Joseph Mundassery
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Joseph Mundassery | |
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| Born | 17 July 1903 |
| Died | 25 October 1977 (aged 74) |
| Occupation(s) | Literary critic, politician, social reformer, educationalist |
Joseph Mundassery (17 July 1903 – 25 October 1977) was a literary critic and Indian politician from
Early life
Joseph Mundassery was born at Kandasankadavu, Thrissur. After his schooling locally he took his bachelor's degree in Physics and later a master's degree in Sanskrit and Malayalam. Until 1952, he was the Head of the Department of Foreign Languages at St. Thomas College, Trichur.
Mundassery entered politics through the
After the formation of the state of Kerala in 1956, he won the Assembly election in 1957, from
A doyen of letters and a cultural leader
As a prominent figure in the field of Malayalam literary criticism, Mundassery was one among a well-known trio of Malayalam critics, the others being Kesari Balakrishna Pillai and M. P. Paul.
Through his controversial theory about Rooparbhadrata – formal excellence – Mundassery ushered in a new chapter of literary
He was the President of the Kerala Sahithya Parishad from 1965 to 1967, and an executive (and a founding) member of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. He was also instrumental in establishing the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.
As an educationist
Mundassery's notability as an educationist rests partly on the reforms that he partially succeeded in bringing about in the educational sector in Kerala when he was the Education Minister. He authored the controversial
Even though the Bill failed to pass through the Assembly, many of its provisions were later implemented by subsequent governments, albeit with amendments. As the Education Minister of the first democratically elected ministry of the newly formed State of Kerala, Mundassery was instrumental in the establishment and restructuring of some of the early universities and prime educational institutions of the state, having had experience as the
Mundassery was the guru of many pupils at St. Thomas College, Trichur, among whom were some of the future leaders of Kerala such as C. Achutha Menon and Mathai Manjooran.
Mundassery died in 1977.
Books
- Literary criticism: Karuna Nirupanam (1939), Mattoli (1943), Anthareeksham (1944), Kavyapeetika (1945), Manadandham (1946), Prayanam (1947), Karinthiri (1951), Roopa Bhadratha (1951), Kalathinte Kannadi (1954), Puthiya Kazhchappadil (1955), Rajarajante Mattoli (1961), Natakantham Kavithwam (1962), Prabhaashanaavali (1967), Pashchathya Sahithya Sameeksha (1967), Nanayaathe Meen Pidikkamo (1967), Vayanashalayil (1949-69; in four parts), Asan Kavitha: Oru Patanam (1971), Vallathol Kavitha: Oru Patanam (1971)
- Poetry: Chinthamadhuri (1928)
- Short story: Randu Rajakumarimar (1938), Sammaanam (1943), Illapolice (1947), Kadaksham
- Novel: Professor (1948), Konthayil Ninnu Kurissilekku (1954), Parappurathu Vithacha Vithu (1966)
- Autobiography: Kozhinja Ilakal (in three parts) (1960, 1965, 1976)
- Biography: Maxim Gorky (1952), Budhiman Jeevikkunnu (1965)
- Essays: Viswaviharam (1934), Prabandha Deepika (1936), Matham Avideyum Ivideyum (1955), Pothuvidyabhyasam Enthu Engane (1961), Vyakthiyil Ninnu Pouranilekk (1962), Shastram Jeevithathil (1964), Upanyasa Deepika (1964)
- Travelogue: China Munnottu (1953), Otta Nottathil
- Miscellaneous: Neenda Kathukal (1956), Kristhvanukaranam (1936), Stuntukal (1956)
References
- Mundassery.org Archived 1 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- Visvavijnanakosham, 1971 edition.
- Joseph Mundassery Scholarship
External links
- P. P. Raveendran (2002). Joseph Mundasseri. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-1535-1.
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