Paul Zacharia

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Born M. P. Scaria (Zacharia) on 5 June 1945, in Urulikunnam, near Kottayam, then in Travancore,{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/paul_zacharia-profile-3183-25.htm |title=Paul Zacharia on Veethi portal |date=2019-02-02 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-02-02}} Zacharia was the youngest of the three children of a farmer named M. S. Paul of the Mundattuchundayil house and his wife, Thresiakutty Paul. His early education was at Sree Dayananda Primary School, a local school in Urulikunnam and later he continued his studies at St Joseph's High School, Vilakumadom from where he matriculated in 1960. Subsequently, he completed the pre-University course at St. Thomas College, Palai in 1961 and moved to St. Philomena's College, Mysore to earn his bachelor's degree in English Literature, History, and Economics in 1964. His post-graduate education was at the Central College of Bangalore and after earning a master's degree in English literature in 1966, he started his career as a lecturer of English at MES College, Malleswaram where he worked for a year.

Returning to his home state, Zacharia joined St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally in 1967 as a lecturer and stayed there until his move to Coimbatore in 1971 to take up the position of the area manager of Ruby Tyre and Rubber Works, Bengaluru. His stay in Coimbatore lasted only a year and shifted his base to New Delhi to spend the next two decades there, working with various media and publishing houses such as Affiliated East-West Press, All India Management Association (AIMA),{{cite book|author=Mohan Lal|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4644|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1221-3|pages=4644–}} Press Trust of India (PTI) and the Malayalam edition of the India Today. He returned to Kerala in 1993{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-28892078 |title=A writer's tale of being a drinker in Kerala |date=2014-08-22 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |access-date=2019-02-02}} and was a part of the group that founded Asianet. There, he also co-hosted a show, Patravisesham, the first television program review, along with a senior journalist, B. R. P. Bhaskar,{{Cite web |url=http://archive.keralamediaacademy.org/content/bhaskar-brp |title=Bhaskar BRP on Kerala Media Academy |date=2019-02-02 |website=archive.keralamediaacademy.org |access-date=2019-02-02 |archive-date=3 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203084959/http://archive.keralamediaacademy.org/content/bhaskar-brp |url-status=dead }} which ran for 7 years.

Zacharia lives in Thiruvananthapuram.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/paul-zacharia/article5534181.ece |title=Paul Zacharia - books |date=2014-01-03 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-02-02}}

Zacharia has been compared to Jorge Luis Borges as he has limited his creative writing to short stories and novellas.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/books/story/20010507-book-review-of-two-novellas-author-paul-zacharia-796795-2002-05-07 |title=Book review: Paul Zacharia's 'Two Novellas' |author=Ravi Shankar |date=May 7, 2002 |magazine=India Today |language=en |access-date=2019-02-02 }} He writes regularly for Kerala's leading newspapers and magazines, has been a public speaker for over two decades airing his non-conformist stance in politics, and his writing is marked by humour and unconventional themes. His columns and articles in English have also appeared in national periodicals such as ‘India Today’, ‘Outlook’, ‘The Week’, ‘The Hindu’ ‘Deccan Herald,’ ‘The Pioneer’, ‘The Times of India’ ‘The Economic Times’, ‘The Hindustan Times,’ ‘Tehelka’, ‘The New Indian Express’ and ‘The Indian Express’.

A keen traveller, Zacharia has published travelogues on Africa, England, Saudi Arabia, and China, as well as the Kumbh Mela. In his writing career spanning six decades, he has been the recipient of several awards and honours such as the Kendra Sahitya Akademi (Indian Academy of Literature) Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Academy of Literature) Award. In November 2013 he was elected a Distinguished Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

Paul Zacharia is a member of the Press Club of India, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram Club, Thiruvananthapuram. He lives in Thiruvananthapuram, and is married to Lalitha. They have a daughter and a son.

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• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Kunnu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Go8RAQAAIAAJ|year=1969|publisher=Current Books}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Ambadi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=doMRAQAAIAAJ|year=1969|publisher=Poorna Publications}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=23473&shelfbrowse_itemnumber=23295 |title=Oridathu: Zachariyayude kathakal |last=Zacharia |date=1978 |publisher=SPCS}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=23475&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Oru Nasrani Yuvavum Goulisasthravum |last=Zacharia |date=1983 |publisher=Current Books}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Aarkariyam: kathakaḷ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IrEsAAAAIAAJ|year=1986|publisher=Current Books}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=23477&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Salaam America |last=Zacharia |date=1993 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kasaragode, Kalakshethram}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Kannaadi Kaanmolavum: kathakaḷ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l5yaAAAAIAAJ|year=1997|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-7130-774-6}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=23472&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Kannaadi Kaanmolavum |last=Zacharia |date=1997 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam, DCB}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Kanyakumari: kathakaḷ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SU52AAAAIAAJ|year=1999|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126400478}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Zachariayude Penkathakal: kathakaḷ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fnlkAAAAMAAJ|year=2001|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126402663}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Zachariayude Thiranjedutha Kathakal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-3hkAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Current Books}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Zachariyayude Kathakal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZoFkAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126404766}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=43357&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Prathikathakal |last=Zacharia |date=2003 |isbn=9788126406753 |location=Kottayam, D C Books}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Zachariyayude Yeshu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3lkAAAAMAAJ|date=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126412747}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=115520&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Ente Priyapetta Kathakal |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=2008 |location=Kottayam}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com:443/category/stories?t=1 |title=Alphonsammayude Maranavum Shavasamskaravum |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=2011}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com:443/books/then?t=1 |title=Then |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=2016 |isbn=9788126474769}}

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• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=115652&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=1988 |location=Kottayam}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Enthundu Visesham Pilatose?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZyaAAAAIAAJ|year=1996|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788171306787}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Praise the Lord!|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GnlkAAAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788171305827}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Ishtikayum Aasariyum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f5yaAAAAIAAJ|year=1999|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788171309115}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=31288&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Ithanente Peru |last=Zacharia |date=2001 |isbn=9788126403561 |location=Kottayam, D C Books}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=33800&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Ayyappathinthkathom! |last=Zacharia |date=2003 |isbn=9788126407378 |location=Kottayam, D C Books}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/zachariyayude-novellakal#; |title=Zachariyayude Novellakal |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=2003 |isbn=8126408758}}

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• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=50588&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Oru African yaathra |last=Zacharia |date=2005 |isbn=9788126414390 |location=Kottayam, D C Books}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Thadakanadu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NjIaTpkN_A0C|year=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1590-8}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Nabiyude Naṭṭil|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KpBekiotlrgC|year=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1858-9}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Agniparvathangalude Thaazhvarayil|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AYDXWhAXeAC|year=2009|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-2248-7}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=118029&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Bambam! Hara Hara Bambam Bol! |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=2011 |location=Kottayam}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com:443/books/vazhipokkan?t=1 |title=Vazhipokkan |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=283 |isbn=9788126438884}}

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• Govindam Bhaja Moodamathe – Current Books, Kottayam, 1992
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=32644&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Budhijeevikalekondu Enth Prayojanam? |last=Zacharia |date=2002 |location=Kollam, Sankeerthanam Publications}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=152542&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Buddhanum Njanum |last=Zacharia |date=1997 |location=Calicut, Mulberry}}
• Matha Amrithanandamayi: Bhagyavathiyum Nirbhagyavathiyum – Current Books, Thrissoor, 1999
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=32647&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Karutha Kai |last=Zacharia |date=2001 |location=Kollam, Sankeerthanam Publications}}
• Matham, samskaram, Mathamoulikavaadam – Current Books, Thrissoor, 2001
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=32655&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Sakhave Naam Aarkkuvendi Vilapikkanam? |last=Zacharia |date=2002 |location=Kollam, Sankeerthanam Publications}}
• Amrithanandamayi: Khattam Randu – Haritham Books, Kozhikode, 2003
• Kayyoppukal, Haritham Books, Kozhikode, 2003
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=36115&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Malayaliyude Avasaantahe Athazham |last=Zacharia |date=2004 |isbn=9788182640337 |location=Kozhikode, Mathrubhumi Books}}
• Sthuthiyayirikkatte – Rainbow Books, Chengannoor, 2004
• Italian Connection – Sankeerthanam Publications, Kollam, 2006
• Chavattukuttakal Undakunnathu – Pulari Books, Chennai, 2007
• Njan Ezhuthunnathu Enthukondu? – Sankeerthanam Publications, Kollam, 2008
• Bhakthiyum Pathrapravarthanavum – Olive Books, Kozhikode, 2009
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=160267&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Samsarangal |last=Zacharia |publisher=Current Books |year=2011}}
• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=115402&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Sanmanassullavarku Samadanam |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=2013 |location=Kottayam}}
• Ezhuthukaaranu Parayanullathu, Green Books, 2017
• Maayaasooryan, Green Books, 2017
• Ezhuthukaarkku Indiakku Vendi Enthu Cheyyan Kazhiyum? Olive Books. 2017

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• {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=117302&query_desc=au%253A%2522Zacharia%2522 |title=Urulikunnathinte Lutheenia |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=2011 |location=Kottayam}}

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• Vaayanasaala, – Kearal State Institute of Children’s Literature, Trivandrum, 2008
• Padayaali – Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature, Trivandrum, 2009
• Shanthanuvinte Pakshikal – Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature, Trivandrum, 2011
• {{Cite book |title=Ju-story |last=Zacharia |publisher=Tulika |year=2009 |isbn=9788181467348 |location=Chennai |oclc=840599219}}

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• Bhavanayude Anthyam – Arundhathi Roy, DC Books, Kottayam, 1999
• Njangal Ningalkku Bhoomi Vittaal – Chief Seattle's speech, DC Books, Kottayam, 2010
• Oru Enthinenthinu Penkutty – Mahaswetha Devi, Tulika, Chennai, 2003

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• {{Cite book |url=https://www.bookdepository.com/Joseph-Oru-Purohithan/9788171307302?ref=grid-view |title=Joseph Oru Purohithan |last=Zacharia |publisher=DC Books |year=1997 |isbn=9788171307302}}
• Janani – Sign Books, Trivandrum, 2005

• Kairalivilasam Lodge, Doordarshan, Thiruvananthapuram, 1988

• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Bhaskara Patellar and other stories: translated from Malayalam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FrO5AAAAIAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Manas, an imprint of Affiliated East-West Press|isbn=9788185938110}}
• {{cite book|author1=Zacharia|author2=A. J. Thomas (of Delhi.)|title=The Reflections of a Hen in Her Last Hour and Other Stories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3hkAAAAMAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-027844-6}}
• {{cite book|author=Zacharia|title=Praise the lord; What news, pilate?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S3lkAAAAMAAJ|series=two novellas|date=1 January 2001|publisher=Katha|isbn=978-81-87649-10-6}}
• {{Cite book |url=https://www.amazon.in/TWO-NOVELLAS-PAUL-ZACHARIA/dp/B003DRPFS4/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549180104&sr=1-10&refinements=p_27%253APaul+Zacharia |title=Two Novellas |last=Zacharia |first=Paul |date=2001 |publisher=Katha |language=English |translator-last=Krishnankutty |translator-first=Gita |asin=B003DRPFS4}}
• This is My Name - The Little Magazine, New Delhi, 2002 (extract from full translation)

• {{Cite book |title=Bhaskara Pattelar und andere Geschichten |last=Paul Zacharia |publisher=Horlemann Verlag |year=2004 |isbn=978-3895021794}}

• Babu Patela- Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, Madikeri, 1996

• Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (Indian Academy of Literature){{Cite web |url=http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/paulzacharia.html |title=Paul Zacharia -- Malayalam Writer: The South Asian Literary Recordings Project (Library of Congress New Delhi Office) |date=2019-02-02 |website=www.loc.gov |access-date=2019-02-02}}
• Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2020{{Cite web |last=Praveen |first=S. r |date=2020-11-01 |title=Writer Paul Zacharia chosen for Ezhuthachan Puraskaram |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/writer-paul-zacharia-chosen-for-ezhuthachan-puraskaram/article32995700.ece |access-date=2020-11-02 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}
• Vallathol Award 2019
• Mathrubhumi Literary Award 2023{{Cite news |date=18 March 2024 |title=Mathrubhumi Literary Award 2023 for Zacharia |newspaper=Mathrubhumi |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/zacharia-to-be-bestowed-upon-with-mathrubhumi-literary-award-1.9416722 |access-date=18 March 2024}}
• Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story (Kerala Academy of Literature){{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/Stories.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story |date=2019-02-02 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705154727/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/Stories.htm |archive-date=5 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}
• Distinguished Fellowship of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi{{Cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/article/news/2650/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131011134540/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/article/news/2650/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2013 |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship |date=October 11, 2013 |website=Mathrubhumi |access-date=2019-02-02}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/for-your-eyes-only-what-the-malayali-cannot-accomplish-in-reality-he-eviscerates-in-his-fantasy/ |title=For your eyes only: What the Malayali cannot accomplish in reality he eviscerates in his fantasy |last=Paul Zacharia |date=2015-10-06 |website=Times of India Blog |language=en-US |access-date=2019-02-02}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://radioopensource.org/real-india-novelist-paul-zacharia-shares-his-confusion/ |title=Real India: Novelist Paul Zacharia Shares His "Confusion" |date=2010-08-17 |website=Open Source with Christopher Lydon |language=en-US |access-date=2019-02-02}}

{{commons category}}

• {{IMDb name|nm0951571}}
• [https://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/paulzacharia.html Paul Zacharia] (Library of Congress web-page)

{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}

{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}

{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zacharia, Paul}}

Category:1945 births

Category:Living people

Category:Writers from Kottayam

Category:Malayalam-language novelists

Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam

Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award

Category:Malayalam short story writers

Category:Indian male short story writers

Category:Indian male novelists

Category:20th-century Indian short story writers

Category:20th-century Indian novelists

Category:Novelists from Kerala

Category:20th-century Indian male writers

Category:People from Pala, Kerala