CourtneySugden at 11:32, 25 March 2026

2026-03-25T11:32:17Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian (Malayalam-language) writer, teacher, scholar, and literary critic (1932–2014)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Erumeli Parameswaran Pillai
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Erumeli Parameswaran Pillai.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption =
| pseudonym = Erumeli
| birth_name = Parameswaran Pillai
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1932|12|12}}
| birth_place = [[Erumeli]], [[Travancore]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|02|07|1932|12|12}}
| death_place = [[Mavelikkara]], [[Kerala]], India
| resting_place =
| occupation = Writer, teacher, scholar
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| nationality = 
| citizenship = 
| education = [[Master of Arts|MA]], [[Master of Education|MEd]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Kerala|Kerala University]]<br/>[[University of Madras|Madras University]]
| period =
| genre = Novel, short story, scholarly literature, literary criticism
| subject = 
| movement =
| notable_works =
| spouse = S. Saradamma (m.1957–2014)
| partner = 
| children = 3
| relatives =
| awards = [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| years_active =
| module =
| website = 
| portaldisp = 
}}
'''Erumeli Parameswaran Pillai''' (12 December 1932 – 7 February 2014) was a [[Malayalam]]-language writer, teacher, scholar, and literary critic from [[Kerala]], India. He wrote over forty books, including five novels, four collections of stories, 11 scholarly works, and a few one-act plays and children's literature. He is also known for the work ''Malayala Sahityam Kalaghattangaliloode'', a comprehensive history of Malayalam literature. He received the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sahitya Akademi awards announced |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Sahitya-Akademi-awards-announced/article16300008.ece |access-date=31 January 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=12 May 2010}}</ref>

==Biography==
Pillai was born on 12 December 1932 in [[Erumeli]] in the [[Kottayam district]] as the son of Velamparampil Krishna Pillai and Lakshmikuttyamma.<ref name="Puzha">{{cite web |title=എരുമേലി പരമേശ്വരൻ പിളള |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=225 |publisher=Puzha.com |access-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009054017/http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=225 |archive-date=9 October 2012}}</ref> He obtained [[Master of Arts|MA]] degrees in Malayalam and Sociology from the [[University of Kerala]] and an [[Master of Education|MEd]] degree from the [[University of Madras]].<ref name="Puzha"/> He became a school teacher in 1952 and worked in Travancore Devaswom Board High Schools in Erumeli, [[Thakazhi]] and [[Tiruvalla]].<ref name="Puzha"/> He became a teacher at Farooq Training College near [[Calicut]] in 1964.<ref name="Puzha"/> In Calicut, he flourished as a writer, mainly influenced by the friendship he had with famous writers of the time [[Vaikom Muhammad Basheer]] and [[S. K. Pottekkatt]].<ref name="Manorama">Binu Thankachan (12 December 2022). [https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/alappuzha/2022/12/12/erumeli-parameswaran-pillai.html "ഓണാട്ടുകരക്കാരനായി ജീവിച്ചു മറഞ്ഞ എരുമേലി"]. ''[[Malayala Manorama]]''. Retrieved 31 January 2023.</ref>

He was the Secretary of [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] (1988–91) and the first Principal of the Kottayam BEd Centre of the [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala|Mahatma Gandhi University]].<ref name="Puzha"/> He conducted several training programmes at regional and national levels on literacy, adult education, library science, and language teaching.<ref name="Puzha"/> He was a member of the Faculties of Education and the Board of Studies of the Universities of [[University of Kerala|Kerala]] and [[University of Calicut|Calicut]].<ref name="Puzha"/> He worked as the State Secretary of [[Deshabhimani]] Study Circle and as the General Secretary and State Secretary of [[Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham|Progressive Arts and Literature Society]].<ref name="Puzha"/>

Pillai published his first story "Oru Nalla Manushyan" on 18 March 1956 in the weekend edition of ''Deshabandhu''.<ref name="Manorama"/> In 1974, he started a printing press called Yuvakala in Calicut after realising the high costs and delays in publishing books.<ref name="Manorama"/> In 1980, the printing press was shifted to Chettikulangara under the name Pratibha Press. He also established a publishing company called Pratibha Books in Chettikulangara, which was inaugurated by [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]].<ref name="Manorama"/> Pillai closely associated with [[P. N. Panicker]] in the activities of Kerala Grandhasala Sangham.<ref name="Manorama"/> An avid book lover, Pillai had a collection of over 25,000 books in his home library.<ref name="Manorama"/>

Pillai published over forty books. His novels include ''Pennu, Nizhalukal, Lady Teacher, Oru Premathinte Katha'', and ''Malayile Manka''. ''Autographum Neela Kannukalum, Theliyatha Kalpadukal, Pazhaya Bandhavum Puthiya Vazhitharakalum'', and ''Anthivelicham'' are some of his short story collections.<ref name="Puzha"/> He published several books on education and also authored the book ''Malayala Sahityam Kalaghattangaliloode'', which is a comprehensive history of Malayalam literature over the years.<ref name="Puzha"/>

In 1957, Pillai married S. Saradamma, a native of [[Chettikulangara]] in [[Alleppey district]].<ref name="Manorama"/> Pillai who originally hailed from Erumeli lived most of his life in Chettikulangara.<ref name="Manorama"/> Pillai suffered a heart attack on 7 February 2014 and died the same day at a private hospital in [[Mavelikkara]].<ref>[https://www.madhyamam.com/literature/literature-news/2014/feb/09/%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%86%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AB%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%BF-%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B6%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B3-%E0%B4%85%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%81 "പ്രൊഫ.എരുമേലി പരമേശ്വരന്‍പിള്ള അന്തരിച്ചു"]. ''[[Madhyamam]]''. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2023.</ref> The Sakthi Erumeli Award given as part of the [[Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award]]s, is instituted in his memory.<ref>[https://www.dcbooks.com/abudhabi-sakthi-award-2022.html "ഡി സി ബുക്സ് പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ച 'ചിലന്തിനൃത്തം', ‘വുമൺ ഈറ്റേഴ്‌സ്‌’ എന്നീ പുസ്തകങ്ങൾക്ക് അംഗീകാരം"]. [[DC Books]]. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.</ref>

==Bibliography==
===Fiction===
; Novels
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
!! style=width:17em | Title
!! style=width:17em | Title in Malayalam
!! style=width:15em | Publisher
|-
| 1962
| ''Lady Teacher''
| ലേഡിടീച്ചർ
| [[Champakulam]]: B.K.M. Book Depot
|-
| 1963
| ''Malayile Manka''
| മലയിലെ മങ്ക
| [[Champakulam]]: B.K.M. Book Depot
|-
| 1964
| ''Pennu''
| പെണ്ണ്‌
| [[Kottayam]]: N.B.S.
|-
| 1966
| ''Nizhalukal''
| നിഴലുകൾ
| [[Trichur]]: Current Books
|-
| 1968
| ''Oru Premathinte Katha''
| ഒരു പ്രേമത്തിന്റെ കഥ
| [[Champakulam]]: B.K.M. Book Depot
|}

; Short story collections
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
!! style=width:17em | Title
!! style=width:17em | Title in Malayalam
!! style=width:15em | Publisher
|-
| 1962
| ''Autographum Neela Kannukalum''
| ഓട്ടോഗ്രാഫും നീലക്കണ്ണുകളും
| [[Quilon]]: Sree Rama Vilasom
|-
| 1967
| ''Theliyatha Kalpadukal''
| തെളിയാത്ത കാല്‌പാടുകൾ
| [[Kottayam]]: N.B.S.
|-
| 1967
| ''Pazhaya Bandhavum Puthiya Vazhitharayum''
| പഴയ ബന്ധവും പുതിയ വഴിത്താരയും
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1976
| ''Anthivelicham''
| അന്തിവെളിച്ചം
| [[Chettikulangara]]: Jayanthi
|-
| 1998
| ''Erumeliyude Kathakal''
| എരുമേലിയുടെ കഥകള്‍
| [[Mavelikkara]]: Prathibha Books
|}

; Children's literature
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
!! style=width:17em | Title
!! style=width:17em | Title in Malayalam
!! style=width:15em | Publisher
|-
| 1965
| ''Adrishya Manushyan''
| അദൃശ്യ മനുഷ്യൻ
| [[Champakulam]]: B.K.M. Book Depot
|-
| 1968
| ''Bala Sakuntalam''
| ബാലശാകുന്തളം
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1977
| ''Veera Charitangal''
| വീരചരിതങ്ങൾ
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1977
| ''Kochu Komban''
| കൊച്ചുകൊമ്പൻ
| [[Chettikulangara]]: Jayanthi
|-
| 1980
| ''Uttara Rama Charitam''
| ഉത്തരരാമചരിതം
| [[Kottayam]]: N.B.S.
|}

; One-act play
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
!! style=width:17em | Title
!! style=width:17em | Title in Malayalam
!! style=width:15em | Publisher
|-
| 1965
| ''Kannuneerum Punchiriyum''
| കണ്ണുനീരും പുഞ്ചിരിയും
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1991
| ''Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre''
| ധർമ്മക്ഷേത്രേ കുരുക്ഷേത്രേ
| [[Trichur]]: Current Books
|}

===Non-fiction===
; Books on education
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
!! style=width:17em | Title
!! style=width:17em | Title in Malayalam
!! style=width:15em | Publisher
|-
| 1966
| ''Malayala Bhashadhyapanam''
| മലയാള ഭാഷാധ്യാപനം
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1966
| ''Vidyabhyasa Manasastram''
| വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ മനഃശാസ്‌ത്രം
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1966
| ''Vidyabhyasa Tatvangalum Vidyala Ghatanayum''
| വിദ്യാഭ്യാസതത്വങ്ങളും വിദ്യാലയഘടനയും
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1969
| ''Vidyabhyasavum Desiya Vikasanavum: [[Kothari Commission]] Oru Pathanam''
| വിദ്യാഭ്യാസവും ദേശീയ വികസനവും -കൊഠാരി കമ്മീഷൻ ഒരു പഠനം
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1974
| ''Vidyabhyasam Puthiya Kazhchapadil''
| വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം പുതിയ കാഴ്‌ചപ്പാടിൽ
| [[Kottayam]]: S.P.C.S.
|-
| 1979
| ''Primary Vidyabhyasam: Tatvangalum Prasnangalum''
| പ്രൈമറി വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം: തത്ത്വങ്ങളും പ്രശ്‌നങ്ങളും
| [[Kottayam]]: S.P.C.S.
|-
| 1980
| ''Arogya Kayika Vidyabhyasam''
| ആരോഗ്യ കായിക വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം
| [[Kottayam]]: Auroville
|-
| 1988
| ''Vidyalaya Bharanavum Ghatanayum''
| വിദ്യാലയഭരണവും ഘടനയും
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
|
| ''Adhunika Vidyabhyasam: Prasnavum Sameepanavum''
| ആധുനികവിദ്യാഭ്യാസം, പ്രശ്‌നവും സമീപനവും
|
|-
|
| ''Vidyalaya Bharanavum Sanghadanavum''
| വിദ്യാലയ ഭരണവും സംഘാടനവും
|
|}

; Literary criticism, essays and scholarly literature
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
!! style=width:17em | Title
!! style=width:17em | Title in Malayalam
!! style=width:15em | Publisher
|-
| 1959
| ''Poya Thalamurayil Ninnu''
| പോയ തലമുറയിൽ നിന്ന്‌
| [[Alleppey]]: Southern
|-
| 1962
| ''Prathibhashalikal''
| പ്രതിഭാശാലികൾ
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1966
| ''Malayala Sahityam Kalaghattangaliloode''
| മലയാളസാഹിത്യം കാലഘട്ടങ്ങളിലൂടെ
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1966
| ''Sahitya Nayakanmar''
| സാഹിത്യനായകന്‍മാര്‍
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1971
| ''Natakathileykk Oru Kaitiri''
| നാടകത്തിലേയ്ക്കൊരു കൈത്തിരി
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1972
| ''Sameeksha''
| സമീക്ഷ
| [[Kottayam]]: Vidyarthi Mithram
|-
| 1979
| ''Sahityavalokam''
| സാഹിത്യാവലോകം
| [[Calicut]]: [[Deshabhimani]]
|-
| 1991
| ''Avar Engane Chinthikkunnu''
| അവർ എങ്ങനെ ചിന്തിക്കുന്നു
| [[Kottayam]]: N.B.S.
|-
| 1992
| ''Alochana''
| ആലോചന
| [[Kottayam]]: S.P.C.S.
|-
| 1999
| ''Akshara Deepangal''
| അക്ഷരദീപങ്ങൾ
| [[Mavelikkara]]: Prathibha
|-
|
| ''Nammude Sahityakaranmar''
| നമ്മുടെ സാഹിത്യകാരൻമാർ
|
|}

; Pen-picture (''Thoolikachitram'')
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
!! style=width:17em | Title
!! style=width:17em | Title in Malayalam
!! style=width:15em | Publisher
|-
| 1963
| ''Keralathile Ezhuthukar''
| കേരളത്തിലെ എഴുത്തുകാർ
| [[Thuravoor, Cherthala|Thuravoor]]: Narasimha Vilasom
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==External links==
* [https://grandham.in/language/ml/authors/3c878dcf Erumeli Parameswaran Pillai] at ''Grandham'' (in Malayalam)

[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]
[[Category:Indian male essayists]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Malayalam literary critics]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]

Erumeli Parameswaran Pillai - Revision history

CourtneySugden at 11:32, 25 March 2026