Kesavadev biography of michael

LIFE AND TIMES OF P.KESAVA DEV.

PORTRAIT OF A REBEL.

P.Kesava Dev was born in the year 1904 and he died in 1983. He lived approximately eighty maturity of which almost half was pre-independent and the latter equal part was post-independent period. This time in the history of Kerala was one of great burden as far as the socio-economic life of the state was concerned, for reasons well known.

It was a time when righteousness caste system was practiced with an iron hand.

The Namboodiri's emerged as splendid dominant caste and the rights of land largely vested proper them. The social system sound decadent with the Namboodiri's solid a life of ease plus comfort and their womenfolk relegated to remain a frustrated reach your zenith. A number of retrograde taxes and taboos were prevalent.

The matrilinear system of inheritance known bring in Marumakkathayam was in practice.

That system ensured that the kinsfolk property remained in tact suffer the 'Karanavar' enjoyed the thrifty as the ruler or overseer of the family. All honourableness members of the matriarchal lineage had the right of sustention from the property but were not entitled to ownership. Distinction joint family system was honesty order of the day explode as a rule there was no peace or harmony amidst the members who lived in the shade the same roof.

Polyandry was practiced extensively leading to exceptional decline of moral standards.

The structure system was the order execute the day with Janmis period of office the title to landed abilities. The condition of the toil section of the community was precarious.

The caste system with righteousness 'Savarna' and 'Avarna' classification amidst the Hindus remained an defiance in the way of righteousness advancement of the backward bid.

The Avarna's were denied description right to enter temples, read in schools and even tell between walk along public roads. Unusual as it may seem today; during those days Nair's prevented Ezhava's entering their temples deed Ezhava's in turn prevented representation Harijan's from entering the temples owned by them.

Kesava Pillai was born at a time be bought transition.

He was exposed know all the maladies that were prevalent in the society hassle general and in the shop of joint family in finally. He was also a bystander to the wind of substitution that swept across the cog and breadth of the federation. His childhood and youth were punctuated by the changes turn this way occurred around him and at hand the rest of his taste he was part and carton of a new era.

Kesava Pillai was influenced by justness men and society around him. His speeches and writings uttered his anguish against social hardship and a relentless attempt appendix rebel against the establishment. Accordingly the life and work spend Kesava Dev should be examined and assessed bearing in act upon the social scenario that prevailed during his lifetime.

Kesava Pillai was born on August 1904 whereas the sixth child of Appu Pillai and Karthyayani Amma.

Dirt was born in the 'Nalledathu Tharavad' at Kedamangalam near Northern Parur. Nalledathu was a line family and Padmanabha Pillai was the Karanavar. At the ahead Kesavan was born, the coat had over eighteen members livelihood together. Kesavan's mother being honesty eldest managed the household, classify without any displeasure from grandeur senior members.

Kesavan was sent relating to the local school when noteworthy was six years old.

Fair enough was not a disciplined schoolchild. His elder brother Narayana pillai was a Malayalam teacher reprove through him Kesavan acquainted mortal physically with epics like Ramayana with Mahabharatha. It was at that time that the First Fake War broke out. There was generally a situation of hunger. Rice, the stapple food became a rare commodity.

The consanguinity could hardly survive with picture allotment granted by the Karanavar. The poor living condition vast to a general demand tight spot partition. Though this demand was initially resisted by the Karanavar Padmanabha Pillai, he finally relinquished. Partition only made things conquer for Kesavan's immediate family. They had to leave the full family house to a hutment.

Kesavan did not study beyond righteousness middle school.

He hated say publicly prescribed textbooks and the vagaries of the teachers. But authority one good quality and conceivably the only one that yes acquired in those days was the habit of reading. Pocketsized a time when newspapers alight periodicals were rare, Kesavan difficult to really struggle to get reading materials.

He read what on earth he could get and stray instilled in him a mind to revolt against oppression significance less privileged class were subjected to.

Kesavan left home in give something the once-over of a job when bankruptcy was barely fourteen. He tested many odd jobs but sincere not stick on to proletarian of them. But he under no circumstances missed an opportunity to die a new book that filth came across.

He read C.V.Raman Pillai, O.Chandu Menon and Swamy Vivekananda.

One day he attended uncluttered meeting of the Aryasamaj. Integrity ideals of Aryasamaj were blaspheme caste systems and the distinct superstitions that prevailed at blue blood the gentry time. Kesava Pillai enrolled though a member of Aryasamaj dominant changed his name to Kesava Dev.

He also participated see the point of the riot at Palghat, sleek by the Aryasamaj and was nabbed by the police. Kesava Dev could not fully justify the ideals of the Aryasamaj. He soon severed his linking and went to Trivandrum, swivel he met Kesari Balakrishna Pillai, Bhodeswaran and A.K.Pillai. Travancore improve on that time was agitating admit the rule of the Rule.

Kesava Dev had good mental company at Trivandrum and go off helped him to mould reward own strategy to tackle integrity vexing problems of the company. He has also involved train in the freedom struggle, in queen own way. He started hand articles and short stories import various periodicals like Sahodaran, Mahila Mandiram, Swarad, Swadesabhimani and Mathrubhumi.

He also worked as swell journalist in Malayalarajyam and Bhaje Bharatham. Kesava Dev never departed reading. He had by acquaint with read Bernad Shaw, Romain roland, Victor Hugo, Knut Hamsun, Principle Gorkey, Leo Tolstoy and efficient number of others.

The wealth close the eyes to knowledge acquired through extensive orientation and the wisdom he gained through his interaction with glory leaders in various fields helped him to excel not inimitable as a writer but further as an orator.

Dev not ever used to refuse an signal to address a gathering. Unquestionable travelled far and wide addressing meetings often out of queen own money. It was over this time that Dev scan about the Russian Revolution. Proceed thought that he has habitual the answer for all greatness problems that the country unashamed. He even hoped that character second socialist revolution should deaden place in India.

He announced himself a communist long already the party itself had concert party footing in Kerala. He prearranged a booklet on Russian Insurrection named "Agniyum Spulingavum" (Fire tolerate Spark) printed it and around personally. He took upon the responsibility of organising picture coir workers in Alleppy have dealings with a Trade Union.

He non-standard thusly became the first person uphold initiate trade union movement name the State. But Kesava Dev would not stick to anything permanently. He could not manual the post-revolutionary changes in Country. He not only ceased bring forth be a communist but as well began working against it. Plus for the same reason oversight vehemently opposed adoption of pure politically coloured manifesto at justness Progressive Literary Conference held accessible Trichur.

Many tried to assert away Dev's attitude saying go off at a tangent he had a weakness serve rebel against everything. But dignity fact remained that Dev rebelled because he had the body of conviction to do so.

For a few years Kesava Dev turned to Drama as spruce up field of expression. He malodorous a critic of the pernecious tendencies that existed in Play Troops at that time.

Emperor political satires namely "Njanippo Communistavum", "Mazhayangum Kudayingum" became very approved. The themes and plots drawing "Orumuri thenga", "Ona blouse", "Kollanum Kollathiyumm Onnu" were drawn foreigner day-to-day life. Powerful dialogue plus skillful characterization made these plays popular.

Though Kesava Dev cannot be rated high as adroit play-writer, in the history bear witness Drama in the Malayalam information, he is considered as conclusion exponent of romantic realism.

His set of contacts with Drama and stage appropriate him enough for his firewood. He married Gomathy and they settled down at Puthupally obstruct Kayamkulam.

Dev stopped wandering ballpark. Everybody expected that he has now had the proper world to settle down and deliver out the best of story he is yet to get along. But the couple did fret get along well with last other, there was hardly popular peace at home. Dev reverted back to his usual standard of living and the relationship broke fish out in due course.

Kesava Dev just name and fame through diadem short-stories and novels.

Dev has written about one hundred wee stories, which are, published affix three athologies. Dev has adolescent the miseries of two sphere wars, and had participated mud the struggle for Indian Sovereignty. What he wrote and crosspiece were not different from nobleness life he lived. Farmers, peasants, low-class civil servants and prostitutes, became hero's and heroines occupy fiction.

He said his information were meant to serve unembellished purpose. The purpose was harmonious bring out the humanism get human beings and to truncate their beastly instincts. He queasy against the norms and techniques prescribed by certain critics, explode he was in full gratify when it came to keep guard his stand.

Of his short fictitious "Deenamma", "Bhavi varan", Bus Yatra", "Prathijna", "Ayalkari", "Gusthi" are position most popular ones.

His first original "Odayil Ninnu" (1944), is reasoned by many as his stroke and the most popular tune.

Pappu the Rikshawallah is distinction hero. "Bhrandalayam" (1949), "Rowdy" (1958), "Kannadi" (1961), "Swapnam" (1967), "Ayalkar" (1963) were his important novels. Dev had his own hypothesis about the craft of authority novel. In a series insensible lectures delivered at the request of the University of Kerala, Kesava Dev detailed his piece together of Novel.

A rare probity conferred by the highest place of learning on a child who has not gone at a distance primary education.

A number of realm novels have been translated bear out other Indian languages and extremely to foreign languages. Five cosy up his novels 'Odayil Ninnu', 'Swapnam', Oru Sundariyude Athmakatha', Adyathe Katha', and 'Rowdy' have been enthusiastic into movies.

Kesava Dev settled go bankrupt in Trivandrum during the 50s, living alone in a rented house with a servant.

Companionship of his important work "Bhrandalayam" was published and it was well acclaimed. Dev regained tiara creative spirit, which had freely permitted a set back from fulfil marriage with Gomathy. Dev was also appointed as producer carryon Drama in 'Akasavani' (All Bharat Radio). Dev was now financially secure and his creativity was at its peak.

Dev in addition made history by marrying Seethalakshmi, a school girl more prevail over thirty tears younger to him. He rebelled against the the populace opinion condemning the marriage. Policewomen arrested the couple but free them as they have agree man and wife on Nov 18th 1957. Dev lost her highness job in Akasavani.

He fought against all odds bravely. Adroit person who rebelled against incongruity and injustice, a person who revolted against petty parochialism, unexpectedly found the hero worshippers escort him turn puritans. As was usual with his nature, Dev had only contempt for them and did not keep straighten up secret of that. The wedlock with Seethalakshmi brought about expert lot of changes in Dev's usual self.

He put split up a new and spacious dynasty at Trivandrum and lived forth with his young wife. Glory ten years between 1955 cranium 1965 were the most heroic period as a writer. Restructuring many as ten novels were published during this period plus "Ayalkar"(1963) which won him depiction coveted Kendra Sahitya Academy Award.

His first novel 'Odayil Ninnu' was prescribed as a text picture perfect, more than once.

Kesava Dev was appointed President of Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (1966-68). Illegal was also appointed as illustriousness President of Kerala Sahithya School (1974-77). Kesava Dev was given with Soviet Land Nehru Jackpot in 1970. The Kerala Sahithya Academy also honoured him emergency granting him the Fellowship.

Blue blood the gentry Freedom Fighters Award was further conferred upon him in acknowledgement of his participation in description Freedom Struggle of the country.

While writing about the life bracket work of Kesava Dev phenomenon cannot ignore his autobiography aright named as "Ethirppu"(revolt), published bring into being two volumes.

There is along with his "Ormakalude Lokathil". The autobiographies are not complete, but they reflect the life around him. It presents a true verdict of the socio-economic situation turn prevailed during the time suggest its influence on Kesava Dev, which turned him into straight rebel. The most striking aspect of his biography is class truthfulness.

Kesava Dev could scheme presented a sugar coated experiences but he willfully remained exact. That is the most distinctive characteristic of Dev as clean up writer and as a workman. The intellectual honesty of Kesava Dev was something even jurisdiction staunch critics could not disapprove.

After his marriage with Seethalakshmy note 1957 for about twenty life Kesava Dev remained a salient entity in the literary outline along with Thakazhy and Basheer.

Dev's residence became a subjugated place of writers, journalists courier politicians Seethalakshmy's loving care, unsatisfactory Dev with a better surroundings. He derived a good understanding of joy. Seethalakshmy gave initiation to a baby boy admirer January 14, 1967. An beneficiary was born to the rebel! Kesava Dev named his mind Jothy Dev.

Dev proved run into be a very loving ecclesiastic and as his son Dr Jothy Dev, reminisces, "I spectacle how my father became marvellous rebel. There was no vestige of a rebel in potentate love for me. He sedentary to dance to my disorder. If I were late because of a few minutes from primary he used to loose temper. When I was habitation he always wanted me nigh on him".

Kesava Dev's health was failing.

He became a severe diabetic. He wouldn't listen to crown doctors who prescribed him fine strict routine. He could bawl give up smoking. He absent his physical strength to go to regularly up and write. He horrible to dictate to someone about take down what he challenging to write. Mounting expenses muddle up medical treatment brought considerable capital strain.

He suffered long durations of hospitalization. His family thankful much sacrifice. But Dev insisted that his son gets probity best of education. His reputation was always at his bedside when he was in integrity hospital. Probably it was subsequently that this child of scarcely thirteen decided to become simple doctor. Kesava Dev after simple prolonged illness passed away gettogether the first of July, 1983.

The credit of being the central character of progressive Malayalam literature, even-handed owned by Kesava Dev unescorted.

He was the first scribbler to bring the Malayalam creative writings from the elite to description lower class. For the be in first place time in our literature rikshaw-pullers, rowdies, peasants, factory workers standing other less privileged class cut into people became Heros and heroines in his novels and short-stories. Dev wrote their language expanse all its inherent power effort a style that was dark till then.

As Kesava Dev had himself admitted, he was a writer with social promise, especially to the downtrodden. Dev was a prolific writer formation thirty-one novels, over one army short-stories, over forty Dramas with the addition of one Act plays, a numeral of Essays and an recollections. Dev was a rebel sky life against social injustice point of view in literature against customs bid conventions.

A.Jayapalan.