G. Kumara Pillai

G. Kumara Pillai (22 August 1923 – 16 September 2000) was a Malayalam–language poet, essayist and activist from Kerala state, South India. He was a Gandhian all through his adult life and was in the forefront of several human rights movements in Kerala. He authored some 20 books. His poetry work Saptaswaram received the Odakkuzhal Award in 1984 and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985.

Biography

He was born on 22 August 1923 in Vennimala in Kottayam district of present-day Kerala as the son of Peringara P. Gopala Pillai and Parvathy Amma. He completed his education from S. B. College, Changanassery and worked as a clerk in Bombay and later in Kerala Secretariat. He was Professor of English in University College, Thiruvananthapuram for about 40 years. He was married to Leela, former professor at St. Joseph's College for Women, Alappuzha.

He was a Gandhian all through his adult life and was in the forefront of agitations against human rights violations in Kerala. He also led agitations against the liquor policy of the State. He was one of the founding members of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). He was the President of its Kerala Unit in its formative days and a member of its National Council from 1980 to 1996. He was also associated with the India chapter of Amnesty International.[1]

He authored some 20 books. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1985 for his poetry work Saptaswaram.[2] He penned the lyrics for the song "Hrudayathin Romanjam" from the famous G. Aravindan film Uttarayanam.

Works
  • Arali Pookkal
  • Marubhumiyude Kinavukal
  • Ormayude Sugandham
  • Saptaswaram

Awards

References
  1. "Obituary". People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  2. "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
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