{{short description|Indian poet and critic}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox writer | name = Edasseri Govindan Nair | image = Edasseri Govindan Nair.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Edasseri Govindan Nair, c. 1953 | pseudonym = Edasseri | birth_name = | nickname = {{ublist|"Shakthiyude Kavi"<ref>{{Cite news |last= Manojkumar Paleri |date=7 November 2022 |script-title=ml:ശക്തിയുടെ കവി |language=Malayalam |trans-title=Shakthiyude Kavi |agency=Mathrubhumi |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/features/vidya/vidya-1.8026320 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808195553/https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/features/vidya/vidya-1.8026320 |archive-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>}} | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1906|12|23}} | birth_place = Kuttippuram, Malabar district, Madras Presidency, British India | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1974|10|16|1906|12|23}} | death_place = Cochin, Kerala, India | occupation = Poet, playwright | nationality = Indian | ethnicity = | citizenship = | period = | genre = Poetry, plays | subject = | movement = | notableworks = | spouse = Janaki Amma | partner = | children = E. Harikumar, E Madhavan. | relatives = P. Krishna Kurup (father)<br> Kunjukutti Amma (mother) | influences = | influenced = | awards = {{ublist|Sahitya Akademi Award|Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry|Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram }} | signature = | website = {{URL|http://www.edasseri.org|website}} | portaldisp = }} {{Given name hatnote|Govindan Nair|Edasseri|lang=Malayali}}'''Edasseri Govindan Nair''' (23 December 1906 – 16 October 1974) was an Indian poet and playwright of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the major poets of Malayalam, Edasseri was a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry. He was also a recipient of Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram, which was awarded posthumously.
== Biography == {{quote box|align = left|width=21em|''I too had a mother''<br> ''When a King bought me, a slave,''<br> ''She was given a price, a few coins''<br> ''She tied them to my apron-strings''<br> ''And left bare-handed''<br> ''I bought a blanket, later''<br> ''To protect her from cold''<br> ''Alas! When I came with the gift at last''<br> ''She had gone for eternal rest''<br> ''Under the cover of a thick earthen blanket.''<br> Excerpts from ''King Bimbisaran's Shepherd'', translated by M. Leelavathi}}
Edasseri Govindan Nair was born on 23 December 1906 at Kuttippuram, in Malapuram district in the south Indian state of Kerala to P. Krishna Kurup and Edasseri Kunjukutti Amma in a family with poor financial means.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/Edasseri/Html/Edasseribiography.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}}</ref>{{Refn|group=note|Edasseri was the family name of his mother, obtained through matrilineal succession}} Govindan got his family name, ''Edasseri'', through matrilineal succession.
He did not have much formal education due to the death of his father in 1921 when he was only 15 years old and started his career early as an assistant to a relative, who worked in Alappuzha. However, he compensated for the lack of formal education with hard work with voracious reading, learning Sanskrit and English on his own taking help from his friends, constantly engaging in debates on literature, criticism, science, astronomy and even astrology. He spent 7 years in Alleppey before moving to Kozhikode. In early 1930, he moved to Ponani. It was during this time that he married Janaki Amma, the wedding taking place in 1938. He continued with his learning, debates and discussions in Ponani also.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair">{{Cite web |url=http://www.edasseri.org/biography.htm |title=A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair |website=www.edasseri.org}}</ref>
Edasseri was associated with various literary and cultural forums.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" /> He sat in the general council of Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad and was a member of the board of directors of the Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society. He presided Kerala Sahithya Samithi and Kendra Kala Samithi during various periods and was instrumental in founding a local library, ''Krishna Panikkar Vayana Sala''.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" />
Edasseri's works include 19 books and over 300 poems in 10 anthologies, 6 books of plays and a collection of essays.<ref name="Edasseri Govindan Nair Biography">{{Cite web |url=https://www.poetrysoup.com/edasseri_govindan_nair/biography |title=Edasseri Govindan Nair Biography |date=2019-01-27 |website=PoetrySoup |language=en |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> He was among the poets who changed the romantic traits of Malayalam poetry to realism.<ref name="George1992">{{cite book|author=K. M. George|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA251|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-324-0|pages=251–}}</ref> His narrative style, as shown in his poems such as ''Poothapattu'', ''Panimudakkam'', ''Kalyana Pudava'', ''Karutha Chettichikal'' and ''Kavile Pattu'', was reported to reflect strong humanism.<ref name="Leelavathy1998">{{cite book|author=M. Leelavathy|title=Edassery Govindan Nair|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kB_H90qNhgsC&pg=PA76|year=1998|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-0496-6|pages=76–}}</ref>
Govindan Nair - Janaki Amma couple had eleven children, though only eight survived infancy. He died on 16 October 1974, at the age of 67.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" />
==Awards== Edasseri received two awards from the Government of Tamil Nadu (the known as Government of Madras), the first one for his play, ''Koottukrishi'' and the other, for his poem anthology, ''Puthan Kalavum Arivalum''.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" /> He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1969 for the poem anthology ''Oru Pidi Nellikka''<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry |date=2019-01-27 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626195512/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/poetry.htm |archive-date=26 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a year later, Sahitya Akademi awarded him their annual award for 1969 for ''Kavile Pattu'', another of his anthology.<ref name="Leelavathy1998" /><ref name="Edasseri Govindan Nair Veethi">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/edasseri_govindan_nair-profile-2270-25.htm |title=Edasseri Govindan Nair Veethi |date=2019-01-27 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref><ref name="KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARDS (MALAYALAM)">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-24 |title=KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARDS (MALAYALAM) |date=2007-05-24 |publisher=INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATION DEPARTMENT, Government of Kerala |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> He was awarded Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram posthumously in 1979, five years after his death, for the anthology, ''Anthithiri''.<ref name="A biographical sketch of Edasseri Govindan Nair" />
==Literary works== === Poem anthologies === {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} * ''Alakavali (Ornations)''(അളകാവലി) -1940<ref name="Alakavali: Kavithakal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=70588&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Alakavali: Kavithakal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Puthankalavum Arivalum Poothappattum'' (പുത്തൻ കലവും അരിവാളും പൂതപ്പാട്ടും)(New Pot and Sickle) - 1951<ref name="Puthan Kalavum Arivalum">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?idx=kw&q=+Puthan+kalavum+Arivalum |title=Puthan Kalavum Arivalum |date=2019-01-27 |website=catalog.uoc.ac.in |language=en |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Laghu Ganangal'' (Simple Songs) - 1954<ref name="Lagu Ganamgal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=70702&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Lagu Ganamgal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1963 |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Karutha Chettichikal'' (Dark Nomad Women) - 1955<ref name="Karutha Chettichikal">{{Cite book |title=Karutha Chettichikal |last=Edassery Govindan Nair |publisher=Poorna Publications |year=1955 |isbn=978-8171804061}}</ref> * ''Thathwa Shastrangal Urangumbol'' (As Philosophies Sleep) -1961 * ''Kavile Pattu'' (Song of the Grove) - 1966<ref name="Kavile Pattu">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=227353&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Kavile Pattu |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=2003 |publisher=Poorna |access-date=2019-01-27 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127152939/https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=227353&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ''Oru Pidi Nellikka'' (A handful of Gooseberries) - 1968 * ''Thrivikramannu Munnil'' (In front of Thrivikrama) - 1971<ref name="Threevikramanu Munpil">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=86683&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Threevikramanu Munpil |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1971 |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Kunkuma Prabhatham'' (The Vermilion Dawn) - 1975<ref name="Kunguma Prabhatham">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=74201&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Kunguma Prabhatham |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1975 |publisher=S. P. C. S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Anthithiri'' (Ritual Wick of Dusk) – 1977<ref name="Anthitthiri: kavithakal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=76085&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Anthitthiri: kavithakal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Edasseriyude Sampoorna Kavithakal'' (Complete Poetic Works of Edasseri) - 1988<ref name="Edasseri kavithakal: sampoorna samaharam">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85861&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri kavithakal: sampoorna samaharam |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=2007 |publisher=Mathrubhoomi Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Malayalathinte Priya Kavithakal'' (Endearing poems of Malayalam) - 2013. {{div col end}}
=== Plays === {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} * ''Noolamala'' (The Entanglement) -1947 * ''Koottu Krishi'' (Co-operative Farming) - 1950<ref name="Koottu krishi">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=73460&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Koottu krishi |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=1967 |publisher=Current Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Kaliyum Chiriyum'' (Fun and Laughter) - One-act plays- 1954 * ''Ennichutta Appam'' ( Limited Means) - One-act plays- 1957 * ''Chaliyathi'' (The Weaver Woman) - One-act plays- 1960 * ''Njediyil Padaratha Mulla'' (Jasmine Vine that does not climb the prop) - 1964 * ''Jarasandhante Puthri'' (Daughter of Jarasandhan) - Radio Play- 1970s * ''Khatolkachan'' 1970s * ''Edasseriyude Naadakangal'' - 2001<ref name="Edasseriyude naadakangal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=84166&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseriyude naadakangal |last=Govindan Nair |first=Edasseri |date=2001 |publisher=Current Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> {{div col end}}
=== Other books === * ''Edasseriyude Prabandhangal'' (Essays of Edasseri) - 1988<ref name="Edasseriyude Prabandangal">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=213738&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseriyude Prabandangal |last=Gopalakrishnan K |date=1988 |publisher=Kozhikode mathrubhumi Printing & Pub. Comp |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Edasseriyude Cherukathakal'' (Short stories of Edasseri) – 2015
== Books on Edasseri Govindan Nair== * ''Edasseri - Navabhavukathwathinte Kavi'' (Literary criticism by Prof. P. Meerakutty) * ''Edasseri Govindan Nair'' (book in English on the poet by M. Leelavathi) * ''Edasseriyude Kavyalokam'' (book on Edasseri poems by K. P. Saraschandran)<ref name="Edasseriyude kavya lokam">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=82371&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseriyude kavya lokam |last=Sharachandran |first=K. P. |date=1988 |publisher=S.P.C.S |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Itha Oru Kavi'' (essays on Edasseri by eminent writers)<ref name="Itha Oru Kavi">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=208386&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Itha oru kavi |date=1996 |publisher=Edasseri Publications, Kochi |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Edasserikkavitha - Shilpavicharam'' by K. P. Mohanan<ref name="Edasseri kavitha: silpa vicharam">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=105747&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri kavitha: silpa vicharam |last=Mohanan |first=K. P. |date=2014 |publisher=Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>{{Refn|group=note|The book received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism in 2007}} * ''Edasserikkavitha'' - a collection of essays by various writers compiled by Kavadayar Ramachandran<ref name="Edasseri kavitha">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=85099&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri kavitha |last=Ramachandran Kavadiyar |date=2004 |publisher=State Institute of Languages |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Edasseri Ninavil Varumpol'' - (Essays on Edasseri)<ref name="Edasseri ninavil varumpol">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=104000&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasseri ninavil varumpol |date=2006 |editor-last=Edassery smaraka samithy |publisher=Mathrubhumi Books |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Edasserikkavitha'' (Literary criticism by Melath Chandrasekharan)<ref name="Edasserikkavitha">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=105658&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasserikkavitha |date=2019-01-27 |website=catalog.uoc.ac.in |language=en |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> * ''Edasserikavithayile Premeyaghatana'' (Literary criticism by Chathanath Achuthanunni)<ref name="Edasserikavithayile Premeyaghatana">{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=234337&query_desc=kw%252Cwrdl%253A%2520edasseri |title=Edasserikavithayile premeyaghatana |last=Achuthanunni |first=Chathanath |date=2015 |publisher=Vallathol Vidhyapeedam |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref>
== Notes == {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Cite book |url=https://www.edasseri.org/articles/edasseri-kavithayum-jeevithavum-p-krishna-warrier.asp |title=ഇടശ്ശേരി കവിതയും ജീവിതവും |language=ml |trans-title=Edasseri: Life and Works |author=P. Krishna Warrier |date=2011}} * {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/Edasseri/Html/Edasseripage.htm |title=Portrait on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-01-26 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-01-26}} * {{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rZqxzl7i1g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/-rZqxzl7i1g |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Edasseri Govindan Nair : Life of a Poet |date=May 1, 2016 |last=TK Kochunarayanan |type=YouTube video |language=Malayalam |access-date=2019-01-26}}{{cbignore}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGu7MdoFhbI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/QGu7MdoFhbI |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Kavilepattu - Edasseri Govindan Nair |last=Kavithakal Malayalam |date=September 5, 2017 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-01-26}}{{cbignore}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOgNqu2vamE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/IOgNqu2vamE |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Poothappaattu - Edasseri Govindan Nair |last=Jyothibai Pariyadath |date=December 29, 2012 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-01-26}}{{cbignore}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}} {{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, Edasseri Govindan}} Category:1906 births Category:Indian male poets Category:1974 deaths Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam Category:Malayalam poets Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Category:20th-century Indian poets Category:Poets from Kerala Category:Writers from Malappuram district Category:20th-century Indian male writers Category:Indian dramatists and playwrights