K. Panoor

K. Kunhiraman who writes under the pen name K. Panoor is a civil rights activist, poet and writer from Kerala, India. He has received several noted awards including the UNESCO Award, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions and Award from the Department of Culture, India government. Panoor's books were used as textbooks in various universities in Kerala.

The story of 1985 Malayalam film Uyarunm Njan Nadake directed by P. Chandrakumar with Mohanlal in the lead was based on the book Keralathile Africa.

Biography K. Kunhiraman was born on 10 January 1927, to Kunjikannan and Muthuvana Kunki Amma in Panoor in present-days Kannur district.

Reading Bengali novelist Vibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay's Aranyakam marked a turning point in his life. Desiring to find a solution to the plight of the adivasis, he volunteered to serve in the Tribal Welfare Department and became the project director on deputation for the four districts of North Kerala. He retired from service as Deputy Collector in 1981. He held that position for ten years.

Controversies Panoor narrated the annoying scenes he saw during his official journey, in his book Keralathile Africa which literally means Africa in Kerala. During the debate on the Land Reforms Act in the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1964, O. P. Koran MLA raised the issue and as proof, he presented book by Panoor to the niyamasabha speaker.

Awards and honors UNESCO Award Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions, 2006 Award from Department of Culture, India government Ramasramam Award