CleanupBot II at 17:23, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T17:23:05Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = M. Achuthan
| image = എം. അച്യുതൻ.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Photo published in [[Malayalam Sarvavignana Kosam]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1930|6|15}}
| birth_place = [[Vadama]], [[Thrissur]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2017|4|9|1930|6|15}}
| death_place = [[Ernakulam]], Kerala
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = {{ublist|Literary critic|orator}}
| alma mater = {{ublist|St. Antony's Higher Secondary School, Mala|[[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]]|[[University of Madras]]}}
| spouse = Radha
| domesticpartner =
| children = Three daughters
| parents = {{ublist|Alakkattu Narayana Menon (father)|Mukkuttiparambil Parukutty Amma (mother)}}
| influences =
| influenced =
| website =
| awards = {{ublist|1976 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism]]|1998 [[Padmaprabha Literary Award]]|2001 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]]}}
}}
'''Mukkuttiparambil Achuthan''' (15 June 1930 – 9 April 2017) was an Indian academic, orator, and literary critic of [[Malayalam literature]]. Known for his works viz. ''Swathanthrya Samaravum Malayala Sahithyavum'', ''Paschathya Sahitya Darshanam'' and ''Cherukadha Innale Innu'', Achuthan was a recipient of several literary honours including the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] for [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism|Literary Criticism]] and for [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions|Overall Contributions]] as well as the [[Padmaprabha Literary Award]].

== Biography ==
[[File:The Great Hall.JPG|thumb|left|Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, where Achuthan studied and worked]]
M. Achuthan was born on 15 June 1930 at Vadama, a small hamlet near [[Mala, Kerala|Mala]], in [[Thrissur district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to Alakkattu Narayana Menon and Mukkuttiparambil Parukutty Amma.<ref name="സാഹിത്യനിരൂപകന്‍ എം അച്യുതന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു">{{Cite web |url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/latest-news/kerala-news/literary-critic-m-achuthan-passed-away/articleshow/58094270.cms |title=സാഹിത്യനിരൂപകന്‍ എം അച്യുതന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു |date=2017-04-09 |website=samayammalayalam |language=ml |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> His schooling was at St. Antony’s High School, Mala after which he joined [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]]<ref name="Literary critic M Achuthan no more">{{Cite web |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/literary-critic-m-achuthan-no-more-1.1858973 |title=Literary critic M Achuthan no more |date=9 April 2017 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> to earn a master's degree in [[Malayalam literature]] with gold medal from the [[University of Madras]].<ref name="Literary critic Professor M Achuthan passes away">{{Cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/100417/literary-critic-professor-m-achuthan-passes-away.html |title=Literary critic Professor M Achuthan passes away |date=2017-04-10 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> Subsequently, he started his career as a lecturer of Malayalam at [[St. Albert's College]].<ref name="സാഹിത്യ നിരൂപകന്‍ എം അച്യുതന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു 2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/professor-m-achuthan-passed-away-1.1858948 |title=സാഹിത്യ നിരൂപകന്‍ എം അച്യുതന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു 2 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> He also worked at a number of other institutions such as [[Government College, Meenchantha]], [[Government Victoria College, Palakkad]] and [[Sree Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College Pattambi]] before serving his alma mater, Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, from where he retired from service as a professor. Post retirement, he continued his academic career as a visiting professor at [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]] and sat in the director board of [[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]]. He also served as a member of the executive panel of [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] and the academic councils of the Universities of [[Kerala University|Kerala]] and [[Calicut University|Calicut]], managed [[Mathrubhumi|Mathrubhumi publications]] and presided Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad.<ref name="Literary critic M Achuthan no more" /><ref name="M. Achuthan passes away">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/m-achuthan-passes-away/article17897631.ece |title=M. Achuthan passes away |date=2017-04-09 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref>

Achuthan was married to Radha, daughter of [[Jnanpith award]] winning poet, [[G. Sankara Kurup]] and the couple had three daughters, B. Bhadra, Nandini and Nirmala; Bhadra would later become the deputy Mayor of the [[Corporation of Kochi]].<ref name="Literary critic Professor M Achuthan passes away"/> He died on 9 April 2017, aged 86, at a private hospital in [[Kochi]], succumbing to age related illnesses.<ref name="Literary critic Achuthan passes away in Kochi - Times of India">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/literary-critic-achuthan-passes-away-in-kochi/articleshow/58099036.cms |title=Literary critic Achuthan passes away in Kochi - Times of India |website=The Times of India |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> His mortal remains were cremated at [[Ravipuram]] crematorium.<ref name="Eminent literary critic M Achuthan passes away">{{Cite web |url=http://www.madhayamam.com/en/kerala/2017/apr/9/eminent-literary-critic-m-achuthan-passes-away |title=Eminent literary critic M Achuthan passes away |website=www.madhayamam.com |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref>

== Legacy and honours ==
Achuthan started his literary career by challenging the views of established literary figures like [[Kuttikrishna Marar]] and [[Joseph Mundassery]] and was the first critic to write on the poetry of [[Edasseri Govindan Nair]].<ref name="Literary critic Achuthan passes away in Kochi - Times of India" /><ref name="Literary critic M. Achuthan passes away Manorama">{{Cite web |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2017/04/09/literary-critic-m-achuthan-passes-away.html |title=Literary critic M. Achuthan passes away Manorama |website=OnManorama |access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> He authored a number of books including ''Paschathya Sahitya Dharshanam'', a critique of the philosophies of a number of western scholars.<ref name="സാഹിത്യനിരൂപകന്‍ എം അച്യുതന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു" /> ''Cherukadha Innale Innu'', published in 1973, is a book that covers the history of Malayalam short story and short story writers.<ref name="Cherukatha: Innale Innu @ indulekha.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.indulekha.com/study-cherukatha-innale-innu-m-achuthan-short-story |title=Cherukatha: Innale Innu @ indulekha.com |date=2019-02-24 |website=www.indulekha.com |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> ''Kavithayuṃ Kalavuṃ'', ''Samanvayaṃ'', ''Novel - Prashnangalum Padangalum'', ''Vivechanam'', ''Vimarshalochanam'', ''Nirdharanam'', ''Swathanthrya Samaravum Malayala Sahithyavum'', ''Prakaranangal Prathikarangal'' and ''Vangmukham'' are some of his other works.<ref name="സാഹിത്യനിരൂപകന്‍ എം അച്യുതന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു" /><ref name="Asianet News">{{Cite web |url=https://www.asianetnews.com/news/professor-m-achuthan-passess-away |title=Asianet News |website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd |access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> He also translated [[One Thousand and One Nights]] into Malayalam under the title, ''Ayirathonnu Raavukal''.<ref name="Literary critic M Achuthan no more" />

Achuthan received the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism]] in 1976 for his work, ''Cherukadha Innale Innu'',<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/Criticism_Studies.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism |date=2019-02-24 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705154427/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/Criticism_Studies.htm |archive-date=5 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> followed by [[Padmaprabha Literary Award]] in 1998.<ref name="Padmaprabha Literary Award - Padma Prabha Puraskaram">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/padmaprabha-award/614 |title=Padmaprabha Literary Award - Padma Prabha Puraskaram |date=2019-02-24 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] honoured him again in 2001 with the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions|award for overall contributions]].<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/total.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions |date=2019-02-24 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705154814/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/total.htm |archive-date=5 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also a recipient of the Sahitya Pravarthaka Benefit Fund Award.<ref name="സാഹിത്യനിരൂപകന്‍ എം അച്യുതന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു" />

== Bibliography ==
=== Essays ===
* {{cite book|author=M. Achuthan|title=Paschathya Sahithya Darshanam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJIRAQAAIAAJ|year=1962|publisher=Sāhityapr̲avartaka Sahakaraṇasaṅghaṃ}}
* {{cite book|author=M. Achuthan|title=Kavitayuṃ Kālavuṃ: upanyāsaṅgaḷ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AJgRAQAAIAAJ|year=1965|publisher=Sāhityapr̲avartaka Sahakaraṇasaṅghaṃ}}
* {{cite book|author=M. Achuthan|title=Samanvayaṃ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FH4RAQAAIAAJ|year=1969}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=73188&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520m.%2520achuthan |title=Vivechanam |last=Achuthan |first=M. |date=1971 |publisher=Current Books}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=65316&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520m.%2520achuthan |title=Kattil Parathiya Sanmargam |last=Achuthan |first=M |date=1979}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=78729&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520m.%2520achuthan |title=Vangmukham |last=Achuthan |first=M. |date=1980 |publisher=Poorna |location=Kozhikode}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=83504&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520m.%2520achuthan |title=Swaathanthryasamaravum malayalasaahithyavum |last=Achuthan |first=M. |date=1994 |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Academy |location=Thrissur}}
* {{cite book|author=M. Achuthan|title=Cherukadha Innale Innu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mVBIPgAACAAJ|date=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1513-7}}
* {{Cite book |title=Novel - Prashnangalum Padangalum |last=M. Achuthan |date=2010 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=978-8126433919}}

=== Translations ===
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=103948&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520m.%2520achuthan |title=Ayirathonnu Ravukal |date=2011 |publisher=Mathrubhumi Books |isbn=9788182650978 |editor-last=Achuthan |editor-first=M. |edition=2nd |location=Kozhikode}}

== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors by category]]
* [[List of Malayalam-language authors]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Im7_EYgfe4 |title=M. Achuthan - Interview |last=Sreedharan Mathuramattom |date=2011-10-29 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-02-24}}
* {{cite book|author=Jagran Josh|title=Current Affairs May 2017 eBook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d9zNDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA261|date=8 May 2017|publisher=Jagran Josh|pages=261–|id=GGKEY:Y4CQWLA4NWA}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Achuthan, M.}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]
[[Category:Indian academics]]
[[Category:Malayalam literary critics]]
[[Category:Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni]]
[[Category:Maharaja's College, Ernakulam faculty]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian male essayists]]

M. Achuthan - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 17:23, 13 August 2023