Kottayam Pushpanath
Pushpanathan Pillai, better known by the pseudonym Kottayam Pushpanath (), was an Indian author most noted for his detective novels in the Malayalam language. Early life. Kottayam Pushpanath was born Pushpanathan Pillai (Zacharia) in Kottayam district in Kerala, on May 14, 1937, to Sathyanesan Pillai and Rachel. He completed his primary and secondary education from Good Shepherd School and MT Seminary School in Kottayam and he graduated in History from the University of Kerala. After finishing TTC from Cambridge Nicholson Institute (CNI) Kottayam, he started his career as a teacher in Kodiyathoor School in Kozhikode. Later he served as  a teacher of History in different Government schools in Kallarkutty, Devikulam, Karapuzha, Nattakom and Kottayam Medical college school. Literary career. As a student at the MT Seminary school, Pushpanath wrote a short story ""Thiramala"” (Waves) for the school magazine, announcing his entry into the world of writing. He released his first novel named "Chuvanna Manushyan" in 1968 which was a scientific thriller. Later on, he penned down more than 300 works including science fiction, horror fiction, fantasy, non-fiction and many short stories during the period of 1970s and 80s. Many of his works has been translated into different Indian  languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Gujarati and Bengali. His novel "Souparnika" was serialised in Tamil. Kottayam Pushpanath has also translated Bram Stoker’s world renowned Gothic horror novel "Dracula" and Arthur Conan Doyle’s "The" "Hound of the Baskervilles" into Malayalam. Two of his novels – "Brahmarakshass" and "Chuvanna Anki"– were made into movies in Malayalam. Pushpanath followed the tradition of Sherlock Holmes and Hercules Poirot in creating two fictional detectives, Detective Marxin and Pushparaj, the two names which became as popular as the name of the author itself. Detective Pushparaj would be the protagonist if the novels are  set in India and Detective Marxin would take the lead role in novels set outside India. Some novels featured another fictional character, Detective Sudheer, as the lead. His grandson, Rayan Pushpanath, has received royalty of Pushpanath’s every work. Kottayam Pushpanath established his own publications in 1977, the "Kottayam Pushpanath Publications", through which most of his works came out. All his books are being re-published by Rayan Pushpanath through Kottayam Pushpanath Publications now. Many of Pushpanath's books are published on mainstream digital platforms as e-books and audio books. "Kottayam Pushpanath Foundation" was set up by Kottayam Pushpanath  family after the author's death, funded with the family’s assets and run by family members and foundation members for solely charitable purposes. Death. Kottayam Pushpanath died 2 May 2018 aged 80 at his home in Kottayam after a long bout of age-related problems.