Karur Neelakanta Pillai

Karoor Neelakanta Pillai (22 February 1898 – 30 September 1975) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature and one of the founders of Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society (Writers' Co-operative Society). Some of his works such as Poovan Pazham and Marappavakal are counted by many among the best short stories in Malayalam. He was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 1960, which he received for his work Anakkaran, and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story in 1969, which he received for his short story Mothiram.

Life and career Karoor Neelakanta Pillai was born on February 22, 1898, in Ettumanoor, in Kottayam district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Kunhiliyamma and Neelakanta Pillai. His formal education lasted only up to 7th standard though he was known to have been good at studies. He began his career as a school teacher at a local school in Kadappoor but quit his job when he got a government job as a teacher at the local school in Pothanikkad. While on job at various places such as Ettumanoor, Vemballi and Kanakkari, he pursued his studies and passed 9th standard in 1913 as well as the teachers' training examinations.

Pillai became associated with the Adhyapaka Maha Sabha (teachers' union) in 1920 and two years later, he was elected as its secretary. they registered the Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (SPCS - Writers' Cooperative Society) with Paul and Pillai as the president and the secretary of the society, respectively. He held the position of the secretary for two decades and when he relinquished the position in 1965, the society had already made a mark in the publishing sector, with the integration of National Book Stall in 1949.

He died in September 30, 1975, at the age of 77. His short stories often portray the plight of the middle class in a simple and straightforward manner. Many of his stories were translated into other Indian languages and English. The short story Anakkaran (The Mahout) was translated into English by Santa Ramesvara Rao. He wrote many stories for children and his story Anchu Kadalasu was later adapted for a film of the same name. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 1960 for Anakkaran and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story in 1969 for Mothiram.

The following is a list of works published by Karoor Neelakanta Pillai.

Short stories Year Title Title in English Publisher Notes 1945 Karoor Kathakal Stories by Karoor National Book Depot, Kottayam Collection of 8 storiesWith an introduction by M. V. Paul 1945 Melvilasom The Address N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories 1946 Kochanujathi The Little Sister Mangalodayam, Trichur Collection of 8 stories 1946 Smarakam A Memorial Vellinezhi, Palghat Collection of 8 stories 1947 Astrologer Astrologer N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 9 stories 1947 Iruttil In the Darkness Mangalodayam, Trichur Collection of 8 stories 1948 Thuppukaran The Sweeper Mangalodayam, Trichur Collection of 9 stories 1949 Grihanayika The Lady of the House S.P.C.S., Kottayam* Collection of 8 stories 1949 Poovan Pazham Poovan Banana N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories 1950 Meenkari The Fisherwoman N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories 1951 Tekkupattu N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories 1952 Katha Kouthukam N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories 1952 Oru Pidi Mannu A Fistful of Earth N.B.S., Kottayam* Collection of 9 stories 1954 Karayikkunna Chiri N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories 1955 Ambalaparambil In the Temple Courtyard N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 13 stories 1959 Pisachinte Kuppayam The Devil's Attire S.P.C.S., Kottayam 1963 Marappavakal The Wooden Dolls S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories 1965 Tiranjedutha Kathakal Selected Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 51 storiesWith an introduction by G. Kumara Pillai 1966 Pathu Kathakal Ten Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 10 stories 1968 Mothiram The Ring S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 stories 1970 Ee Sahayathil Charadund A Sting is Attached to this Help S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 11 storiesWith an introduction by N. V. Krishna Warrier 1970 Tiranjedutha Kathakal II Selected Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collections of 47 storiesWith an introduction by M. Achuthan 1973 Rahasyam The Secret S.P.C.S., Kottayam Collection of 9 stories 1975 Pothichoru Packed Rice S.P.C.S., Kottayam 1998 Karoorinte 33 Kathakal 33 Stories by Karoor DC Books, Kottayam 1999 Keezhadangal Surrender DC Books, Kottayam 2008 Karoor Kathakal Sampoornam Collected Stories H&C, Trichur Complete collection of stories

Children's literature Year Title Title in English Publisher Notes 1950 Balachandran Balachandran S.P.C.S., Kottayam 1958 Anchu Kadalasu Five Papers S.P.C.S., Kottayam 1959 Anakkaran The Mahout S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by Bappu 1960 Azhakanum Poovaliyum Azhakan and Poovali S.P.C.S., Kottayam 1961 Enne Rajavakkanam Make Me the King S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by M. V. Devan 1962 Rajakumariyum Bhutavum The Princess and the Ghost S.P.C.S., Kottayam 1964 Sammanam The Gift S.P.C.S., Kottayam 1966 Olayum Narayavum The Leaf and the Stylus S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by Sankarankutty 1968 Bhrityan The Servant S.P.C.S., Kottayam Illustrations by Sankarankutty 1968 Manmayil Soil Peacock Bharatiya Sahitya Samiti 1983 Karoorinte Bala Kathakal Children's Stories S.P.C.S., Kottayam

Others Year Title Title in English Publisher Notes 1945 Appuppan Grandfather N.B.S., Kottayam Two one-act plays 1951 Kathayalla Not a Story N.B.S., Kottayam Collection of 8 essays including "Njan Kathakaranaya Katha" 1967 Gauri Gauri S.P.C.S., Kottayam Novel 1967 Hari Hari S.P.C.S., Kottayam Novel 1975 Panjiyum Thuniyum Cotton and the Cloth S.P.C.S., Kottayam Novel