Dr. Azad

Azad R P (born in 1963 in Tenhipalam), who is known in the circles as Dr. Azad or with his pen name 'Azad Malayattil' is an academician by profession and has authored a number of books. He is a cultural activist, critique, rights activist and a noted intellectual in Kerala. He has been on the forefront with M. N. Vijayan|Prof. M N Vijayan in fighting the religious and market fundamentalism that encroach upon the socio-cultural and economic spheres of Kerala.. Azad is noted in Kerala for his writings which criticise the ideological shifts that are happening to the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M) from its core Marxism|Marxian principles.
== Personal Life and Education ==
Azad was born to C K Madhavan master and R P Padmini amma in Tenhipalam|Thenhippalam vilage in Malappuram district|Malappuram district of Kerala. He completed his Masters degree in Malayalam from the University of Calicut and subsequently completed M.Phil from University of Madras. He earned his Ph.D from University of Kerala for his thesis titled 'Malayalam Novels from 1950 to 1970: A Structuralist Approach'.
He worked as a faculty of N.S.S College, Manjeri|N.S.S College Manjeri retiring in 2019 and held several posts including that of the Principal of the said college.
== Political Activism ==
Azad was an active member of Students' Federation of India|SFI in his youth. He started his career as a member of the editorial board in Deshabhimani|Deshabhimani daily and Deshabhimani|Deshabhimani weekly, both organs of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M). He was in the State Executive Committee of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham|Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham, served as the Executive Board member of the Kerala Book Marketing Society and also was part of the Academic Council of University of Calicut.
Post 1990s, after the liberalisation of Indian economy, CPI(M) started showing tendencies that are noted as the ideological derailment happening within the party lines. After a long internal battle to correct the party, Azad left the organisation in 2006. He, under the leadership of M. N. Vijayan|Prof. M N Vijayan, and other activists started to workout a parallel stream of political activism against globalisation and market imperialism. He served as the founding general secretary of Adhinivesha Prathirodha Samithi (Council for Resisting Imperialist Globalisation) and also held the posts of Secretary and President of the Idathupaksha Ekopana Samithi (Left Coordination Committee). He is the convenor of Alan-Thaha Human Rights Committee.
Dr. Azad contested in the 15th Lok Sabha|15th Lok Sabha Elections from Ponnani (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ponnani Lok Sabha Constituency as an independent candidate
== List of Published Works ==
* Azad (2015). Sookshmam Sarggathmakam (In Malayalam). Insight Publica. ISBN 9789382709947
* Azad (2013). Malayala Novel: Paadavum Khadanayum (In Malayalam). Insight Publica. ISBN 9789382709701
* Azad (2013). Vayanayile Vargga Samaram (In Malayalam). Insight Publica. ISBN 9789382709695
* Azad (2010). Marxisavum Swathwarashtreeyavum (In Malayalam). Insight Publica.
* Azad (2007). Karl Marxum Fantasy Parkum (In Malayalam). D.C. Books. ISBN 9788130000000
* Azad (2004). Udarathayude U(a)ravukal (In Malayalam). Left Views
*Azad (2004). Upajaapa Saamrajyathwam; Samakaalika Anubhavangal (Ed.) (In Malayalam). Left Views
* Azad (2003). Maradu, Samrajyathwa Rashtreeyathinte Pareekshanasala (Ed.) (In Malayalam). Secular Books.
*Azad (2001). Vaakkum Prathyayashasthravum (In Malayalam). Secular Books.
* Azad (1992). Prathibodhathinte Paadangal (In Malayalam). Secular Books.
*Azad (1992). Novel: Bodhavum Prathiboshavum (Ed.) (In Malayalam). D.C. Books.
*Azad (1988). Rubberum Pathra Rashtreeyavum (In Malayalam). Souhruda Sangham.
* Azad (1987). Adhunika Malayala Novelile Marxist Swadeenam (In Malayalam). Calicut University: Dept. of Malayalam.
== Awards and Recognition ==
Thayattu Award for Literary Criticism, 1993, for his book Prathibodhathinte Paadangal.
Category:1963 births
Category:Indian writers
Category:Indian academics
Category:Indian literary critics