Sreedharan Champad

Sreedharan Champad (1938 – 14 June 2024) was an Indian circus artist, circus historian and Malayalam-language writer from Kerala. He worked in a number of fields, including working as circus manager, flying trapeze artist, circus company public relations officer, auto driver, bill collector, journalist and writer. Champad wrote over 20 books including novels, more than 100 short stories, biographies and articles. His book An Album of Indian Big Tops chronicles the history of the circus industry in India from 1880 to 2010.

Biography Champad was born in 1938 at Champad near Thalassery, Kannur district, to Kunjikannan and Narayani. After passing tenth class, he joined Devagiri College, Kozhikode, but due to financial constraints he dropped his study and went to Madras. Sreedharan was also an expert trapeze player in circuses such as Jumbo, Gemini, Amar and Great Raymond. In 1961, while at Chengalpet, he temporarily left the circus field, when the Great Eastern Circus rejected him to go with its Malaysian tour. He also worked as a correspondent for Kaumudi News Service for five years. His first novel Anyonyamthedi nadannavar was published in Mathrubhumu weekly in 1977.

Champad died at his house in Kannur on 14 June 2024, at the age of 86.

Contributions Literary contributions

This book chronicles the history of circus industry in India from 1880 to 2010. Autobiography. Sarkkasinte lokam (Meaning: world of circus)

Awards and honours Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions 2014 for his outstanding contribution to Malayalam literature.