M. Tharakan, have made memorable contributions to the Freedom Movement and the Malayalam language. His son Prof. K.M. Tharakan carried on his literary tradition and was a noted writer, novelist, and critic.

Mathan Tharakan
Mahakavi
Born(1903-09-05)5 September 1903
Puthencavu, Chengannur, Kerala, India
Died5 April 1993(1993-04-05) (aged 89)
NationalityIndian
OccupationPoet, Writer, Lyricist
Spouse(s)Mariamma

Birth and family

He was born on 5 September 1903 at Puthencavu, a village in Alapuzha district of Kerala, South India, to Kizhakkethalakal Eapen Mathai and Mariamma.

He had 2 sons.[1] His son K. M. Tharakan was a chairman of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, noted critic, writer and novelist.

Surviving descendants of Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan currently reside in Alleppey. He has a great grand nephew C. John Mathai who lives with his family in Pazhaveedu.

Education and career

His early life was spent in Puthencavu. He was inspired by the work of his great-uncle George Mathan to pursue a career in literature together with academic work. By his own efforts, he was able to pass the Malayalam Vidwan exam and also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Malayalam in 1952, he joined Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta as a lecturer. He went on to become the Head of the Department of Malayalam and was the officiating Principal from 1957-1958.[2] He was also a member of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi from 1960-1964. In 1972, he obtained permission from the government and made a successful attempt to revive "Bhajemathaam", the political newsweekly run by M. Mathunny from Cengannur in the twenties. As a young nationalist Mathan Tharakan was associated with the paper.[3] A dedicated Congress man, he worked closely with Elanthoor Kumarji, the veteran Gandhian and Freedom Fighter, to promote Khadi and the nationalist ideology even after independence.

Works

Mathan Tharakan earned the title of Mahakavi for his magnum opus on the life of Christ - Viswadeepam[4] written in 1965.[5] As a lyricist, he penned the lyrics for 14 songs which were used in the second Malayalam movie ever made, Gnanambika in 1940.[6][7]

References
  1. "Mathen Tharakan". Writer profile (in Malayalam). Puzha Books. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  2. "List of Principals". Catholicate College. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  3. K. Kumar and the Indian National Movement - article by Puthenkavu Mathan Tharakan in Kumarji Smaraka Grantham: 1974
  4. Malayalam Literary Survey, Vol. 15. Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 1993. p. 49.
  5. Amaresh Datta, ed. (1988). Encyclopedia of Indian Literature (1988 ed.). Sahitya Akademi. p. 1146. ISBN 81-260-1194-7. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  6. "Puthankavu Mathan Tharakan - Lyricist - Gnaanaambika". Malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  7. B. Vijayakumar (10 May 2008). "JNANAMBIKA 1940". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
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