imported>VNHRISHIKESH at 06:02, 3 August 2021

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{{short description|Indian poet and critic}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Edasseri Govindan Nair
| image = EdasseryGovindanNair.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| pseudonym = Edasseri
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1906|12|23}}
| birth_place = [[Kuttipuram]], [[Malappuram district]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1974|10|16|1906|12|23|}}
| death_place = [[Kochi]], Kerala, India
| occupation = Poet,Playwright
| nationality = Indian
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| period =
| genre = Poetry, Plays
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks =
| spouse = Janaki Amma
| partner =
| children = [[E. Harikumar]]
| relatives = P. Krishna Kurup (father) Kunjukutti Amma (mother)
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = {{ublist|[[Sahitya Akademi Award]]|[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]]|[[Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram]] }}
| signature =
| website = {{url|http://www.edasseri.org|website}}
| portaldisp =
}}
'''Edasseri Govindan Nair''' ({{lang-ml|ഇടശ്ശേരി ഗോവിന്ദൻ നായർ}}; 23 December 1906 – 16 October 1974) was an Indian poet and playwright of [[Malayalam literature]]. Known as one of the major poets of Malayalam, Edasseri was a recipient of the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] and the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]]. He was also a recipient of [[Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram]], which was awarded posthumously.

== Biography ==
{{quotebox|align = left|width=21em|''I too had a mother 
''When a King bought me, a slave, 
''She was given a price, a few coins 
''She tied them to my apron-strings 
''And left bare-handed 
''I bought a blanket, later 
''To protect her from cold 
''Alas! When I came with the gift at last 
''She had gone for eternal rest 
''Under the cover of a thick earthen blanket. 
Excerpts from ''King Bimbisaran's Shepherd'', translated by [[M. Leelavathi]]}}

Edasseri Govindan Nair was born on December 23, 1906 at [[Kuttippuram]], in [[Malapuram district]] in the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to P. Krishna Kurup and Edasseri Kunjukutti Amma in a family with poor financial means.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/Edasseri/Html/Edasseribiography.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}}</ref>{{Refn|group=note|Edasseri was the family name of his mother, obtained through [[matrilineal succession]]}} He did not have much formal education due to the death of his father in 1921 when he was only 15 years old and started his career early as an assistant to a relative, who worked in [[Alappuzha]]. However, he compensated for the lack of formal education with hard work with voracious reading, learning Sanskrit and English on his own taking help from his friends, constantly engaging in debates on literature, criticism, science, astronomy and even astrology. He spent 7 years in Alleppey before moving to Kozhikode. In early 1930, he moved to Ponani. It was during this time that he married Janaki Amma, the wedding taking place in 1938. He continued with his learning, debates and discussions in Ponani also.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair">{{Cite web |url=http://www.edasseri.org/biography.htm |title=A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair |website=www.edasseri.org}}</ref>

Edasseri was associated with various literary and cultural forums.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" /> He sat in the general council of [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]], [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] and Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad and was a member of the board of directors of the [[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]]. He presided Kerala Sahithya Samithi and Kendra Kala Samithi during various periods and was instrumental in founding a local library, ''Krishna Panikkar Vayana Sala''.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" />

Edasseri's works include 19 books and over 300 poems in 10 [[anthology|anthologies]], 6 books of plays and a collection of essays.<ref name="Edasseri Govindan Nair Biography">{{Cite web |url=https://www.poetrysoup.com/edasseri_govindan_nair/biography |title=Edasseri Govindan Nair Biography |date=2019-01-27 |website=PoetrySoup |language=en |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> He was among the poets who changed the [[Romanticism|romantic traits]] of Malayalam poetry to realism.<ref name="George1992">{{cite book|author=K. M. George|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA251|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-324-0|pages=251–}}</ref> His narrative style, as shown in his poems such as ''Poothapattu'', ''Panimudakkam'', ''Kalyana Pudava'', ''Karutha Chettichikal'' and ''Kavile Pattu'', was reported to reflect strong humanism.<ref name="Leelavathy1998">{{cite book|author=M. Leelavathy|title=Edassery Govindan Nair|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kB_H90qNhgsC&pg=PA76|year=1998|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-0496-6|pages=76–}}</ref>

Govindan Nair - Janaki Amma couple had eleven children, though only eight survived infancy. He died on October 16, 1974, at the age of 67.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" />

==Awards==
Edasseri received two awards from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] (the known as Government of Madras), the first one for his play, ''Koottukrishi'' and the other, for his poem anthology, ''Puthan Kalavum Arivalum''.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" /> He received the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry]] in 1969 for the poem anthology ''Oru Pidi Nellikka''<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry |date=2019-01-27 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626195512/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |archive-date=26 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a year later, [[Sahitya Akademi]] awarded him their [[Sahitya Akademi Award to Malayalam Writers|annual award for 1069]] for ''Kavile Pattu'', another of his anthology.<ref name="Leelavathy1998" /><ref name="Edasseri Govindan Nair Veethi">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/edasseri_govindan_nair-profile-2270-25.htm |title=Edasseri Govindan Nair Veethi |date=2019-01-27 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref><ref name="KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARDS (MALAYALAM)">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-24 |title=KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARDS (MALAYALAM) |date=2007-05-24 |publisher=INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATION DEPARTMENT, Government of Kerala |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> He was awarded [[Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram]] posthumously in 1979, five years after his death, for the anthology, ''Anthithiri''.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" />

==Literary works==
=== Poem anthologies ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''Alakavali (Ornations)''(അളകാവലി) -1940<ref name="Alakavali: Kavithakal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=70588&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Alakavali: Kavithakal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Puthankalavum Arivalum Poothappattum'' (പുത്തൻ കലവും അരിവാളും പൂതപ്പാട്ടും)(New Pot and Sickle) - 1951<ref name="Puthan Kalavum Arivalum">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?idx=kw&q=+Puthan+kalavum+Arivalum |title=Puthan Kalavum Arivalum |date=2019-01-27 |website=catalog.uoc.ac.in |language=en |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Laghu Ganangal'' (Simple Songs) - 1954<ref name="Lagu Ganamgal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=70702&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Lagu Ganamgal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1963 |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Karutha Chettichikal'' (Dark Nomad Women) - 1955<ref name="Karutha Chettichikal">{{Cite book |title=Karutha Chettichikal |last=Edassery Govindan Nair |publisher=Poorna Publications |year=1955 |isbn=978-8171804061}}</ref>
* ''Thathwa Shastrangal Urangumbol'' (As Philosophies Sleep) -1961
* ''Kavile Pattu'' (Song of the Grove) - 1966<ref name="Kavile Pattu">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=227353&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Kavile Pattu |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=2003 |publisher=Poorna |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Oru Pidi Nellikka'' (A handful of Gooseberries) - 1968
* ''Thrivikramannu Munnil'' (In front of Thrivikrama) - 1971<ref name="Threevikramanu Munpil">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=86683&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Threevikramanu Munpil |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1971 |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Kunkuma Prabhatham'' (The Vermilion Dawn) - 1975<ref name="Kunguma Prabhatham">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=74201&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Kunguma Prabhatham |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1975 |publisher=S. P. C. S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Anthithiri'' (Ritual Wick of Dusk) – 1977<ref name="Anthitthiri: kavithakal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=76085&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Anthitthiri: kavithakal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Edasseriyude Sampoorna Kavithakal'' (Complete Poetic Works of Edasseri) - 1988<ref name="Edasseri kavithakal: sampoorna samaharam">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85861&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri kavithakal: sampoorna samaharam |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=2007 |publisher=Mathrubhoomi Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Malayalathinte Priya Kavithakal'' (Endearing poems of Malayalam) - 2013.
{{div col end}}

=== Plays ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''Noolamala'' (The Entanglement) -1947
* ''Koottu Krishi'' (Co-operative Faming) - 1950<ref name="Koottu krishi">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=73460&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Koottu krishi |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1967 |publisher=Current Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Kaliyum Chiriyum'' (Fun and Laughter) - One-act plays- 1954
* ''Ennichutta Appam'' ( Limited Means) - One-act plays- 1957
* ''Chaliyathi'' (The Weaver Woman) - One-act plays- 1960
* ''Njediyil Padaratha Mulla'' (Jasmine Vine that does not climb the prop) - 1964
* ''Jarasandhante Puthri'' (Daughter of Jarasandhan) - Radio Play- 1970s
* ''Khatolkachan'' 1970s
* ''Edasseriyude Naadakangal'' - 2001<ref name="Edasseriyude naadakangal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=84166&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseriyude naadakangal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=2001 |publisher=Current Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

=== Other books ===
* ''Edasseriyude Prabandhangal;; (Essays of Edasseri) - 1988<ref name="Edasseriyude Prabandangal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=213738&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseriyude Prabandangal |last=Gopalakrishnan K |date=1988 |publisher=Kozhikode mathrubhumi Printing & Pub. Comp |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Edasseriyude Cherukathakal'' (Short stories of Edasseri) – 2015

== Books on Edasseri Govindan Nair==
* ''Edasseri - Navabhavukathwathinte Kavi'' (Literary criticism by [[Prof. P. Meerakutty]])
* ''Edasseri Govindan Nair'' (book in English on the poet by [[M. Leelavathi]])
* ''Edasseriyude Kavyalokam'' (book on Edasseri poems by K. P. Saraschandran)<ref name="Edasseriyude kavya lokam">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=82371&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseriyude kavya lokam |last=Sharachandran |first=K. P. |date=1988 |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Itha Oru Kavi'' (essays on Edasseri by eminent writers)<ref name="Itha Oru Kavi">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=208386&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Itha oru kavi |date=1996 |publisher=Edasseri Publications, Kochi |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Edasserikkavitha - Shilpavicharam'' by K. P. Mohanan<ref name="Edasseri kavitha: silpa vicharam">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=105747&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri kavitha: silpa vicharam |last=Mohanan |first=K. P. |date=2014 |publisher=Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>{{Refn|group=note|The book received the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism]] in 2007}}
* ''Edasserikkavitha'' - a collection of essays by various writers compiled by Kavadayar Ramachandran<ref name="Edasseri kavitha">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85099&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri kavitha |last=Ramachandran Kavadiyar |date=2004 |publisher=State Institute of Languages |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Edasseri Ninavil Varumpol'' - (Essays on Edasseri)<ref name="Edasseri ninavil varumpol">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=104000&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri ninavil varumpol |date=2006 |editor-last=Edassery smaraka samithy |publisher=Mathrubhumi Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Edasserikkavitha'' (Literary criticism by Melath Chandrasekharan)<ref name="Edasserikkavitha">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=105658&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasserikkavitha |date=2019-01-27 |website=catalog.uoc.ac.in |language=en |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
* ''Edasserikavithayile Premeyaghatana'' (Literary criticism by Chathanath Achuthanunni)<ref name="Edasserikavithayile Premeyaghatana">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=234337&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasserikavithayile premeyaghatana |last=Achuthanunni |first=Chathanath |date=2015 |publisher=Vallathol Vidhyapeedam |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/Edasseri/Html/Edasseripage.htm |title=Portrait on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}}
* {{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rZqxzl7i1g |title=Edasseri Govindan Nair : Life of a Poet |date=May 1, 2016 |last=TK Kochunarayanan |type=YouTube video |language=Malayalam |access-date=2019-01-26}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGu7MdoFhbI |title=Kavilepattu - Edasseri Govindan Nair |last=Kavithakal Malayalam |date=September 5, 2017 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-01-26}}
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOgNqu2vamE |title=Poothappaattu - Edasseri Govindan Nair |last=Jyothibai Pariyadath |date=December 29, 2012 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-01-26}}

{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, Edasseri Govindan}}
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:1974 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Malappuram district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Indian dramatists and playwrights]]

Edasseri Govindan Nair - Revision history

imported>VNHRISHIKESH at 06:02, 3 August 2021