Sindhupv at 05:20, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T05:20:20Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = K. K. N. Kurup
| image = File:K_K_N_Kurup.jpg
| caption = K. K. N. Kurup gives interview for the documentary film "[[Thariode]]", [[Kozhikode]], (July 2019)
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1939|02|13}}
| birth_place = [[Azhiyur]], [[Kozhikode]], [[Kerala]]
| occupation = [[Historian]]<br>[[vice-chancellor (education)|vice-chancellor]] of the [[University of Calicut]]
| known_for =
| notable_works = *''Pazhassi Samarangal'' (1981)<br>
*''History of the Tellicherry Factory, 1683-1794''. Sandhya Publications (1985)
| children =
| alma_mater = [[University of Delhi]] (B.A.),<br> [[University of Calicut]] (M.A. and Ph.D.)
}}

'''K. K. N. Kurup''' (born 1939) is an [[historian]] of India and a former [[vice-chancellor (education)|vice-chancellor]] of the [[University of Calicut]]. He has specialised in the [[history]] of the [[Malabar region|Malabar]] region of [[South India]].

==Education==
Kurup obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] from the [[University of Delhi]] and then studied for his [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] and [[PhD]] at the University of Calicut. He was awarded the latter in 1976.

==Teaching==
He had been teaching at [[Calicut]] since 1972 and continued in various positions there. In 1983, he was a professor and the head of the history department at the [[University of Mangalore]] and was also awarded a professorship at Calicut. He was appointed head of the history department in Calicut in 1991 and in June 1998 became vice-chancellor,<ref name="gmmf">{{cite web |title=Profile of Speakers |url=http://www.gmomf.org/media/1318.pdf |pages=3–7 |publisher=Global Movement of Moderates Foundation |accessdate=28 November 2013 |journal= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203122747/http://www.gmomf.org/media/1318.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> at a time when the university was suffering from a decline in staff due to numerous retirements. During his period of office, the fortunes of the institution were revived, its student numbers increased, a new engineering college facility was introduced and tertiary facilities were established in [[Thrissur]], [[Wayanad]] and [[Vatakara]]. The tertiary bodies were all situated in relatively remote areas and formed part of his "Knowledge for Villages" vision.<ref name="Neelakandan">{{cite news |title=Kurup's best laid plans |first=Greeshma |last=Neelakandan |date=16 September 2013 |newspaper=New Indian Express |url=http://newindianexpress.com/education/edex/Kurups-best-laid-plans/2013/09/16/article1782681.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203083756/http://newindianexpress.com/education/edex/Kurups-best-laid-plans/2013/09/16/article1782681.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2013 |accessdate=28 November 2013}}</ref>

The [[Malabar Institute of Research and Development]] is another Kurup innovation, begun at Vatakara in 2002 while he was still vice-chancellor. He was able to devote more time to it after his term of office came to an end in June of that year and now describes it as {{blockquote|an organisation of scholars and ordinary citizens who work to embolden the masses through creative and scholarly interventions. MIRD conducts seminars, discussions and debates often in social science. We believe a social scientist is a social engineer and the best way for him to work is through effective arguments. MIRD provides a platform for that.<ref name="Neelakandan" />}}

Kurup is a senior research fellow of the [[Indian Council of Historical Research]]. He specialises in agrarian relations, colonial history and folklore, especially in the region of [[Kerala]], which used to be a part of Malabar. He was general president of the 1991 [[South Indian History Congress]] at [[Dharwad]] and president of the Modern Session at the [[Indian History Congress]] held in [[Mysore]] in 1993. Among his numerous other offices has been that of director-general of the Centre for Heritage Studies operated by the [[Government of Kerala]].<ref name="gmmf" />

==Awards==
Various awards have been made to Kurup, including the 2010 [[Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award|T. K. Ramakrishnan Prize awarded by Abu Dhabi Sakthi Theatres]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Award for K.K.N. Kurup |newspaper=The Hindu |date=12 June 2010 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/award-for-kkn-kurup/article461374.ece}}</ref> and the 1981 [[K. Damodaran]] award for the best work in [[Malayalam]] on a [[social science]] topic<ref name="gmmf" />
and Annahda national excellence award in 2019. Kozhikode based NGO [https://www.cigi.org/ Centre for Information and Guidance India (CIGI)] awarded Dr. K.K.N Kurup with Dr. K.M Aboobacker CIGI Education Award for his contributions to academia and society through meaningful actions in 2025.<ref>https://www.cigi.org/page/news/MzU1</ref>

== Works ==
Kurup has published numerous works in both [[English language|English]] and [[Malayalam]]. These encompass research papers and books, of which the latter include:<ref name="gmmf" />
*{{cite book |title=The Cult of Teyyam and Hero Worship in Kerala |publisher=Indian Publications |year=1973}}
*{{cite book |title=Aspects of Kerala History and Culture |year=1976}}
*{{cite book |title=William Logan: A Study in the Agrarian Relations of Malabar |publisher=Sandhya Publications |year=1981}}
*{{cite book |title=Pazhassi Samarangal |year=1981}}
*{{cite book |title=Modern Kerala: Research Papers in History |publisher=[[Kerala Bhasha Institute]] |year=1982}}
*{{cite book |title=History of the Tellicherry Factory, 1683-1794 |publisher=Sandhya Publications |year=1985}}
*{{cite book |title=Modern Kerala: Studies in Social and Agrarian Relations |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1988 |isbn=9788170990949}}
*{{cite book |title=Agrarian Struggle in Kerala |year=1989}}
*{{cite book |title=Peasantry, Nationalism, and Social Change in India |publisher=Chugh Publications |year=1991}}
*{{cite book |title=India's Naval Traditions: The Role of Kunhali Marakkars |publisher=Northern Book Centre |year=1997 |isbn=9788172110833}} (editor)
*{{cite book |title=Nationalism, Social Change: the Role of Malayalam Literature |year=1999}}
*{{cite book |title=Land Monopoly & Agrarian System in South Kanara with special reference to Kasargod Taluk |year=2000 |isbn=81-7748-006-5|last1=Kurup |first1=K. K. N. |publisher=Publication Division, University of Calicut }}
*{{cite book |title=The Ali Rajas of Cannanore |year=2002 |orig-date=1975 |isbn=81-7748-031-6|last1=Kurup |first1=K. K. N. |publisher=Publication Division, University of Calicut }}

==Documentary appearances==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Year(s)
!scope="col"|Title
!scope="col"|Director
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|References}}
|-
!scope="row"|TBA
|''[[Thariode]]''
|''[[Nirmal Baby Varghese]]''
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite news|author=Mathrubhumi|title=തരിയോട്: ഡോക്യുമെന്ററി പൂര്‍ത്തിയായി; വരാനുള്ളത് ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡ ചിത്രം|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/thariode-documentary-movie-1.3914508|accessdate=28 February 2020|work=[[Mathrubhumi]]|date=29 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurup, K. K. N.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Historians of India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Calicut]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]
[[Category:Indian folklorists]]
[[Category:University of Calicut alumni]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award]]

K. K. N. Kurup - Revision history

Sindhupv at 05:20, 12 March 2026