UA Khader

UA Khader is a celebrated writer in the Malayalam literary world who is a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award. UA Khader was born on November 16, 1935, in Bilin near Yangon, Myanmar, Burma. His father, Ussangaantakathu Moithootti Haji, was a Keralite from Quilandy who had migrated to Burma for livelihood, and his mather was Mamaidi was from Burma. Unfortunately, UA Khader lost his mother three days after his birth due to a chicken box. Because of the breakout of the second world war, the seven-year-old UA Khader and his father fled to his father’s place in India. He vividly remembers how his father held on to him, even when many people advised his father to abandon him.

He came to Quilandy in 1942 and lived under the care of his grandmother. When his father returned to Burma after the war, UA Khader felt lonely in Kerala as others discriminated against and isolated him because of his complexion. Stranded in the land, without knowing the language, he worked extra hard to learn Malayalam. he did his schooling at Koyilandy High School and went to Chennai, the then Madras, to pursue his degree in painting from Madras College of Arts. UA Khader’s association with C. H. Mohammed Koya made him turn towards books and reading. He started his journey with the book Balyakalasakhi written by Vaikom Muhammed Basheer.

Then, he debuted as an author with his first story on a Malayalam weekly. Ever since then, he has written many short stories, stories, novels, and travelogues. From Koli Moonu Vattam Kukummunpa in 1962, Thudakkam Nenchidippode in 2018, UA Khader has created stories that will convey his legacy forever and ever. One of his novels, Thrikkottur Peruma, is a gem of a novel that gave him immense popularity. The novel won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story in 1984 and the prestigious literary honor Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2009. In 2019, UA Khader received the Mathrubhumi Literary Award for Contributions to Malayalam literature.

Many have translated most of his writings into many languages. UA Khader got married to Fathima Beevi, who was his biggest pillar of support during all times. The couple has five children, namely Firoz, Kabeer, Adeep, Zareena, and Sulaikha. UA Khader visited his homeland after sixty-eight years, along with his children and grandchildren. He has recorded the beautiful memories of his travel in his travelogue Ormakalude Pagado. Apart from writing, UA Khader has worked with the health department administrative division of Kerala State Government and in Akashvani. The legendary writer UA Khader left the world on 12th December 2020 at 85 due to respiratory ailments in Calicut. His contributions to the Malayalam literary world can never be replaced.