C. Radhakrishnan

Chakkupurayil Radhakrishnan, popularly known as C.Radhakrishnan, the great novelist and writer does not need an introduction. But he has so many other equally brilliant aspects to his personality which need to be detailed for us to have a proper measure of his genius, achievements and contributions.
He was born on 15 February 1939 in Chamravattom (a village in Tirur) in Malapuram District, which was then a part of the Madras Presidency of British India), to Parappur Madathil Madhavan Nair and Chakkupurayi Janaki Amma. Married to Smt. Vatsala, d/o the late Sri. T. Gopala Kurup one of the pre-independence-day presidents of erstwhile Malabar District Congress Committee. Son: Dr Gopal, Radiologist, living at Kochi with wife Subhadra, an e-professional. Grandsons Harigovind, Navneet Krishnan and Harikrishnan.
He got to know from his grandparents that they were descendants of Thunjath Ezhuthachan. This knowledge inspired him to write the biography of Tunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan titled Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram.
He was born on 15 February 1939 in Chamravattom (a village in Tirur) in Malapuram District, which was then a part of the Madras Presidency of British India), to Parappur Madathil Madhavan Nair and Chakkupurayi Janaki Amma. Married to Smt. Vatsala, d/o the late Sri. T. Gopala Kurup one of the pre-independence-day presidents of erstwhile Malabar District Congress Committee. Son: Dr Gopal, Radiologist, living at Kochi with wife Subhadra, an e-professional. Grandsons Harigovind, Navneet Krishnan and Harikrishnan.
He got to know from his grandparents that they were descendants of Thunjath Ezhuthachan. This knowledge inspired him to write the biography of Tunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan titled Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram.
Education
Primary: Govt. Lower Primary and Sastha Upper Primary Schools, Chamravattom. Secondary: Achutha Varier High School, Ponnani – Winner of Best Student Gold Medal. Inter: Zamorin’s College, Calicut – Winner of Madras University Sharpe Scholarship. Graduation: Physics, Zamorin’s College, Calicut – Winner of Top Rank Gold medal. PG: Applied Physics, Govt. Victoria College, Palakad – incomplete. Research (Astrophysics).
Government Employment
Scientific Assistant at Astrophysical Observatory, Kodaikanal, 1960-’62. Officer-in-Charge, World-Wide Seismology Centre, Pune, 1962-’64.
Science Writing
Translated David O. Woodbury’s Outward Bound for Space in 1962. Organized the Sasthra Sahitya Samithi, a science-writing club, the first of its kind in the country. Took Science Today to success. Managed the 12-volume encyclopaedia published by the Writers’ Co-operative of Kerala. Continues to write on front-line science.
Print Media – English
Spearheaded the Launch Team of Science Today of the Times of India, Bombay, 1964-’68. Science Editor of Link Magazine and Patriot Daily, Delhi, 1968-’72.
Malayalam Print Media
Editor Porul Monthly, 1972-’76. Editor Veekshanam Daily, 1980-’84. Editor-in-Charge of Year-Books and Bhashaposhini, Malayala Manorama, 1994-’97. Design and Packaging Consultant for Madhyamam Publications, 1997-2000.
Electronic Media
Spoken Word and Literary Content Provider for Several Stations of All India Radio. Served on Programme Advisory Committees. Content Provider for Dooradarshan and Private Channels.
Creative Writing, Malayalam
Won prizes at every literary competition during his student days. Translated Daniel Defoe (M. Flanders) and Lincoln Bernet (Einstein and the Universe) at age seventeen. Has been contributing popular science and creative copy to leading periodicals ever since. Wrote the first novel at age nineteen, topped the 120 entries to the novel-writing competition organized by the Mathrubhumi Weekly, bagged the prize and, also won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 1962. Sixty more popular titles in various branches of writing, deep in content but simple in style, have followed, won acclaim, enriched the language and have always remained alive in the book market.
Awards and Recognitions
The author was conferred the highest literary recognition in Kerala – The Ezhuthachan Award, and also the Bharatiya Jnanapith’s Murtidevi Award for creative writing in Indian languages.
Among other literary awards won are Kendra Sahithya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Odakkuzhal Award, Lalithambika Antharjanam Award, Olappamanna Award,Balamani Amma Award, Achutha Menon Award, Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award, C.P. Menon Award, Muttathu Varkey Award, Devi Prasadam Award, Makakavi G. Award, Pandit Karuppan Award, Mulur Award, Padmaprabha Puraskaram, Sanjayan Puraskaram, Amritakeerti Puraskaram, Chandu Menon Award, Bahrain Award, Oman Prathibha Puraskaram, Vallathol Samman, Fellowship of Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Jnappana Award, Nadabrahma Award, Sanjayan Award, Madhava Mudra, Thakazhi Award, V.T. Award, Mathrubhumi Award, K.P. Kesava Menon Puraskaram, Nalappadan Award, Mayilppeeli Puraskaram, Thrikkavu Devi Puraskaram, O.V. Vijayan Sahithya Puraskaram, Kaliyachan Award, Chattambiswami Award and Nalappadan Puraskaram. (Note: This author has been contributing award prize to various charities (the National Sahitya Akademi award, for instance, to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund, the Vayalar Award money to the educational fund of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, etc.)
Among other literary awards won are Kendra Sahithya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Odakkuzhal Award, Lalithambika Antharjanam Award, Olappamanna Award,Balamani Amma Award, Achutha Menon Award, Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award, C.P. Menon Award, Muttathu Varkey Award, Devi Prasadam Award, Makakavi G. Award, Pandit Karuppan Award, Mulur Award, Padmaprabha Puraskaram, Sanjayan Puraskaram, Amritakeerti Puraskaram, Chandu Menon Award, Bahrain Award, Oman Prathibha Puraskaram, Vallathol Samman, Fellowship of Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Jnappana Award, Nadabrahma Award, Sanjayan Award, Madhava Mudra, Thakazhi Award, V.T. Award, Mathrubhumi Award, K.P. Kesava Menon Puraskaram, Nalappadan Award, Mayilppeeli Puraskaram, Thrikkavu Devi Puraskaram, O.V. Vijayan Sahithya Puraskaram, Kaliyachan Award, Chattambiswami Award and Nalappadan Puraskaram. (Note: This author has been contributing award prize to various charities (the National Sahitya Akademi award, for instance, to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund, the Vayalar Award money to the educational fund of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, etc.)
Works In English and Translations
Bhagavad Gita (Modern Reading), Deep Within (Science Fiction, translation of Ullil Ullath), Agni (novel), Birds That Fly Ahead (novel, translation of Munpe Parakuna Pakshikal), Heart-Rending Times (novel, translation of Karal Pilarum Kalam), Now For a Tearful Smile (novel, translation of Iniyoru Nirakanchiri), The Secret Behind the Universe (Cosmology in Vedanta – The Physics Correlation), Patches of Shade (novel, translation of Nizhalpadukal, Kerala Sahitya Akademi), Maybe Another Day (novel, translation of Spandamapinikale Nandi, National Sahitya Akademi), Zero (novel) Arnold Heinmann.
Other Languages
Patches of Shade is available in French. Agnisagar Se Amrut is the Hindi translation of Theekkadal Kadanhu Thirumadhuram (Bharatiya Jnanpith, 18, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110005). Maybe Another Day, the English translation of Spandamapinikale Nandi, is also available in Tamil by the name Nile Adirvumaanikale Nanri. Many other works are also available in various Indian languages.
Research, Astrophysics
Primary studies on problems fundamental to astrophysics have been completed in continuation of thought experiments started in 1961. The earliest work that resulted from these researches was a monograph titled “Unity of Space-Matter Manifestations”, published as early as in January 1988. “Stuff and Style of the Universe”, a book which is a popular science elaboration of the monograph, was published Nov. 2002 by Hi-Tech Books. The first Scientist-President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, expressed appreciation of the work done, and the model attracted world attention. An article based on the book was also published in ‘Science India’ (ISSN 0972-8287) in two issues, which came out on September 2012 and October 2012 (Vol. 15 No. 9 and Vol. 15 No. 10 respectively). Continued researches resulted in the book “The Secret Behind the Universe”, published July 2016, in which the original ideas were further refined and updated. A condensed version of the physics section of this book was published as an article titled “Avyakta: The Fabric of Space” in the Prespacetime Journal (ISSN: 2153-8301), a physics journal focussing on space-time, fundamental forces including gravity etc. (Vol 7 Issue 16).
Research, History
Decades-long efforts to know more on the life and times of Tunjath Ezuthachan (16th century) has enabled the author to throw new light on that part of the cultural and social history of Kerala and south India. The work Theekkadal Kadanju Thirumadhuram marks a new era in Malayalam writing.
Forays into Film World Has written and directed four feature films in Malayalam beginning with Agni, the first ever film from South India to form part of the Indian Panorama of Feature Films. The third film he made, Ottayadippathakal too formed part of Panorama. Both attracted critical acclaim at international festivals including Mannheim and Tashkent. The Author has written scripts based on several of his other novels.
Forays into Film World Has written and directed four feature films in Malayalam beginning with Agni, the first ever film from South India to form part of the Indian Panorama of Feature Films. The third film he made, Ottayadippathakal too formed part of Panorama. Both attracted critical acclaim at international festivals including Mannheim and Tashkent. The Author has written scripts based on several of his other novels.
Positions Held
He was elected twice to the Board of Directors of the Writers’ Co-Operative of Kerala. Headed the Board for one term. Member of the first Board of Directors of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation. Member of the National Film Awards jury panel on three occasions. Twice member of jury panels to select Indian Panorama films. Captain of the 1984 march of writers on foot across Kerala. Was elected member of the governing body of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
C. Radhakrishnan’s works attempt to integrate the cultures of science and the arts, to defeat division of every kind and to herald a unified world. His sincere and upright stand is widely admired.
The Malayalam Film and TV Chamber of Commerce is really honoured to have C. Radhakrishnan, a multitalented, well experienced versatile personality as the Chairman of Board of Peer Directors.
The Malayalam Film and TV Chamber of Commerce is really honoured to have C. Radhakrishnan, a multitalented, well experienced versatile personality as the Chairman of Board of Peer Directors.