A Ayyappan

Posted Date: 09 Dec 2010 Author: Roshan Salim

(Rs. 25)

Thia article tells about A Ayyappan, a famous Malayalam poet from Kerala.

A Ayyappan- A Man Among The Crowd

A Ayyappan was a famous Malayalam Poet who was in the born in the God’s own Country in 27th October 1947 as a son of goldsmith Arumukan and Muthammali. He was a great contributer to modern Malayalam Poetry starting from Ayyappapanikkar, Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan, Balachandran Chullikad and Sachidanandan. A Ayyappan was also the translator of Mill on the flowsea written by George Eliot to Malayalam. Ayyappan was an extra ordinary man who always converts the pains of his life in to celebrations. And all his poems were some awy related to his life. He is a man who makes the poems related to his life experience. He was a very social man and was interested in Communism. He was the winner of Aasan Poetry Prize in 2010 and was also a winner of Kerala Sahithya Academy Award in 1999.

Childhood, Education and Poetic Career of Ayyappan

Childhood of A Ayyappan was a miserable one. He lost his father during the age of One. There are many rumors behind his father’s death. Then it was his mother, who takes care of him by working as a Cooly. But unfortunately his mother also died during his school life. Then he was with her elder sister Subalakshmi. His school education was completed from Nedumangad and Nemam. Reading habit became an unavoidable interest during his lonely life. He also released his first book namely ‘Onakkazhcha’ during his college days. He was actually a short story writer during his early days. His transition from short story to the field of poetry was a magical one. His poems usually used to publish in the Vivekodayam Magazine.

After he got his degree he became a teacher in the parallel college. He also had a proof reading duty in Janayugam. He used to follow a well disciplined life in those days. His interest in Communism made him to work with communist leader R Sugathan and served as his Secretory. During these days he started a magazine called Aksharam and many first class writers contributed in that magazine. But after some sorts of time, his life pattern has changed and led to an un disciplined life with some bad habits like drinking alcohol etc. Then he became a Malayalam poet with out an address. The street itself became the home for him, but he never stopped his poetry works. He share his pains and solitude through his poems. And at the age of 61, he was found dead in the foot paths of Trivandrum city. And that marked the end of an evergreen poet.

Major Works of A Ayyappan

1. Veyil Thinnunna Pakshi
2. Greeshmavum Kanneerum
3. Yangjam
4. Ente shavapetti chumakunnavarodu
5. Greeshmame sakhee
6. Tettiyodunna SeconduSoochi
7. Kalkkariyude Niramullavar (Collection of Poems)
8. Sumangali
9. Anbu- This was his last poem, found in his pockets when he was found dead