Punathil Kunjabdulla (3 April 1940 – 27 October 2017) was an Indian writer from Kerala. A medical doctor by profession, Kunjabdulla was a practitioner of the avant-garde in Malayalam literature. His work includes more than 45 books, including 7 novels, 15 short story collections, memoirs, an autobiography and travelogues. His work Smarakasilakal (Memorial Stones) won the Central and State Akademi Awards.Awards & Fellowships-Akademi Awards

Early and personal life Kunjabdulla was born in 1940 in Karakkad near Onchiyam in Vatakara, Malabar District (present-day Kozhikode district, Kerala) as the son of C. K. Mammu and Saina, Kunjabdulla. He completed his primary education from Karakkad Mappila Lower Primary School and high school from Govt. Fisheries Technical School, Madappally. He joined Government Brennen College, Thalassery and completed his pre-degree and a bachelor's degree in science."ഇനി കഥയുടെ നിത്യസ്മാരകം". Deshabhimani. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2019. He wanted to continue his studies at Brennen College and to do his masters in Malayalam. He was dissuaded by the late critic M. N. Vijayan, who was a teacher at the college's Department of Malayalam. "You don't have to do an MA to be a writer; all you need to know are the letters," his teacher advised him. He heeded the advice and went to the Aligarh Muslim University to study MBBS.P.K. Ajith Kumar (27 October 2017). "Punathil Kunjabdulla is dead". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 February 2019. He was a registered medical practitioner and served in government sector from 1970 to 1973 and at Vatakara from 1974 to 1976. He married Haleema and had three children. Kunjabdulla was living alone in a flat in Calicut during his last years.P. Zakir Hussain (24 April 2017). "ഓർമകളുടെ കടൽത്തീരത്ത് കുഞ്ഞബ്ദുള്ള". Madhyamam. Retrieved 20 February 2019.

Despite coming from a conservative Muslim background, Kunjabdulla was known for his wanton and unconventional life-style. He literally chose to celebrate life. Sethu once said: "His calibre to depict commoners was astonishing. With this magic, he could have written great works. However, he chose to celebrate life and did not care to write great works unlike many of his contemporaries. His lifestyle can be cited as the reason for this hindrance."Sethu (28 October 2017). "Punathil Kunjabdulla: He exemplified joie de vivre". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2017-10-29. Though he was born in a Muslim family, he never wanted to lead a religious life. He always described himself as a Hindu by culture, despite being born a Muslim. He liked alcohol and pork and never hesitated to admit it publicly.Anand Kochukudy (29 October 2017). "Both life and literature were unconventional for Malayalam writer Punathil Kunjabdulla (1940-2017)". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2017-10-29.

In the 2001 Kerala assembly elections, Punathil unsuccessfully contested for Bharatiya Janata Party from Beypore constituency. He was pitted against industrialist-turned-politician V. K. C. Mammed Koya of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and veteran politician M C Mayin Haji of the Indian Union Muslim League. He finished third, securing 10,934 votes. Kunjabdulla's decision to contest on BJP ticket was a surprise for many. He later said in an interview: "They were the first to offer me a ticket. If the Congress or the CPM had offered me a ticket first, I would have accepted it. It is my commitment to the people and not any kind of affinity towards any particular party, that inspires me."Jestin Abraham (29 October 2017). "How Punathil Kunjabdulla tested political waters in Beypore". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2017-10-29.

Suffering from various ailments during his final years, he died at Baby Memorial Hospital in Calicut on 27 October 2017, aged 77. At the time of death, Punathil was working on an uncompleted novel titled Ya Ayyuhannas. The novel, centred around religion and spirituality, was announced almost a year before and was to be serialised in Madhyamam Weekly.

Literary career He sent his first short story Bhagyakuri (1958) to Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly while he was still at school, hoping to get published in the children's section.M. Mukundan (2017). "ബി ജെ പി സ്ഥാനാര്‍ഥിയായത് പുനത്തില്‍ കാണിച്ച ഏറ്റവും വലിയ വികൃതി: എം മുകുന്ദന്‍". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 21 February 2019. However its associate editor M. T. Vasudevan Nair chose to publish it in the general category. Kunjabdulla has called MT his only guru, both in life and writing.K. Rekha (27 October 2017). "Punathil: the writer who transformed experiences into words". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 1 November 2017.

Smarakasilakal (Memorial Stones), published in 1977, is set in a region near Vatakara where he grew up. The novel tells the story of Khan Bahadur Pookkoya Thangal, the head of a feudal family, and the patriarchal structure at work within the family.

Through the novel Marunnu (Medicine), which narrates the story on the life of MBBS students and of a medical college, Kunjabdulla introduced to Malayalam literature the world of hospitals and doctors.G. Pramod (27 October 2017). "മരണത്തെ അതിജീവിക്കുന്ന ആ നോവൽ!". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 21 February 2019. Paralokam also picked up on themes of death, another novel richly informed by his own life experiences as a doctor. He was a prolific writer of short stories as well.G. Pramod (27 October 2017). "പുനത്തിൽ- കഥയും ജീവിതവും". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 21 February 2019. His story Kshethravilakkukal (Temple Lights) was chosen by M. Krishnan Nair in a collection of best short stories in the language.Dr. Rajesh Kumar M.P. (6 November 2017). "എം.കൃഷ്ണൻ നായരെയും പുനത്തിലിനെയും ദാരിയാഗഞ്ചില്‍ കണ്ടുമുട്ടിയപ്പോള്‍". Indian Express. Retrieved 21 February 2019. Kunjabdulla co-authored the novel Navagrahangulude Thadavara with Sethu. They discussed it together, wrote separately and then edited it together. According to Sethu, it was a work with a difference, though born ahead of the times.

The writer in Kunjabdulla had a great affinity towards Karakkad village in Vatakara where he was born. Many of his stories were reflections of his village and the characters like Vandikkaran Kunjhan, Bappu Kanaran, Moosa Musaliyar and Sankarakurup were real life people in his village.Ajith Kannan (28 October 2017). "Characters carved out from Karakkad in Vadakara". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2017-10-29. The years he spent at Aligarh also left deep impressions on Kunjabdulla. He was known as Aligadhinte Kathakaran as he introduced Aligarh in Malayalam literature. As an MBBS student, he spent 9 years in Aligarh Muslim University (1962-1970) and during his stay at Room No. 31 at VM Hal of AMU, he would write short stories on Aligarh and publish them in Malayalam journals. His experiences in the Uttar Pradesh city helped him write some of his most widely read short stories. Aligadhile Tadavukaran (The Prisoner in Aligarh), Marunnu (Medicine), Aligadh Kathakal (Aligarh Stories) are some of the famous books on Aligarh that he wrote. Cycle Savairi (Cycle Riding), Jeevachavangal (Living Cadavers) MoulanaInam Khureshi, Kathi (Knife), Velichaththinte Maranam (Death of Light) and Smasanathilekku Nayikkunna Njan (Leading by me Towards the Graveyard) are some of the most known short stories on his Aligarh days.T. N. Satheesan (27 October 2017). "Punathil Kunhabdulla, Malayalam Writer Who Brought Aligarh to Kerala, Passes Away". News18.com. Retrieved 2017-10-29.

Like Pookunjeebi in Smarakasilakal many of his female characters were strong personalities. Instead of depicting women in moodily love, he celebrated lust, passion of love and beauty through his women characters. The women characters in Kure Sthreekal, Pranaya Kathakal and Ente Kamukimarum Mattu Kathakalum represented life as it is and the underlying tone was lust.Saritha S. Balan (27 October 2017). "Punathil Kunjabdulla: The Malayali modernist who broke the mould in life and his writing". The News Minute. Retrieved 2017-11-01.

Awards Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (Malayalam) (1980) – for Smarakasilakal Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel (1978) – for SmarakasilakalKerala Sahithya Academy Award – Novel (in Malayalam) Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story (1980) – for Malamukalile AbdullaKerala Sahithya Academy Award – Short story (in Malayalam) Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Travelogue (2001) – for Volgayil Manju Peyyumbol Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (2010)"Kerala Sahitya Akademi awards presented". The Hindu. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013. Muttathu Varkey Award (1999) Mathrubhumi Literary Award (2013) Vishwadeepam Award – for Marunnu

Selected works

Novels Smarakasilakal (DC Books, 1977) Marunnu (DC Books) Paralokam (DC Books) Punathilinte Novellakal (DC Books) Kanyavanangal (DC Books) Navagrahangulude Thadavara (with Sethu) (DC Books) Agnikinavukal (DC Books) Ammaye Kaanan (Children's novel, Mathrubhumi Books) Kannadi Veedukal (Trichur Current Books, 2001)

Short stories Aligarh Kathakal (Mathrubhumi Books, 2012)"Aligarh Kathakal released" Ente Priyapetta Kathakal (DC Books) Kshethravilakkukal (Mathrubhumi Books)Kshethravilakkukal Kure Sthreekal (Mathrubhumi Books) Malamukalile Abdulla (Mathrubhumi Books, 1974)Malamukalile Abdulla Marichupoya Ente Appanammamarkku (Poorna Publications, 1997) Neelaniramulla Thottam Pranaya Kathakal (Mathrubhumi Books)Pranaya Kathakal Punathilinte 101 Kathakal Ente Kamukimarum Mattu Kathakalum Kathi (Mathrubhumi Books)Kathi

Others Atmaviswasam Valiya Marunnu (memoirs & essays, Mathrubhumi Books)Atmaviswasam Valiya Marunnu Kaippunyam Athava Chila Adukkalakkaryangal (cookery, Mathrubhumi Books)Kaippunyam Athava Chila Adukkalakkaryangal Nashtajaathakam (autobiography, DC Books) Puthiya Marunnum Pazhaya Manthravum (memoirs, Mathrubhumi Books)Puthiya Marunnum Pazhaya Manthravum Randaam Chemmeen (memoirs, Manorama Books, 2012) Volgayil Manju Peyyumbol (travelogue, Mathrubhumi Books)Volgayil Manju Peyyumbol

References

Further reading