P. Kesavadev

Keshavadev, born Keshava Pillai, on July 21, 1904, at Kedamangalam, a small hamlet near North Paravur, then British Raj, to Appu Pillai-Karthyayani Amma couple.{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKesavadev/Html/Kesavadevgraphy.htm |title=Biography published by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}} He had formal education only up to High School levels when he had to abandon it due to financial constraints and take up part-time jobs such as a collection agent, tuition teacher and cloth merchant. It was during this time, he was influenced by the thoughts of Sahodaran Ayyappan and participated in the Mishra Bhojanam, a grand feast organized by Ayyappan where around 200 people including people of the lower castes sat together to eat. Subsequently, he joined Arya Samaj and adopted the name Kesavadev to get rid of his last name "Pillai" which denoted his caste. He later aligned himself with the Indian National Congress and with the Communist Party of India. He was involved with several publications, starting with Swadeshabhimani as an interim editor when A. K. Pillai, the then editor traveled to the UK. Malayala Rajyam, Bhaje Bharatham, Prathidinam and Thozhilali were some of the other publications he was involved with; the last one when he was an active communist.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/russian-revolutions-influence-in-malayalam-literature/article19993174.ece |title=A catalyst that triggered progressive literature |last=Anandan |first=S. |date=2017-11-06 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-26}} He also wrote propaganda literature for the communist movement{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/a-rebels-manifesto/article6228930.ece |title=A rebel's manifesto |last=Pradeep |first=K. |date=2014-07-20 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-01-26}} and served as the president of the Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (Sahitya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society) and Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

Kesavadev published his autobiography, Ethirppu, in 1959,{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.in/Ethirppu-P-Kesavadev/dp/B007E4WQI4 |title=Ethirppu |last=P.Kesavadev |date=1959-02-10 |publisher=Prabhath Book House |access-date=2019-01-26}} which reflected his communist ideals.{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/poet-sugathakumari-receives-kesavadev-literary-award/articleshow/59689654.cms |title=Poet Sugathakumari receives Kesavadev Literary Award - Times of India |date=July 20, 2017 |website=The Times of India |access-date=2019-01-26}} He was a recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship.{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Fellows/Html/HonMembersPage.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}} In 1964, Sahitya Akademi selected his work, Ayalkkar for their annual award for Novel.{{Cite web |url=https://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=story&artist=P%2520Kesavadev |title=Profile of Malayalam Story Writer P. Kesavadev |date=2019-01-26 |website=en.msidb.org |access-date=2019-01-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |title=Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (Malayalam) |publisher=Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala |access-date=11 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-date=24 May 2007 }} He was also a recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru Award.

Kesavadev's first marriage was to Gomathy Amma but the marriage did not last long.{{Cite web |url=http://kesavadev.net/en/l_and_t_kdv.htm |title=Portrait of a Rebel |date=2019-01-26 |website=kesavadev.net |access-date=2019-01-26}} His married again in 1957 when he was in the sixties and working at the All India Radio; Seethalekshmi Dev, his second wife was a novelist and was much younger to him in her thirties. They had a son.{{Cite web |url=http://gulftoday.ae/portal/beaef885-46d4-4e18-a602-c3155e73f1b2.aspx |title=Constant monitoring reduces risk of diabetes |date=June 23, 2014 |website=gulftoday.ae |access-date=2019-01-25}}

Kesavadev died on July 1, 1983, at the age of 78.

Kesavadev emerged as one of the makers of modern Malayalam fiction.{{Cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.5454 |title=Kesavadev - a biography |last=Sasidharan K.p. |date=1990 |access-date=2019-01-25}} He can be referred to as the first writer to usher in the Renaissance in Malayalam literature, by writing the novel Odayil Ninnu (From the Gutter; 1942) with a rickshaw puller as its hero.{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/21806849 |title=Odayil Ninnu synopsis |date=2019-01-25 |website=www.goodreads.com |access-date=2019-01-25}} Dev was in the forefront among the writers who employed new norms in the content and characterisation in Malayalam fiction. Odayil Ninnu came as a shocking revelation that a finest piece of literature can be produced with commonplace themes and unconventional style of prose with ordinary mortals as heroes and heroines. Apart from the fact that the appearance of rickshaw puller was a thrilling experience at that time, he was known to have started a new trait in Malayalam literature and many writers followed suit.{{cite book|author=A. Sreedhara Menon|title=Social and cultural history of Kerala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXluAAAAMAAJ|year=1979|publisher=Sterling}} The novel was made into a movie with the name unchanged, by K. S. Sethumadhavan in 1965.{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213961/ |title=Odayil Ninnu 1965 film |date=2019-01-26 |website=IMDb |access-date=2019-01-26}}

His second novel, Bhranthalayam (The Mad House; 1949), was novel based on the tragedy of partition of the nation and showed Kesavadev as a humanist.{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/21862637 |title=Bhranthalayam synopsis |date=2019-01-25 |website=www.goodreads.com |access-date=2019-01-25}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/21862637 |title=Bhranthalayam - Synopsis on Good Reads |date=2019-01-26 |website=www.goodreads.com |access-date=2019-01-26}} Rowdy, his next novel, was published in 1958, which was based on the story of an abused orphan, taking to arms in defense against the community, narrated in a sarcastic style.{{Cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.5454 |title=Kesavadev |last=Sasidharan K.p. |date=1990 |website=Sahitya Akademi archives |access-date=2019-01-26}} K. S. Sethumadhavan's 1966 film, Rowdy was based on this novel.{{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=197 |title=Rowdy (1966) |date=2019-01-26 |website=www.malayalachalachithram.com |access-date=2019-01-26}} Ayalkar (The Neighbours), published in 1963, is considered by many as his masterpiece. This novel is acclaimed as the chronicle of the evolution of the three leading communities of the State of Kerala, the Nairs, Christians and Ezhavas from the days of feudalism to the post independent era.{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/19024081-ayalkkar |title=Ayalkkar - synopsis on Good Reads |date=2019-01-26 |website=www.goodreads.com |access-date=2019-01-26}} Writing about the tragedy of the disintegration of the two major tharavads – Mangalassery and Pachazhi, Kesavadev recreates their past and also narrates the trials and tribulations paving the way for their total destruction as well as the history of the state for a period of about fifty years from the times of feudalism to the rise of the new era. The novel won the Sahitya Akademi Award.{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5753924.P_Kesavadev |title=P. Kesavadev - Author profile |date=2019-01-26 |website=www.goodreads.com |access-date=2019-01-26}}

The other works of Dev adapted as movies are Aadhyathe Katha (1972) directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan,{{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=436 |title=Aadyathe Kadha (1972) |date=2019-01-26 |website=www.malayalachalachithram.com |access-date=2019-01-26}} Oru Sundariyude Athmakatha, renamed as Oru Sundariyude Katha and directed Thoppil Bhasi (1972){{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=430 |title=Oru Sundariyude Kadha (1972) |date=2019-01-26 |website=www.malayalachalachithram.com |access-date=2019-01-26}} and Swapnam (1973), the directorial debut of Babu Nanthankode.{{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=499 |title=Swapnam (1973) |date=2019-01-26 |website=www.malayalachalachithram.com |access-date=2019-01-26}} His unfinished novel Padicha Kallanmar was later rewritten and published by his wife Seethalekshmi Dev.{{Cite book |title=Padicha Kallanmar |last=P. Kesavadev, Seethalakshmi Dev |date=2006 |publisher=Poorna Publications |isbn=8130004879 |edition= 1st |location=Kozhikode |oclc=77049064}}

Kesavadev was a prolific writer.{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKesavadev/Html/PKesavadevbooks.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}} He has written about 300 short stories. His stories offer a very wide range and variety in theme and technique and deal with the trivialities of the ordinary people as their themes.

Though Kesavadev is primarily known for his contributions as a Novelist and Short Story writer, the full-length plays and one act plays he has written were very popular in those days and attracted huge audience when enacted on stages.{{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/220799 |title=Kesavadevinde Nadakangal |last=P |first=Kesavadev |date=1967 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25 |archive-date=26 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126000854/http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/220799 |url-status=dead }} His plays reflect his social criticism. Plays like Pradhanamanthri (Prime Minister) have political undertones and were popular.

{{Main|P. Kesavadev Literary Award}}

P. Kesavadev Trust has instituted P. Kesavadev Awards to be presented yearly to two dignified personalities.{{cite news |title= P. Kesavadev awards announced |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/11/stories/2007071152740500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007001519/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/11/stories/2007071152740500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 October 2008|work=The Hindu |date=11 July 2007|access-date=4 November 2008 }} One award goes to literature (poetry, novel, and essays). Diabscreen Kerala- Kesavadev Trust Award is presented to best health related article/report alternatively to visual and print media.{{cite news |title= Kesavadev Award presented|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/06/stories/2005040615800300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406043457/http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/06/stories/2005040615800300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2005|work=The Hindu |date=4 June 2005|access-date=4 November 2008 }}{{cite news |title= Kesavadev Award announced|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/29/stories/2008062958400300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704075018/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/29/stories/2008062958400300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 July 2008|work=The Hindu|date=29 June 2008|access-date=4 November 2008 }} Sugathakumari, Gopinath Muthukad, G.N. Panicker{{Cite web |url=http://diabscreenkerala.net/prgms/2010/july_25_2016.html |title=P.Kesavadev Awards 2016 |date=2019-01-26 |website=diabscreenkerala.net |access-date=2019-01-26}} and Mohanlal are among the recipients of the award.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2018/jul/12/had-kesavadev-been-alive-today-his-speeches-would-have-invited-intolerance-prabha-varma-1841934.html |title=Had Kesavadev been alive today, his speeches would have invited intolerance: Prabha Varma |date=July 12, 2018 |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=2019-01-26}}

{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}

• {{Cite book |title=Odayil Ninnu |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Poorna Publications |year=1942 |isbn=978-8171801343}}
• {{Cite book |title=Bhranthalayam |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society Ltd |year=1949 |isbn=9780000103727}}
• {{Cite book |title=Roudy |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Poorna Publications |year=1958 |isbn=978-8171803842}}
• {{Cite book |title=Nadi |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=National Book Stall |year=1951}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/70164 |title=Ulakka |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=S.P.C.S. |year=1951}}
• {{Cite book |title=Kannadi |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=DC Books |year=1961 |isbn=9788126407415}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/e-arcade/dcb/catalogue/cateng9.html |title=Sakhavu Karottu Karanavar |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=DC Books |year=1961 |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101002906/http://www.puzha.com/e-arcade/dcb/catalogue/cateng9.html |url-status=dead }}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069698-pankalaaksheede-diary |title=Pankalaaksheede Diary |last=P. Kesavadev |year=1963 |isbn=9788126409990}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://www.puzha.com/e-arcade/dcb/catalogue/catengall.html |title=Prema Viddi |last=P. Kesavadev |year=1963 |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003042817/http://www.puzha.com/e-arcade/dcb/catalogue/catengall.html |url-status=dead }}
• {{Cite book |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/206124 |title=Swapnam |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Current Books |year=1967}}
• {{Cite book |title=Sughikkan Vendi |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Poorna Publishers |year=1967 |isbn=978-8130013251}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/217023 |title=Adhyathe Kadha |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=National book stall |year=1968}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/212105 |title=Adhikaram |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=National Book Stall |year=1968}}
• {{Cite book |title=Oru Sundariyude Atmakatha |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Poorna Publications |year=1970 |isbn=978-8171808427}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18366454-velicham-kerunnu |title=Velicham Kerunnu |last= P. Kesavadev |publisher=DC Books |year=1974 |isbn=8126411228}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/73779 |title=Njondiyude Kadha |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1974 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/78707 |title=Randammayum Oru Makanum |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1975 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/80790 |title=Nahna Thettukaran |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1986 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}
• {{Cite book |title=Ayalkkar |last=P. Kesavadev |date=1995 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=8171304532 |location=Kōṭṭayaṃ |oclc=35169081}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16034725-enikkum-jeevikkanam |title=Enikkum Jeevikkanam |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=H & C |isbn=978-9382776369 |page=112}}
• {{Cite book |title=Oru Lakshavum Carum |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Poorna Publications |isbn=978-8130008561}}

{{div col end}}

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• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/221043 |title=Therenjedutha Kadhakal |last=P |first=Kesavadev |date=1969 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25 |archive-date=26 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126060824/http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/221043 |url-status=dead }}
• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/70327 |title=Theranjedutha Kathakal, Part II |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1969 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21474461-sarvarajya-kozhikale-sangadikkuvin |title=Sarvarajya Kozhikale Sangadikkuvin |last=P. Kesavadev |year=2012 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=978-8126439201}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16034736-prathijnayum-mattu-pradhana-kathakalum |title=Prathijnayum Mattu Pradhana Kathakalum |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126405619|year=2007 }}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069693-kesavadevinte-kathakal |title=Kesavadevinte Kathakal |last=P. Kesavadev |year=2011 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126431670}}
• {{Cite book |title=Kesavadeinte Samboornakathakal |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=Poorna Publications |year=2010 |isbn=978-8130010793}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/72447 |title=Swargathil Oru Cheguthan |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1965 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}

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• Pradhanamanthri (1940)
• Munnottu (1947)
• Manthriyaakkalle (1949)
• Njanippokamunistaavum(1953)
• Thondukari (1954)
• Mazhayangum Kudayingum (1956)
• Orumuri thenga (1959){{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/70402 |title=Orumurithenga |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1957 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}

{{div col end}}

• {{Cite book |title=Ethirppu |last=P. Kesavadev |publisher=DC Books |isbn=978-8126453108}}

• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/223549 |title=Samarakavi |last=Kesavadev.P |date=1946 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/72585 |title=Russiayude Kamukan |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1954 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/83336 |title=Novel Ente Kazhchappadil |last=Kesavadev |first=P. |date=1992 |website=find.uoc.ac.in |language=ml |access-date=2019-01-25}}

{{Div col|colwidth=50em}}

• Odayil Ninnu (1965)
• Rowdy (1966)
• Aadhyathe Katha (1972)
• Oru Sundariyude Katha (1972)
• Swapnam (1973)

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{{reflist}}

• {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsSE5byCLU0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/jsSE5byCLU0 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=P.Kesavadev: the life of the legendary Malayalam writer of India |date=2019-01-25 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-01-25}}{{cbignore}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKesavadev/Html/Kesavadevgraphy.htm |title=Biography |date=2019-01-25 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-25}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PKesavadev/Html/PKesavadevpage.htm |title=Portrait |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}}

{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}

{{Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship}}

{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kesava Dev, P.}}

Category:1904 births

Category:1983 deaths

Category:Indian male novelists

Category:People from Ernakulam district

Category:Malayalam-language novelists

Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam

Category:20th-century Indian novelists

Category:Indian social reformers

Category:Novelists from Kerala

Category:20th-century Indian male writers

Category:Indian dramatists and playwrights

Category:Indian short story writers