K. M. George

Karimpumannil Mathai George (1914–2002), popularly known as Dr. K. M. George, was an eminent Malayalam writer and educator. An erudite scholar and literary critic with astute organisational capabilities, he is best known as a pioneer of Comparative Indian Studies and Literatures. He was a recipient of the fourth highest Indian civilian honour, the Padma Shri, the highest literary award of the Government of Kerala, the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram and the third highest Indian civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, besides other honours.

Biography K. M. George was born on 20 April 1914 at Edayaranmula, Travancore in the present-day Pathanamthitta district of the south Indian state of Kerala, to Kurien Mathai and Mariamma. After schooling at Malakkara Primary School, Edayaranmula Marthoma School and St. Thomas School, Kozhenchery, he passed the intermediate course from Madras Christian College (MCC) before graduating in Mathematics from the Union Christian College, Aluva. Starting his career as a lecturer at his alma mater, MCC, he continued his studies and secured a master's degree in Malayalam literature from the University of Madras in 1941. He authored some of the authoritative books on the history of Malayalam literature in English such as A Survey of Malayalam Literature (1968) and Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature (1972). His other works in English include Ramacharitam and the Study of Early Malayalam, which is his doctoral thesis in the field of Dravidian Linguistics, and American Lives through Indian Eyes, an account of the American way of life. He also wrote travelogues about his journeys to the Soviet Union and the United States. The Padma Bhushan in 2001 The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram in 1996 (the highest literary award given by the Government of Kerala) The Suranad Kunjan Pillai Award in 1997 The Vallathol Award in 1998 The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1989 Emeritus Fellowship from the Central Government Sahitya Ratna Puraskaram – the highest award given by the Mar Thoma Church

The Government of Kerala has established a research centre in his honour, the Dr. K. M. George Study and Research Centre, for facilitating research on literature and other educational matters.