Malayalam novelist Kakkanadan passes away

Kollam: Eminent novelist George Varghese Kakkanadan, one of the pioneers of modern Malyalam literature, today passed away at a private hospital here, family members said. Kakkanadan (76) was battling cancer for the past few years. He is survived by wife Ammini, two sons and a daughter. His works made for a refreshing change from the neo-realism that dominated Malayalam literature through the 1950s and 60s. Kakkanadan’s early works broke new ground in Malayalam fiction on account of their earnest exploration of deeper realities of life by employing a new diction and narrative methods. [caption id=“attachment_111328” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Kakkanandan had received several honors including the Kendra Sahitya Academy award. Picasa/Thomas Thomas”]  [/caption] Though vast majority of readers initially found it hard to accept the modern trends ushered in by Kakkanadan and some of his contemporaries, their works soon created a new sensibility marking a radical break from the past. Kakkanadan’s major works include ‘Vasuri’, ‘Ezham Mudra’, ‘Ushnameghala’, ‘Parankimala’ and ‘Kshathriyan’. He has also penned hundreds of short stories, known for their freshness of themes and unique narrative style. Hailing from a family known for their Left sympathies, Kakkanadan, after his graduation worked for the Indian Railways in New Delhi for a while but left the job to pursue a whole time literary career. Kakkanadan had received several honours including the Kendra Sahitya Academy award. PTI