C. R. Rajagopalan

C. R. Rajagopalan ( 1957 – 31 January 2022) was an Indian writer, teacher and environmental activist from Kerala. Rajagopalan worked for the monitoring and preservation of folklore and tribal culture. He has written several books on heritage and folklore studies. He received awards from Kerala Folklore Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

Biography Rajagopalan was born to Rama Panicker and Narayani Amma in Perumpullissery in Thrissur District of Kerala. He has received the Junior Fellowship from the Union Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and did Project on the Ethnic Music and UGC's Major Project on National Aesthetics of Folk Theater.

He authored several books on folklore, directed albums of folk songs and documentaries on folklore and has presented papers in Greece, China, Poland, Italy, England, Switzerland, Rome, Geneva and Oxford. He has also been the General Editor of DC Books' Nattarivukal, a series of 20 books on Folk knowledge, and the editor of Krishi Geetha.

Rajagopalan was actively involved in various movements against environmental pollution and was a serious supporter of environmental protection, alternative politics and lifestyle. His support was instrumental in the publication of the Malayalam translation of the book One Straw Revolution by the Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka. He died from COVID-19 on 31 January 2022, aged 64. In a condolence note, Kerala state Higher Education and Social Justice Minister R. Bindu said that the late Rajagopalan was synonymous with folklore studies.

Works His selected books on heritage and folklore studies include Ellam Kathiyeriyukayaanu, Alayunnavar, Mudiyettu, Nadodi Nattarang, Folklore Sidhanthangal, Kaavettam, Nadan Kalaroopangal, Karuthanikalude Koyth, Gothra Kalavadivukal, Desheeya Saundaryabodham, Thanneerppanthal, Njattuvelakk Pottukuthenda, Krishi Geethayum Bhakshya Surakshayum, Puzhayude Nattarivukal, Annavum Samskaravum, Varikkaplavinuvendi Oru Vadakkanpaattu, AAttakkolangal, Keraleeya Ramga Kala Charithram, Mannu, Lavanyam, Prathiridham, Naattunaav Mozhi, Malayalathinte Kathoram, Kannadi Nokkumpol, Diasphora, Erumadangal and Nattariv, 2000 years of Malayali Heritage.

As editor Out of the 20 books in the DC Books' Nattarivukal series, he edited the books Kaattarivukal (book on forest knowledge), Naattu Bhakshanam (book on local foods) Naattu Vaidyam (book on traditional medicine), Naattu Sangeetham (book on traditional music), Sasyangalude Nattariv (Information on local plant species), Kadalarivukal (book on sea informations), Krish Nattarivukal (book on traditional farming knowledge), Nadodi Kaivela (book on folk hand works), Pookkalum Pakshikalum (book on flowers and birds), Janthukkalum Nattarivukalum (book on local animals), Neerarivukal (book on knowledge of water) and Puzhayude Naattarivukal (book on local knowledge about rivers).