Mvn.ind at 17:18, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T17:18:50Z

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{{Short description|Indian type designer}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=June 2022}}
{{Notability|Biography|date=June 2022}}
}}
{{Infobox person
|name = K. H. Hussain
|image = Rachana Hussain.jpeg
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1952}}
|birth_place = [[Kodungallur]], [[Thrissur district]], [[Kerala]]
|known_for = Malayalm fonts
}}

'''K. H. Hussain''' is a computing expert and [[typeface]] designer from [[Kerala]], India. In the early days of the Malayalam computing, he came into the field of Malayalam computing by creating his own Malayalam font and text editor. He received Dr. Pradeepan Pampirikunnu Memorial Mathrubhasha (Mother Tongue) Award instituted by [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]], Kalady, and Government of Kerala e-Governance Award.

Hussain's major contributions include eleven fonts including Rachana, Meera, Keraliyam, Tamil Inime, Dyuthi, Uroob and Panmana, the preservation of millions of pages in five digital archives, and the Arabic Malayalam keyboard. He was also responsible for setting up the first computer based information system in Malayalam.

==Biography==
[[File:K.H. Husain DSCN0068.JPG|thumb|K.H. Hussain]]
K. H. Hussain was born in 1952 in Eriyad near [[Kodungallur]] in [[Thrissur district]] of Kerala.<ref name="mathrubhumi">{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/dr-kh-husseinmalayalam-fontskfri-1.6344379|title=Relentless efforts of Hussein give Malayalam apt space in digital world|access-date=2022-06-28|language=en}}</ref> He graduated from UC College, Aluva in 1978 with a degree in mathematics.<ref name="mathrubhumi"/> After that he done his master's degree in Information Science from [[Indira Gandhi National Open University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Information Systems Using Malayalam Script: Problems and Solutions |url=https://www.informaticsstudies.org/index.php/informatics/article/view/31/41 |website=Informatics Studies |language=en |date=19 January 2018}}</ref>

Attracted towards the Naxalite movement in Kerala, Hussain was jailed for 20 months for working against [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] in India.<ref name="Kerala kaumudi" /> T. N. Joey was his political mentor.<ref name="Kerala kaumudi" /> After the Emergency, he worked as a teacher at a tuition center in Kunnamkulam for some time.<ref name="mathrubhumi"/> After graduating in Library Science from the [[University of Kerala]] in 1980, he worked as a Librarian in the Kerala Forest Research Institute in 1981.<ref name="mathrubhumi"/> While working as librarian, he entered the field of Information technology and font design. He later joined as scientist in Kerala Forest Research Institute, and retired from the same.

In 1999, Hussain joined the Rachana Aksharavedi, a voluntary organization working for Malayalam computing. He entered the Malayalam computing field with R. Chithrajakumar and his team, composing a Malayalam unique font called Rachana, and a Malayalam language text editor.<ref name="Kerala kaumudi">{{Cite web|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=724679&u=local-news-thrissur-724679|title=ആഗോള മലയാളത്തിന്റെ തച്ചൻ|access-date=2022-06-28|last=Daily|first=Keralakaumudi |work=[[Kerala Kaumudi]]|language=ml}}</ref> Hussain became part of the Rachana due to his knowledge of computers.<ref name="Kerala kaumudi" /> The Unicode font released in 2006 was widely circulated under the leadership of Swathanthra Malayalam Computing. first published book in Rachana font was Guru Nithya Chaitanya Yati's ''Thumpoo Muthal Suryan Vare''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.samakalikamalayalam.com/jeevitham-life/2018/oct/26/അതിപുരാതനമായ-ഒരു-കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറില്-രാപകലില്ലാതെ-തനതുലിപിയെ-രൂപപ്പെടുത്താന്-ശ്രമിച്ചിരുന്ന-കെഎച്ച്-ഹു-37079.html|title=അതിപുരാതനമായ ഒരു കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറിൽ രാപകലില്ലാതെ തനതുലിപിയെ രൂപപ്പെടുത്താൻ ശ്രമിച്ചിരുന്ന കെ.എച്ച് ഹുസൈൻ...|date=26 October 2018 |access-date=2022-06-28|language=ml}}</ref>

Hussain has worked with the Sayahna Foundation, aimed at preserving classic Malayalam books, founded in 2015 by C. V. Radhakrishnan.<ref name="Kerala kaumudi" /> During 2014-15 he received a grant from [[India Foundation for the Arts]] to document and analyze cultural, aesthetic, and technological paradigms along with political debates regarding the standardization and modernization of the Malayalam script.<ref>{{cite web |title=KH Hussain {{!}} India Foundation for the Arts |url=https://indiaifa.org/grants-projects/kh-hussain.html |website=indiaifa.org}}</ref>

==Contributions==
Hussain's major contributions include [[Malayalam]] fonts including Rachana, Meera, Keraliyam, Tamil Inime, Dyuthi, Uroob and Panmana, the preservation of millions of pages in five digital archives, and the Arabic Malayalam keyboard.<ref name="Kerala kaumudi" /> He was also responsible for setting up the first computer based information system in Malayalam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=പുഴ |title=പ്രദീപന്‍ പാമ്പിരിക്കുന്ന് സ്മാരക മാതൃഭാഷാ പുരസ്‌കാരം കെ.എച്ച്. ഹുസൈന് {{!}} പുഴ.കോം - നവസംസ്കൃതിയുടെ ജലസമൃദ്ധി |date=27 October 2018 |url=https://www.puzha.com/blog/pradeepan-pambirikunnu-award/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> He also developed a naming convention for the characters, making programming and writing shaping rules easier.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=Exclusive Part II: 'I saw Thallumaala first cut a year before release' |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/specials/inspiration-feedback-typography-software-development-4db1e303 |access-date=2025-07-14 |website= |language=en |agency=[[Mathrubhumi]]}}</ref>

The font Uroob designed by him is named after Malayalam writer [[Uroob]]. In 2015, with the financial support of International Centre for Open Source Software, an autonomous organisation under Government of Kerala, the font was re-designed, and released as a tribute to the 60th anniversary of Uroob's noted novel ''[[Ummachu]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Lijo |date=2015-04-18 |title=A Font to Keep the Memories of a Great Writer Alive |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2015/Apr/18/a-font-to-keep-the-memories-of-a-great-writer-alive-744011.html |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

In memory of actor [[Bahadoor]], on the 25th anniversary of his death, a new font named Bahadoor, prepared by Hussain was released in May 2025.<ref name="KV">{{cite news |title='ബഹദൂർ' എന്ന പേരില്‍ പുതിയ മലയാളം ഫോണ്ട് |url=https://www.keralavisionnews.com/2025/05/21/bahadur-a-new-malayalam-font-released-21619 |work=www.keralavisionnews.com |language=ml}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Muringatheri |first1=Mini |title=Bahadoor Font, a typographical tribute to Malayalam film's evergreen comedian |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/bahadoor-font-a-typographical-tribute-to-malayalam-films-evergreen-comedian/article69610962.ece |work=The Hindu |date=23 May 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref> The Bahadoor font is based on a commemorative book released in 1978 as a continuation of the reception given to Bahadur in his birthplace.<ref name="KV"/> The cover of the commemorative book was designed by artist [[Namboothiri (artist)|Namboothiri]].<ref name="KV"/> Husain designed the font based on the letters drawn by Namboothiri on the cover page.<ref name="KV"/> The commemorative stamp released on Bahadoor's 25th death anniversary is printed in this font.<ref>{{cite news |title='ഞങ്ങൾ മനുഷ്യക്കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളെ നോക്കി ആ ബഹദൂർ ആരാധകൻ ആ പാട്ട് പിന്നെയും പാടിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു' |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/features/bahadur-malayalam-cinema-legend-1.10604979 |work=[[Mathrubhumi]] |date=22 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
* 2018: Dr. Pradeepan Pampirikunnu Memorial Mathrubhasha (Mother Tongue) Award instituted by [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]], Kalady, for his contributions to the Malayalam language.<ref name="Kerala kaumudi" />
* 2010: Government of Kerala e-Governance Award<ref name="Kerala kaumudi" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hussain, K. H.}}
[[Category:20th-century Indian designers]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian typographers and type designers]]
[[Category:People from Thrissur district]]

K. H. Hussain - Revision history

Mvn.ind at 17:18, 14 March 2026