https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=M._C._JosephM. C. Joseph - Revision history2026-07-31T18:36:08ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=M._C._Joseph&diff=513849&oldid=prevPranav at 00:28, 30 April 20262026-04-30T00:28:35Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian rationalist (1887–1981)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = M. C. Joseph<br />
| image = Joseph-m-c.jpg<br />
| birth_name = Mookencheril Cherian Joseph<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1887|01|06|df=y}}<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1981|10|26|1887|01|06|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Thrippunithura, Kerala]], India<br />
| occupation = Atheist, author, publisher, activist<br />
}}<br />
{{more footnotes|date=December 2018}}<br />
{{Indian name|Joseph|Mookencheril Cherian}}'''Mookencheril Cherian Joseph''', popularly known as '''''Yukthivadi'' M. C. Joseph''', was an eminent rationalist from [[Kerala, India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nastiknation.org/product/m-c-joseph-enna-apoorva-manushyan/|title = M C Joseph Enna Apoorva Manushyan – Nastik Nation}}</ref> He was one of the very significant figures of Kerala [[Renaissance]] too.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}<br />
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Joseph was born on 6 January 1887 at [[Thripunithura]] in Kerala. His father was Cherian "Kuncheria" of the Mookencheril house and his mother's name was Maria. After his education, he took up his career as a [[lawyer]]. He was one of the founders of ''[[Yukthivadi]]'' (meaning ''the Rationalist'' in English), the first ever [[rationalist]] / [[atheist]] [[magazine]] in [[Malayalam]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/historic-heritage-gallery/m-c-joseph/810|title=M.C.Joseph|website=www.keralaculture.org}}</ref> along with Ramavarma Thampan, [[Mithavaadi Krishnan|C. Krishnan]], [[C. V. Kunhiraman]] and [[Sahodaran Ayyappan]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sanu|first=M.K|title=Yukthivaadi M.C. Joseph (Malayalam)|isbn=9388768019}}</ref> The first issue of the ''Yukthivadi'' was brought out in August, 1929.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nastiknation.org/product/m-c-joseph-enna-apoorva-manushyan/|title=M C Joseph Enna Apoorva Manushyan – Nastik Nation}}</ref> Sahodaran Ayyappan was the first editor of the magazine. Two years later M. C. Joseph took over the editorship and successfully continued its publication without a single gap in the issues for the next 45 years, single-handedly. His famous column ''Kurippukal'' (Notes) carried scathing criticism of all organized [[religion]]s, [[superstition]]s, and undemocratic and [[authoritarianism|authoritarian]] [[political system]]s. During his tenure as its editor, the magazine got so identified with its editor that he came to be known as ''Yukthivadi'' M. C. Joseph, meaning M. C. Joseph the rationalist. In July 1974, at the age of 87, he handed over the magazine job to Unni Kakkanand, a few months before he died on 26 October 1981.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}<br />
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Joseph died on 26 October 1981 at the age of 94. As per his wishes, the body was handed over to [[Calicut Medical College]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}<br />
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Bharathiya yukthivadi Sangham, a rationalist organisation founded by [[Sreeni Pattathanam]] is giving the ''M. C. Joseph Award'' in memory of him to distinguished secular writers and activists in Malayalam. [[Kureepuzha Sreekumar]], [[Pavanan]], Malayalam writer [[Paul Zacharia|Zacharia]], [[Thilakan]], Vaisakhan, [[M. K. Sanu|M K Sanu]], [[Anand (writer)|Anand]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te8OMdocgkA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Te8OMdocgkA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=MC Joseph Award Ceremony 2015 (Malayalam)|date=29 October 2015 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> etc. are the winners of this award. Then Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan had handed over the ''M. C. Joseph award'' to M K Sanu on 20 August 2017. During his speech at the event Pinarayi Vijayan said M. C. Joseph had the capability to provide logical answers and establish his point of view on questions related to rationalism. “He was one of those who fearlessly fought superstitions and ill- practices of his time. Such bravado energises posterity also," the Chief Minister opined.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2017/aug/20/kerala-chief-minister-presents-m-c-joseph-award-to-litterateur-m-k-sanu-1645612.html|title=Kerala Chief Minister presents M C Joseph award to litterateur M K Sanu|website=The New Indian Express |date=21 August 2017 }}</ref><br />
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== Yukthivadi Journal ==<br />
This had been a significant publication with an intellectual appeal on people of Kerala due mainly to the persons by whom it was started and had been published for over four decades — the legendary Sahodaran Ayyappan and the merciless social critic M. C. Joseph. It was no less than an intellectual stimulant of the time for the people of Kerala.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} <br />
[[File:YUKTHIVADI.JPG|thumb|Issue of Yukthivadi, The Malayalam Rationalist Journal, dated 4 April 1936|alt=Yukthivadi]]<br />
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==Books==<br />
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#''Purogathi'' (Progress) (1947)<br />
#''Yukthiprakasham'' (Light of Reason) (1966)<br />
#''Prabhodhanam'' (1966)<br />
#''Ashayasamaram'' (1976)<br />
#''Thiranjetutha Kurippukal'' (Selected Notes)(1976)<br />
#''Chinthaviplavam'' (1976)<br />
#''Nasthikya Chintha'' (Atheist Thoughts)(1977)<br />
#''Swatanthra Chintha'' (Free Thought)(1978)<br />
#''Kuttichathan'' (Goblins)(1983)<br />
#''Emciyute Lekhanangal'' (Essays)(1991)<br />
#''Emciyute Darshanangal'' (1995)<br />
#''Jotsyam Oru Kapada Sasthram'' (2004) Indian Atheist Publishers<br />
#''Punarjanma Smaranakal'' (2004) Indian Atheist Publishers<br />
#''Kalathinu Mumpe Nadannavar'' (2005) Indian Atheist Publisher<br />
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==List of recipients of Yukthivadi M. C. Joseph Award==<br />
''Yukthivadi M. C. Joseph Award'' was constituted by the rationalist organisation ''Bharatheeya Yukthivadi Sangham'', founded by [[Sreeni Pattathanam]]. The award is given to persons who stood for rational and secularist causes. <br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" <br />
|-<br />
! Year<br />
! Recipient <br />
! Profession<br />
|-<br />
|2004<br />
|[[Kureepuzha Sreekumar]]<br />
|Malayalam Poet<br />
|-<br />
|2006<br />
|[[Pavanan]]<br />
|Former Secretary, Kerala Sahithya Academy<br />
|-<br />
|2008<br />
|[[Thilakan]]<br />
|Malayalam Film Actor<br />
|-<br />
|2010<br />
|[[Vaisakhan]]<br />
|Former President, Kerala Sahithya Academy<br />
|-<br />
|2013<br />
|[[Paul Zacharia]]<br />
|Author<br />
|-<br />
|2015<br />
|[[Anand (writer)|Anand]]<br />
|Author, Critic<br />
|-<br />
|2017<br />
|Prof. [[M. K. Sanu]]<br />
|Author, intellect <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
* ''M.C. Enna Manushyan'' : [[Joseph Edamaruku|J. Edamaruku]] (1959) by Jai Hind Publishers, Kottayam; Revised edition (2004) by Indian Atheist Publishers.<br />
* Yukthivadi M.C. Joseph : [[M. K. Sanu]] (May 2002) (Department of Cultural Publications, Government of [[Kerala]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]] -14)<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, M. C.}}<br />
[[Category:Indian sceptics]]<br />
[[Category:Indian materialists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian atheists]]<br />
[[Category:1887 births]]<br />
[[Category:1981 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam-language journalists]]<br />
[[Category:Journalists from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Kochi]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male writers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian essayists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian male journalists]]</div>Pranav