https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=C._J._ThomasC. J. Thomas - Revision history2026-07-31T19:04:30ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=C._J._Thomas&diff=412671&oldid=prevCleanupBot II at 07:44, 15 August 20232023-08-15T07:44:20Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
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{{Infobox writer<br />
| name = C. J. Thomas<br />
| honorific_prefix = <br />
| honorific_suffix = <br />
| image =C. J. Thomas.png <br />
| image_size = <br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = <br />
| native_name = <br />
| native_name_lang = <br />
| pseudonym = <br />
| birth_name = <br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1918|11|14}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Koothattukulam]], [[Ernakulam district]], [[Kerala]], India<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1960|07|14|1918|11|14}}<br />
| death_place = [[Vellore]], [[Tamil Nadu]]<br />
| resting_place = <br />
| occupation = Playwright, academic, artist<br />
| language = <br />
| nationality = Indian<br />
| education = <br />
| period = <br />
| genre = <!-- or: | genres = --><br />
| subjects = <br />
| movement = <br />
| notableworks = {{ubl|''Avan Venndum Varunnu''|''Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne''|1128-il Crime 27''}}<br />
| spouse = [[Rosy Thomas]]<br />
| children = Two sons and a daughter<br />
| relatives = {{ubl|Yohannan (father)|Annamma (mother)}}<br />
| awards = <br />
| signature = <br />
| signature_alt = <br />
| years_active = <br />
| module = <br />
| website = <br />
| portaldisp = <!-- "on", "yes", "true", etc; or omit --><br />
}}<br />
'''C. J. Thomas''' (1918-1960), popularly known as '''C. J.''', was an Indian playwright and literary critic of [[Malayalam literature]]. He was best known for his plays, ''Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne'', ''Avan Venndum Varunnu'' and ''1128-il Crime 27'' which introduced modernity into Malayalam theatre. He was also a leader of the [[Vimochana Samaram]], an anti-communist uprising against the [[First E. M. S. Namboodiripad ministry]] in [[Kerala]].<br />
<br />
== Biography ==<br />
[[File:UC-collage-Aluva.jpg|thumb|left|Union Christian College, Aluva, Thomas' alma mater]]<br />
{{quotebox|align = right|width=22em|''C.J. was a miracle, both as a human being and as a playwright. He enriched the language, the society and culture during the short span of his life,'' says [[George Onakkoor]], Thomas' biographer.<ref name="A fitting tribute for a master playwright - Times of India">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/a-fitting-tribute-for-a-master-playwright/articleshow/61664721.cms |title=A fitting tribute for a master playwright | date=16 November 2017 | newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref>}}<br />
C. J. Thomas was born on 14 November 1918 at [[Koothattukulam]], in [[Ernakulam district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to a [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Syrian Orthodox Christian]] priest, Yohannan Mar Episcopa and Annama.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/CJThomas/Html/CJThomasgraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-04-10 |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> Following his father's advice, Thomas prepared to become a priest and after his schooling at the Government High School, Koothattukulam and Vadakara High School, he was ordained a deacon of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Orthodox Church]], and completed his pre-university studies at [[CMS College Kottayam]] where free education was provided for deacons. Later, he graduated from the [[Union Christian College, Aluva]] in 1937 and it was during this time, he quit the priestly vocation.<ref name="Contributions of C. J. Thomas recalled">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Contributions-of-C.-J.-Thomas-recalled/article15671864.ece |title=Contributions of C. J. Thomas recalled |date=2010-11-01 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> He joined a primary school in [[Vatakara|Vadakara]] as a teacher but, having drawn to the [[Indian independence movement]], his relationship with the school management became worse, leading to his resignation from the job. Subsequently, he studied law at the [[Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram]], and on graduation in 1943, he started practicing as an advocate under N. V. Chacko, a leading lawyer of the times. However, he did not continue with the job and after two months, he quit to become a full-time member of Communist party.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /><br />
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It was around this time, Thomas met [[M. P. Paul]], the renowned critic, and became a faculty of the tutorial college run by Paul but relinquishing the job in 1949, he made an unsuccessful attempt to study for MLitt.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> He met M Govindan in Madras and worked in the USIS. His next assignment was at the Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, a writers' cooperative, a job Thomas got through his friend, [[D. C. Kizhakemuri]], where he designed the covers of the book published by the society. Shortly afterwards, he returned to M. P. Paul's College and had the opportunity to meet [[Rosy Thomas|Rosy Paul]], the daughter of M. P. Paul. After a brief period of romance, he married Rosy, amidst the disapproval of many, on 8 January 1951.<ref name="റോസി തോമസ് അന്തരിച്ചു">{{Cite web |url=https://malayalam.oneindia.com/news/2009/12/17/kerala-writer-rosy-thomas-obit.html |title=റോസി തോമസ് അന്തരിച്ചു |last=Staff |date=2009-12-17 |website=malayalam.oneindia.com |language=ml |access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> After the death of Paul in 1952,<ref name="M. P. Paul - Veethi profile">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/m._p._paul-profile-5729-25.htm |title=M. P. Paul - Veethi profile |date=2019-02-25 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> <br />
He managed the college for a while and ran his own college for a brief period before joining the [[All India Radio]] as a producer in 1957 on a three-year contract but left the job after one year. he also worked as the production officer at the ''Dakshin Bharat Book Trust'', at their [[Chennai]] and [[Kochi]] offices, starting from 1958 and a year later, he was diagnosed with [[brain tumour]]. Though he underwent treatment at the [[Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore]], he died following a surgery, on 14 July 1960,<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> survived by his wife, their two sons, Binoy and Paulsy and a daughter, Beena.<ref name="റോസി തോമസ് അന്തരിച്ചു" /><ref name="Malayalam Writer Rosy Thomas Passes Away">{{Cite web |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=671196 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002133/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=671196 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-05-02 |title=Malayalam Writer Rosy Thomas Passes Away |date=2014-05-02 |access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> His life has been documented in a biography titled ''Manalkaattinte Sabdam'' (The voice of a sandstorm), by [[George Onakkoor]].<ref name="A fitting tribute for a master playwright - Times of India" /><br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
Thomas' oeuvre consists of 11 plays which included translations, 4 literary criticisms, 6 essay compilations and a novel.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/CJThomas/Html/CJThomaspage.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-04-11 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> His play, ''Avan Veendum Varunnu'' (Behold! He Comes Again), published in 1949, was the first modern play in Malayalam language<ref name="REVOLUTIONARY THEATER AND THE THEATER REVOLUTION">{{Cite web |url=http://bradley.bradley.edu/~tjp/mlmisce.html |title=REVOLUTIONARY THEATER AND THE THEATER REVOLUTION |website=bradley.bradley.edu |access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> and the three most notable among his plays, ''Avan Veendum Varunnu'', ''Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne'' and ''1128-il Crime 27'', while evidently showing the influence of [[Bertoldt Brecht]] and [[epic theatre]], are known to have pioneered the [[experimental theatre]] in Malayalam.<ref name="Datta1988">{{cite book|author=Amaresh Datta|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1085|year=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1194-0|pages=1085–}}</ref> He based his plays on biblical themes but they deviated from the conventional biblical dramas, often criticising the religious ills.<ref name="Contributions of C. J. Thomas recalled" /><br />
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Thomas was noted for his book designing skills and he was known to have revolutionised the publishing industry in Kerala with his modern designs.<ref name="C.J. Thomas was playwright par excellence: Adoor">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/C.J.-Thomas-was-playwright-par-excellence-Adoor/article16216688.ece |title=C.J. Thomas was playwright par excellence: Adoor |author=Staff Reporter |date=2010-07-31 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> It was he who designed the logo, with a swan motif, of the ''National Book Stall'', the retail division of the cooperative society.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> He translated a number of classics from world literature into Malayalam which included ''[[Oedipus Rex]]'' and ''[[Antigone (Sophocles play)|Antigone]]'' of [[Sophocles]], ''[[Ghosts (play)|Ghosts]]'' of [[Henrik Ibsen]] and ''[[Lysistrata]]'' of [[Aristophanes]]. The famous line is Oedipus Rex, '' Thou art the man, Thou the accursed polluter of this land'' is the base for the title of his play, Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne.<ref name="Contributions of C. J. Thomas recalled" /> He was also involved in the [[Vimochana Samaram]], an uprising against the [[First E. M. S. Namboodiripad ministry]] and when [[Joseph Parecattil]], the then [[List of Major Archbishops of the Syro-Malabar Church|Archbishop of Ernakulam]], called for a united front against the government, he joined a number of writers and artists such as [[M. Govindan]], [[Sukumar Azhikode]], [[M. K. Sanu]] and [[M. V. Devan]], in preparing propaganda materials the government.<ref name="Movement against the Communist Government">{{Cite web |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/36088/11/11_chapter5.pdf |title=Movement against the Communist Government |website=Shodhganga |page=15 of 33}}</ref> He wrote a play, ''Vishsvruksham'' (The Poisonous Tree), which was staged in 1958 and contributed to strengthening the mass protests which eventually led to the dismissal of the democratically elected government.<ref name="MargolisRenaud2011">{{cite book|author1=Ellen Margolis|author2=Lissa Tyler Renaud|title=The Politics of American Actor Training|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x2WNAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA60|date=13 January 2011|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-24425-5|pages=60–}}</ref><br />
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== Bibliography ==<br />
=== Plays ===<br />
{{Div col}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=212653&query_desc=ti%252Cwrdl%253A%2520aa%2520manushyan%2520nee%2520thanne |title=Aa Manushyan Nee thanne |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1958 |publisher=Sahitya pravartaka sahakarana sangam |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=205959&query_desc=au%253A%2522Thomas%252CC.J.%2522 |title=1128 il Crime 27 |last=Thomas |first=C.J. |date=1982 |publisher=Current Books, Kottayam |location=Current Books, Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=214067&query_desc=au%253A%2522Thomas%252CC.J.%2522 |title=C.J. Thomas Nadakangal - I |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1984 |publisher=Little Prince Pathipp |location=Little Prince Pathipp}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=21495&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Pisukkante kalyaanam |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1984}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=21491&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Avan veendum varunnu |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1988}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=21496&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Salomi |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1989}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=230278&query_desc=au%253A%2522Thomas%252CC.J.%2522 |title=Kalvariyile kalpapadapam |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=2010 |publisher=D C Books |location=Kottayam}}<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
<br />
=== Translations ===<br />
{{Div col}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=24759&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Keedajanmam |last1=Chapek |first1=Joseph |last2=Chapek |first2=Karel |last3=Thomas |first3=C. J; Tr |date=1959 |location=Kottayam, SPCS}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=24368&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Antigony |last1=Sophocles |last2=Thomas |first2=C. J; Tr |date=1955 |location=Kottayam, SPCS}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=37808 |title=Nattuchakkiruttu |last1=Kaisler |last2=Thomas |first1=Arthur |first2=C. J. |date=1979 |location=Trichur, Kerala Sahitya Akademi}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=9262&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Behold! he comes again |last1=Ramji; Tr |last2=Thomas |first2=C. J. |date=1979 |location=Trichur, Kerala Sahitya Akademi}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=24372&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Oedipus |last1=Sophocles |last2=Thomas |first2=C. J; Tr |date=1988}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=24313&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Bhootham |last1=Ibsen |first1=Henrik Johan; Author |last2=Thomas |first2=C. J; Tr |date=1994 |location=Kozhikode, Poorna}}<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
<br />
=== Essays/Criticism ===<br />
{{Div col}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=36482 |title=Socialism |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1951|language=ml}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=213527&query_desc=au%253A%2522Thomas%252CC.J.%2522 |title=Uyarunna Yavanika |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1984 |publisher=N.B.S |location=Kottayam. Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=230963&query_desc=au%253A%2522Thomas%252CC.J.%2522 |title=C J: Vicharavum veekshanavum |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1985 |publisher=D C Books |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=27271&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Ivan ente priya puthran |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1989}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=28849&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520C%2520J%2520Thomas |title=Manushyante valarcha |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=1993 |location=Kozhikkode, Poorna Publications}}<br />
* {{Cite book |title=Anweshanangal |last=Thomas |first=C. J. }}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=230964&query_desc=au%253A%2522Thomas%252CC.J.%2522 |title=Dhikkariyude kathal |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=2000 |publisher=Current Books |location=Thrissur}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=29283 |title=Mathavum communisavum |last=Thomas |first=C. J. |date=2010 |publisher= Maluben Publications}}<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
<br />
===Novels===<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/CJThomas/Html/CJThomaspage.htm |title=Nattuchakkiruttu |last=Thomas |first=C. J. }}<br />
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== See also ==<br />
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}<br />
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors by category]]<br />
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=115482&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520aa%2520manushyan%2520nee%2520thanne |title=Aa manushyan nee thanne: oru punar vayana |date=2016 |publisher=S P C S |isbn=9789386094261 |editor-last=John paul |location=Kottayam}}<br />
* {{Cite book |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=292118 |title=Avan veendum varunnu : oru punarvayana |date=2016 |publisher=S P C S |isbn=9789386094261 |editor-last=John paul |location=Kottayam}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/CJThomas/Html/CJThomas.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-04-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-05}}<br />
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/CJThomas/Html/CJTscript.htm |title=Handwriting |date=2019-04-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-05}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, C. J.}}<br />
[[Category:Malayalam-language dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:1918 births]]<br />
[[Category:1960 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Kottayam]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian essayists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]<br />
[[Category:Novelists from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]</div>CleanupBot II