Sankarankutty Kunjiraman Pottekkatt (14 March 1913 – 6 August 1982) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, traveller, and politician from Kerala. Best known for his travelogues, he has authored nearly 60 books, which include 10 novels, 24 collections of short stories, three anthologies of poems, 18 travelogues, four plays, a collection of essays and a couple of books based on personal reminiscences.
He is a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Jnanpith Award. His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.
Early life
S. K. Pottekkatt was born on 14 March 1913, in Calicut (Kozhikode) in a Thiyya family to Kunjiraman Pottekkat, an English school teacher and his wife, Kittuli. After early schooling at Ganapath School, he matriculated from Zamorin's High School in Calicut in 1929 and passed the intermediate examination from Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, Calicut in 1934 but could not find a job for three years, a period which he utilised for studying classics from Indian and western literature. In 1937, he joined Calicut Gujarati School as a teacher where he taught for almost three years. He was involved with activities of the Indian National Congress and attended the Tripuri session of 1939 for which he resigned from the job as the school authorities did not allow him leave of absence. Subsequently, he moved to Bombay and Lucknow where he stayed until 1945, doing many jobs.
After returning to Kerala in 1945, he travelled to many parts of India and went on his first overseas tour in 1949 when he visited Africa, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and England. In 1952, he again went overseas to visit Ceylon, Malaya, and Indonesia.
Literary career and travels
Pottekkatt published his first story, "Rajaneethi", in the college magazine of Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College in 1928. "Makane Konna Madyam" (poem published in Athmavidya Kahalam) and "Hindu Muslim Maithri" (story published in Deepam) were some of his notable early works. The story "Vydyutha Shakthi" came in the February 1934 issue of Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly. He wrote his first novel, Naadanpremam, a romantic story set in Mukkam, a small hamlet in Kozhikode district, in 1939 while he was in Bombay and the novel was eventually published in 1941. This was followed by Yavanikakku Pinnil, a short story anthology, and the second novel Vishakanyaka; the latter would receive a prize from the Madras government in 1949. Two travelogues were the next two publications, Kappirikalude Naattil (In the Land of the Negroes) and Innathe Europe (The Europe Today), both based on his first overseas tour. He published Oru Theruvinte Katha in 1960 and his magnum opus, Oru Desathinte Katha, in 1971.
Pottekkatt was a writer of strong social commitment and ideals, possessing an individualistic vision. He is reported to be the pioneer of the genre of travelogues in India and its most notable practitioner in Malayalam literature which earned him the moniker, the John Gunther of Malayalam. Poetry anthologies like Sanchariyude Geethangal and Premashilpi, Achan (play), novels like Premashiksha and Moodupadam, short story anthologies such as Nishagandhi, Pulliman and Chandrakatham, travelogues viz. Simhabhoomi, Nile Diary and Pathira Sooryante Nattil as well as memoirs like Ponthakkadukal and Samsarikkunna Diarykurippukal are some of his other major works.
His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages. An Italian anthology of The Best Short Stories of the World published from Milan in 1971 included his Braanthan Naaya (Mad Dog). A collection of eleven of his short stories in Russian had a sensational sales of one hundred thousand copies in two weeks. His stories have made into feature films in Malayalam; Naadan Premam, Moodupadam, Pulliman and Njavalppazhangal are some of them. Kadavu, a 1991 film written directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on his short story "Kadathuthoni", received prizes at several international film festivals."Pottekkatt’s tryst with cinema". The Hindu. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2023. The 2015 film Manikyam was an adaptation of the novel Prema Shiksha."മാണിക്യം". Deshabhimani. Retrieved 17 January 2023."Manikyam Malayalam Movie". Nowrunning.com. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
Political career
Pottekkatt contested twice as independent candidate in elections to Indian Parliament from Thalassery under the banner of the Communist Party of India, the first in 1957 to the 2nd Lok Sabha when he lost to M. K. Jinachandran by 1000 votes and the next in 1962 to the 3rd Lok Sabha when he defeated Sukumar Azhikode by a margin of 66,000 votes; he served out his term until 1967.
Personal life Pottekkatt married Jayavalli in 1950 and the couple had two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1980 and two years later, he suffered a paralytic stroke in July 1982, and he died on 6 August 1982, in a private hospital in Calicut."സഞ്ചാരിയായ എഴുത്തുകാരന്!" . Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
Awards and honours Oru Theruvinte Katha (The Story of a Street), a novel based on Mittai Theruvu, a popular street in Kozhikode known for sweetmeat and halvah stalls, received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1961. His biographical novel, Oru Desathinte Katha was selected for the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972. Eight years later, in 1980, the novel earned Pottekkatt the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India. In 1982, the University of Calicut honoured him with the honoris causa degree of the Doctor of Letters. India Post issued a commemorative postal stamp on him in 2003, as a part of their Jnanpith Award Winners. Malayala Manorama and Madhyamam issued festschrifts on Pottekkatt on the occasion of his birth centenary.
Bibliography Novels Year Title Publisher Notes Ref. 1937 Vallikadevi 1941 Naadan Premam Calicut: Mathrubhumi 1945 Prema Shiksha Calicut: P. K. Brothers 1948 Moodupadam Calicut: Mathrubhumi 1948 Vishakanyaka Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1958 Karamboo Calicut: Kerala 1960 Oru Theruvinte Katha Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel 1971 Oru Desathinte Katha Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi Award 1976 Kurumulaku Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1979 Kabeena Trivandrum: Upasana 1988 Bharathappuzhayude Makkal Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Described as Novatakam, a combination of novel and play North Avenue Incomplete work
Short stories Year Title Publisher Notes Ref. 1945 Manimalika Thrissur: Mangalodayam Collection of 5 stories 1945 Rajamalli Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Collection of 13 stories 1945 Nisshagandhi Thrissur: Mangalodayam Collection of 9 stories 1945 Pulliman Thrissur: Sundarayyar & Sons Collection of 6 stories 1945 Meghamala Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Collection of 8 stories 1946 Chandrakantham Wadakkancherry: Arunodayam Collection of 5 stories 1946 Jalatharangam Calicut: P. K. Brothers Collection of 7 stories 1946 Vaijayanthi Thrissur: Mangalodayam Collection of 7 stories 1947 Pournami Calicut: P. K. Brothers Collection of 5 stories 1947 Padmaragam Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Collection of 6 stories 1947 Indraneelam Calicut: K. R. Brothers Collection of 6 stories 1948 Rangamandapam Thrissur: Mangalodayam Collection of 7 stories 1948 Himavahini Thrissur: Mangalodayam Collection of 5 stories 1949 Prethabhoomi Calicut: K. R. Brothers Collection of 5 stories 1952 Yavanikkakku Pinnil Calicut: P. K. Brothers Collection of 6 stories and a radio drama 1954 Kallippookkal Thrissur: Mangalodayam Collection of 6 stories and a radio drama 1954 Vanakaumudi Thrissur: Mangalodayam Collection of 4 stories and a radio drama 1955 Kanakaambaram Calicut: P. K. Brothers Collection of 7 stories 1960 Antharvahini Calicut: Kerala Collection of 5 stories 1962 Ezhilam Pala Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Collection of 7 stories 1967 Thiranjedutha Kathakal Kottayam: S.P.C.S. Collection of 36 stories; With an introduction by M. R. Chandrasekharan 1968 Vrindavanam Calicut: Poorna Collection of 8 stories 1970 Kattuchembakam 1978 S. K. Pottekkattinte Cherukathakal Calicut: Jaya 1981 S. K. Pottekkattinte Cherukathakal Calicut: Mathrubhumi 1999 Katha: Pottekkatt 2004 Sthree Calicut: Mathrubhumi 2006 S. K. Pottekkattinte Kathakal Sampoornam Calicut: Poorna Complete short stories in three volumes 2010 Ottakavum Mattu Pradhana Kathakalum Kottayam: DC Books 2014 S. K. Pottekkattinte Kathakal Sampoornam Kottayam: DC Books Complete short stories in two volumes 2014 Sthree: Sthreekale Kurichu Kure Kathakal Calicut: Poorna
Travelogues Year Title Publisher Notes Ref. 1947 Kashmir Thrissur: Mangalodayam 1948 Yathrasmaranakal Calicut: P. K. Brothers Based on the journeys to historical places in India 1951 Kappirikalude Nattil Thrissur: Mangalodayam 1954 Simhabhoomi Calicut: K. R. Brothers 1949 journey to Bagamoyo, Tanga, Kenya and Uganda 1954 Nile Diary Thrissur: Mangalodayam 1954 Malaya Nadukalil Thrissur: Mangalodayam 1955 Innathe Europe Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1950 journey to Europe and Britain; Later editions titled Europiloode 1955 Indonesian Diary Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1953 journey to Indonesia; originally published in two volumes; combined volume first published by S.P.C.S. in 1964 1955 Soviet Diary Thrissur: Mangalodayam 1956 Pathira Sooryante Nattil Calicut: P. K. Brothers 1955 journey to Finland 1958 Bali Dweep Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1953 journey to Bali 1959 Simhabhoomi Cochin: Parishath Expanded version of the 1954 book and published in two volumes; combined volume first published by S.P.C.S. in 1968 1960 Bohemian Chithrangal Thrissur: Current Books 1967 Himalaya Samrajyathil Thrissur: Mangalodayam Based on the journey to Haridwar and Badrinath in May 1966 1969 Nepal Yathra Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1970 London Notebook Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1974 Cairo Kathukal Kottayam: S.P.C.S. 1976 Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 1 – Africa Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam Kappirikalude Nattil, Simhabhoomi, Nile Diary, Cairo Kathukal, Cleopatrayude Nattil 1977 Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 2 – Europe Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam Europiloode (Innathe Europe), London Notebook, Pathira Sooryante Nattil, Soviet Diary, Bohemian Chithrangal 1977 Sanchara Sahithyam: Vol. 3 – Asia Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam Yathrasmaranakal, Kashmir, Himalaya Samrajyathil, Nepal Yathra, Malaya Nadukalil, Indonesian Diary, Bali Dweep 1977 Cleopatrayude Nattil Irinjalakuda: Vivekodayam
Poetry Year Title Publisher Notes Ref. 1936 Prabhatha Kanthi Calicut: K. R. Brothers 14 poems 1946 Sanchariyude Geethangal Calicut: P. K. Brothers 14 poems; with an introduction by G. Sankara Kurup 1958 Prema Shilpi Thrissur: Current Books 5 poems 2015 S. K. Pottekkattinte Kavithakal Calicut: Lipi
Drama Year Title Publisher Notes Ref. 1945 Achan Alleppey: T. K. Varghese Vaidyan 1948 Achanum Makanum Included in Himavahini 1954 Althara A radio play included in Vanakaumudi 1954 Theevandi Odunnu A radio play included in Kallipookkal
Others Year Title Publisher Notes Ref. 1947 Ponthakkadukal Calicut: Mathrubhumi Collection of humour essays published in various newspapers and magazines under the name Arunan 1949 Gadhyamekhala Calicut: P. K. Brothers Collection of 8 essays 1975 Ente Vazhiyambalangal Kottayam: N.B.S. Memoirs 1978 Muhammed Abdurahiman Calicut: Mathrubhumi Political biography of Muhammed AbdurahimanCo-authored with P. P. Ummer Koya, N. P. Mohammed and K. A. Kodungallur 1981 Samsarikkunna Diarykurrippukal Calicut: Mathrubhumi Diary 1995 Pottekkattinte Kathukal Calicut: P. K. Brothers Letters 2013 Paryadanam Calicut: Mathrubhumi Diary
Translations into other languages
Many works are translated to Tamil by Su Ra.
Films
Moodupadam (1963) (based on the novel Moodupadam) Naadan Premam (1972) (based on the novel Naadan Premam) Pulliman (1972) (based on the story "Pulliman") Njavalppazhangal (1976) (based on the story "Njavalppazhangal") Ottakam (1978) (based on the story "Ottakam") Thaala (1988)