AYYAPPA PANIKER: The Man Beyond The Litterateur

By Priyadas G. Mangalath & Translated by Radhika P. Menon

Dr Ayyappa Paniker engaged with the world at various fronts through a wide range of activities—as an academic, research guide, resource person at conferences, visiting professor at world-renowned universities, pathbreaking poet in Malayalam, translator, essayist, critic, editor and literary historian. But was this all that Paniker was?

The book by Priyadas G. Mangalath views Paniker from the prism of his long interaction with his mentor, and offers rare insights into Paniker’s personality, especially his tender concern for students, sincere appreciation for new writers and ascetic indifference to fame and money. Priyadas, thus, paints an intimate portrait of a noble, inspiring human being.

PRIYADAS G. MANGALATH was a student of Dr Ayyappa Paniker at the Institute of English, University of Kerala. After earning a Master’s degree in journalism, he served as a visiting faculty in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Madras Christian College (MCC), Chennai. Priyadas collaborated with Salman Rushdie (1987–88) on a film for a television series based on Rushdie’s novel, Midnight’s Children. He was the managing director of Guild Exports and Guild Soft Pvt. Ltd, Thiruvananthapuram, and the editor of Sankramanam, a magazine published from Thiruvananthapuram. His publishing firm, also named Sankramanam, brought out books on modern Malayalam poetry, drama and films. He has also contributed critical articles to both English and Malayalam newspapers and magazines. His email id is priyadasg@gmail.com.

RADHIKA P. MENON, a Malayalam to English translator, taught English at Fatima Mata National College, Kollam, Kerala, for 25 years. Her notable translations include K. Madhavan’s On the Banks of the Tejaswini (National Book Trust), Devaki Nilayangode’s Antharjanam (Oxford University Press), S.K. Pottekkatt’s Tales of Athiranippadam (Orient Black Swan), Moyarath Sankaran’s Autobiography (Chinta), M.K. Sanoo’s Dr Palpu (Open Door Media), Joseph Muliyil’s Sukumari (Folio), Dr Sosamma Iype’s The Vechur Cow: A New Lease of Life (Vechur Conservation Trust) and K.K. Kochu’s Dalithan (Speaking Tiger).