# M. R. Chandrasekharan

Malappurath Raman Chandrasekharan (26 February 1929 – 4 December 2024), also known as M. R. C., was an Indian Malayalam literary critic and author from Kerala. Chandrasekharan published more than 50 books in different literary sections like literary criticism, translations, politics, social etc. He also worked in the field of journalism and education. He won the 2010 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism.

## Biography

Chandrasekharan was born on 26 February 1929 at Pottore, Thrissur in Kerala. His childhood days were spent in the village where he attended the Tirur Lower Secondary School and Vivekodayam High School, Thrissur. He took his bachelor's degree from Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, BOL from University of Madras and later his master's degree from Kerala University in Malayalam language and literature.
Chandrasekharan started his career as a journalist in Navajeevan edited by Joseph Mundassery for the CPI. Subsequently, he joined as a sub-editor in Mathrubhumi daily in Kozhikode, but was sent out for his communist leanings.
He worked as a school teacher at Kodakara National High School and Bekal Govt. High School. He joined as a lecturer at Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode, in 1956 and moved to Payyannur College, Kannur as senior lecturer in 1965. He retired from Payyannur College, Kannur after over 30 years of teaching service in the year 1989. After retirement he also worked as Malayalam Professor in Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.
He later settled at Ananganadi P.O.Panamanna, Ottappalam in Palghat district, Kerala. He was active with his writings and enjoyed the challenge of organic farming.
Chandrasekharan died on 4 December 2024, at the age of 95.

## Positions held

Chandrasekharan was very much involved in The All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (AKPCTA) and was a college committee secretary, regional secretary, regional president, general secretary and president of the association. As association representative, he was elected to the Calicut University senate and syndicate.
He was a member of Kerala Sahithya Academy general council and its executive committee.
Chandrasekharan was one of the directors of the Calicut City Service Co-Operative Bank from 2006 to 2013.
He was a member of the Academic Council of Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University established in 2012.
In 1961, when Kerala Sahithya Samiti was formed with Kuttipuzha Krishna Pillai as president, S. K. Pottekkatt as vice-president, N. V. Krishna Warrier as general secretary in Kozhikode, MRC and Vayalar Ramavarma were named secretaries. MRC was later general secretary and president of the organisation.
He was also involved in the formation in 1969 of the Deshabhimani Study Circle, cited as a vigorous and widespread literary movement in Kerala along with E. M. S. Namboodiripad, M.S.Devadas and P.Govindapillai.
He published the literary critical journal Sahithya Samithi Masika from Payyanur from 1976 to 1980.
In 1969, when he was the research officer at Kerala Bhasha Institute, he worked as the executive editor of the magazine Vignana Kairali (Malayalam: വിജ്ഞാനകൈരളി).
After retirement in 1989, he took up the editorship of a magazine called Chindana (Malayalam: ചിന്തന ) published in Kannur.
He was the editor of CMP's weekly journal Malayala Mannu (Malayalam:മലയാളമണ്ണ്) from 1990 to 2013.

## Awards and honours

Chandrasekharan won the 2010 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism for his book Malayalam Novel Innum Innaleyum.
He won the Dr. C.P.Menon Award for The Study of the Progressive School in Literature for his book Keralathile purogamana sahitya prastanathinte charithram in 2005.
Chandrasekharan also won the M. N. Sathyaardhi Award in recognition of his contributions to Malayalam literature as a translator. The award was instituted by the M.N. Sathyarthi Trust in memory of the writer who is remembered for his translations of many popular Indian-language works into Malayalam.
He was awarded the MVR award in 2018.