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Ponkunnam Varkey

Malayalam Writer Ponkunnam Varkey
Written By - Team Nettv4u

Ponkunnam Varkey was born on 1st of July in the year 1910. He was an activist and writer. He was born in Edathua, Alappuzha, in British India. Along with being an activist and writer, he was also a teacher and freedom fighter. He is well-known as a writer who always took up social issues in his writings. He has written around 16 plays and 120 stories. He took many social evils in the forefront through his writings.

Varkey was the president of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society. Varkey born in a Christian family. His father’s name was Kattappuram Varkey Joseph, and mother’s name was Annamma Joseph. Varkey’s childhood was not so good. He had to move to his mother’s house after the death of his father to Kottayam. He actively participated in Indian Independence movement when he was in school, and in his initial days of writing, he concentrated on the theme of Independence movement. He gave a Malayalam “Vidwan” examination, after completing his high school. The exam was conducted to qualify the language test.

After that, Varkey went to Ponkunnam and joined Catholic school. In the year 1942, Varkey joined Vernacular Middle School situated in Pampady because of his unpleasant relations with the management of the earlier school. Later on, he joined the freedom struggle and left his job. He also had to go to jail and has spent six months there. He has worked as a producer and screenwriter as well. In his lifetime, Varkey has produced two films and wrote screenplays for many films. His debut film as a dialogue and story writer was “Navalokam.”

He has also worked in many other films like Snehaseema, School Master, Deepom, Bharya, and much more. “Makam Piranna Manka” and “Chalanam” are the two films which are produced by Varkey. Along with writings, and productions, he was a member of MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association). In the year 1939, Varkey made his debut in literature with “Thirumulkazhcha” which was appreciated by everybody, and also bagged an Award from Madras Government.

In a forum for progressive writers named Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, Varkey was the secretary for five years.

In the year 1997, Varkey was honored with highest literary Award “Ezhuthachan Puraskaram” by the Kerala Government. He was married to Claramma. They both had three daughters and four sons. His wife died in the year 1991. Varkey died on 2nd of July in the year 2004 at the age of 94 in Pampady, Kerala, in India just after his 94th Birthday.

 

Another version

Ponkunnam Varkey was born on July 1, 1910,  in a Syrian – Christian family in Edathua Village of Kuttanad, Alappuzha district (Alleppey). His father’s name was Kattapuram Varkey  Joseph,  and his mother’s name was Annamma Joseph. After the departure of his father, he went to his mother’s house which was situated in Ponkunnam in Kottayam. He once said that his childhood was filled with ups and downs.

In his school days, he found Indian Independence movement very drool worthy, and this was the main reason of his writings being subjected to the same. He passed Malayalam ‘Vidwan’ Examination after his high school. He then joined a Catholic School near Pork Nam. But there, his relationship with management was very unpleasant, and therefore, he left the institution.

Varkey was a brilliant writer and activist. More than 120 short stories and 16 plays were written by him. His work always delineated social relevance. He entered into the literary field in 1939 by authoring his first book, Thirumulkazhcha, which was a heap of poems. He won the award from Madras government for the same. In 1944, he began The National Book Stall, but it turned out to be a matter of failure for him.

Varkey is not only the writer and activist, but also, he has written several screenplays. He has also produced two films. He entered the film industry with his first film ‘Navalokam.’  For that, he wrote the whole story along with the dialogues. Soon, his mind began to concentrate on the freedom struggle which was going on in the country at that time. But before that, he was crowned as the President of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Sahithya Co – Operative Society.

Manthrikettu and Model were his remarkable works which were banned by the government in 1946 of the State of Travancore (now Southern Kerala). But Varkey was never in a mood to stop. He resigned from everywhere and began his contribution in the freedom struggle. But he was imprisoned for six months during the scenario. He was associated with the Communist Part.

He continued as the Secretary of Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham which was famous for the membership of the progressive writers. He remained at the designation for five years. His death was also something special as he died just after a day of his 94th birthday on July 2, 2004, at Pampady, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He died a death of a legend, which is destined for very few in this world.

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