{{Short description|Indian writer (1924–1992)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Ponjikkara Rafi | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Joseph Raphael | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1924|4|12}} | birth_place = Ponjikkara, Cochin State <br> present day Ernakulam district, Kerala, India | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1992|9|6|1924|4|12}} | death_place = | restingplace = | restingplacecoordinates = | othername = | occupation = Essayist, playwright, novelist, short story writer, screenwriter | alma mater = | spouse = Sabeena Rafi | domesticpartner = | children = | parents = {{ublist|Shouryar Joseph|Anna}} | notable_works = {{ubl|''Swargadhoothan''|''Ora Pro Nobis''|''Kaliyugam''}} | website = | awards = Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works }} '''Joseph Raphael''' (12 April 1924 – 6 September 1992), better identified as '''Ponjikkara Rafi''', was an Indian essayist, playwright, short story writer and a novelist of Malayalam literature. His oeuvre consists of short story anthologies, novels, philosophical works and screenplays but he is best remembered for two novels, ''Daivadhoothan'', regarded as the first Malayalam novel written in stream of consciousness narrative style, and ''Ora Pro Nobis'', a historical novel based on the Dutch colonial rule. He was also the author of ''Kaliyugam'', a philosophical work jointly written with his wife, Sabeena Rafi, which fetched him the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works in 1972.

== Biography == thumb|left|Ponjikkara, Rafi's birthplace Ponjikkara Rafi was born Joseph Raphael on 12 April 1924 in Naduvathezhathu family of Ponjikkara, an islet in Mulavukad panchayat, along the coast of (then Cochin State) present day Ernakulam district, in the south Indian state of Kerala, in a family of carpenters as the seventh among the nine children born to Shouryar Joseph{{Refn|group=note|Shouryar is the vernacular for Xavier}} and Anna.<ref name="The Life of a Dreamer">{{Cite web |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/25971/6/06_chapter1.pdf |title=The Life of a Dreamer |date=2019-04-10 |publisher=Mahatma Gandhi University |access-date=2019-04-10 |quote=Biography in the work, Literary contributions of Ponjikkara Raphy'}}</ref> After early schooling at Ponnarimangalam School, he shifted to St. Albert's High School in the mainland but could not complete his high school studies. Subsequently, he passed a vocational course in blacksmithy from Government Trade School and started his career as a fitter at the work shop of the Cochin Port.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PonjikkaraRafi/Html/PRafigraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-04-09 |website=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref> His stay at the port was short as he was terminated from service in the wake of his participation in a workers' strike and his next job at the Indian Aluminium Company, Aluva, as a crane operator, also ended the same way. Later, he shifted his focus to journalism and literature and was associated with magazines such as ''Suprabha'', ''Udayam'' and ''Democrat'';<ref name="Ponjikkara Rafi - M3DB.COM">{{Cite web |url=https://m3db.com/artists/58713 |title=Ponjikkara Rafi - M3DB.COM |date=2019-04-10 |website=m3db.com |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> it was at ''Democrat'', he had the opportunity to work alongside C. J. Thomas, the noted playwright. He also worked with Vaikom Muhammed Basheer as a partner, when the renowned author ran ''Circle Book Stall'', a book shop in Ernakulam.<ref name="The man who loved all">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2009/jul/06/the-man-who-loved-all-65374.html |title=The man who loved all |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> In 1966, he joined the Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society, a writers' co-operative, where he worked until 1974, in different capacities as those of a production assistant, reader and as the manager of National Book Stall, the retail wing of the society.<ref name="Ponjikkara Rafi - Veethi profile">{{Cite web |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/ponjikkara_rafi-profile-10260-25.htm |title=Ponjikkara Rafi - Veethi profile |date=2019-04-10 |website=veethi.com |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref>

Rafi married Sabeena,<ref name="Sabeena Rafi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/SebinaRafi/Html/Sebinarafigraphy.htm |title=Sabeena Rafi |date=2019-04-10 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> who was five years elder to him,<ref name="The Life of a Dreamer" /> in 1963, following a period of romance,<ref name="പോഞ്ഞിക്കര റാഫിയെ മറന്നതെങ്ങനെ ?">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/features/ponjikkara-rafi-malayalam-news-1.1333411 |title=പോഞ്ഞിക്കര റാഫിയെ മറന്നതെങ്ങനെ ? |last=ഉണ്ണികൃഷ്ണൻ |first=കെ |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |access-date=2019-04-10 |archive-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410083610/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/features/ponjikkara-rafi-malayalam-news-1.1333411 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but the couple did not have children.<ref name="Ponjikkara Rafi - Veethi profile" /> He died on 6 September 1992, at the age of 68;<ref name="കേട്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ പോഞ്ഞിക്കര റാഫിയെന്ന്?">{{Cite web |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/literaryworld/remembering-ponjikkara-rafi.html |title=കേട്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ പോഞ്ഞിക്കര റാഫിയെന്ന്? |website=ManoramaOnline |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> his wife had predeceased him on 22 June 1990.<ref name="Sabeena Rafi" />

== Legacy and honours == Rafi published eleven short story anthologies, eight novels, two plays and three essay compilations.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PonjikkaraRafi/Html/PRafiBooks.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-04-09 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref> His literary journey started with his first published story, ''Antonyude Vagdhanam'' (Antony's Promise), which was published in Sathyanadam weekly and the first anthology, ''Bhavi'', was published in 1945.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> His earlye novels portrayed the Cochin Portuguese creole culture<ref name="The Kochi novel">{{Cite web |url=https://fountainink.in/essay/the-kochi-novel |title=The Kochi novel |website=fountainink.in |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> and of the eight novels he wrote, ''Swargadhoothan''and ''Ora Pro Nobis''are the more notable ones. ''Swargadhoothan'', a novel in three parts and published in 1958 is known to be the first Malayalam novel written in stream of consciousness narrative style<ref name="കേട്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ പോഞ്ഞിക്കര റാഫിയെന്ന്?" /> and ''Ora Pro Nobis'' is a historical novel detailing the life of Dutch colonial Kochi.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /><ref name="African slaves and spirit Kappiri Muthappan: Kochis culture under Portuguese-Dutch rule">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/african-slaves-and-spirit-kappiri-muthappan-kochis-culture-under-portuguese-dutch-rule-44881 |title=African slaves and spirit Kappiri Muthappan: Kochis culture under Portuguese-Dutch rule |website=www.thenewsminute.com |date=15 June 2016 |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> In ''Swargadhoothan'', Rafi envisioned the islets around Kochi getting connected to the mainland in 1958 and it became a reality when Goshree bridges were opened in February 2004.<ref name="Ponjikkara Rafi Award given away">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/06/stories/2004090613160300.htm |website=The Hindu |title=Ponjikkara Rafi Award given away |date=2004-09-06 |access-date=2019-04-10}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He also wrote a detective novel, ''Padakkuthira Missi'' and two plays, ''Mathai Master'' and ''Mezhukuthiri''. One of his non-fiction books, ''Marxism, Oru Thirinjunottam'', co-written with his wife, is a detailed study of the Marxian theory and its spiritual aspects; the book also has a critique on ''Mother'' of Maxim Gorky.<ref name="Marxism Oru Thirinjunottam">{{Cite web |url=http://www.indulekha.com/marxism-oru-thirinjunottam-study-ponjikkara-rafi-and-sebeena-rafi?author_id= |title=Marxism Oru Thirinjunottam |date=2019-04-10 |website=www.indulekha.com |access-date=2019-04-10 |archive-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410085027/http://www.indulekha.com/marxism-oru-thirinjunottam-study-ponjikkara-rafi-and-sebeena-rafi%3Fauthor_id%3D |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Kaliyugam'', a Sabeena Rafi co-written work, is a study of human behaviour from early ages, with a philosophical perspective.<ref name="Ponjikkara Rafi - Veethi profile" /> The book fetched him the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works in 1972.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/others.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works |date=2019-04-10 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref>

Rafi entered the film world by writing the screenplay and dialogues for Koodappirappu, a J. D. Thottan, released in 1956.<ref name="Koodappirappu (1956)">{{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=60 |title=Koodappirappu (1956) |website=www.malayalachalachithram.com |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> One of his stories, ''Minnaminungu'', was adapted into a film under the same name by Ramu Kariat in 1957 and Rafi wrote the screenplay for the film.<ref name="Minnaminungu (1957)">{{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=63 |title=Minnaminungu (1957) |website=www.malayalachalachithram.com |access-date=2019-04-10}}</ref> He was reported to have assisted Vayalar Rama Varma to gain entry into films.<ref name="Ponjikkara Rafi - M3DB.COM" /> He held the position of the secretary of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad from 1966 to 1974 and served as the vice president of the Parishad for a brief period.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> Pranatha Books, a Kerala-based publisher, has instituted an annual award, ''Ponjikkara Rafi Award'', for recognizing excellence in Malayalam literature and the first recipient of the honour was Sebastian Pallithode.<ref name="Award for Pallithode">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/15/stories/2004041512280300.htm |website=The Hindu |title=Award for Pallithode |date=2004-04-15 |access-date=2019-04-10}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== Bibliography == === Novels === {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=77111&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Ponjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Swarga dhoothan |last=Rafi |first=Ponjikkara |date=1958 |publisher=Saahithya Pravathaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}} * {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=70189&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Ponjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Kanayile kalyanam |last=Rafi |first=Ponjikkara |date=1961 |publisher=S.P.C.S}} * {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=65133&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Ponjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Ora Pro Nobis |last=Rafi Ponjikkara |date=1981}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=19988&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Aniyude Chechi |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1964 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=78671&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Fulltime Kamukan |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1954 |publisher=Vidyarthi Mithram |edition=0 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/79628 |title=Chenthaengintae pookkula |last=Rafi |first=Ponjikkara |date=1985 |language=ml}} {{div col end}}

=== Short story anthologies === {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=19720&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Karutha Blouse |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1964 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=17888&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Kochu Rosi |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1963 |edition=1 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=17726&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Khadhar Jubba |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1963 |edition=1 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=17634&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Alathallunna Puzha |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1963 |edition=1 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=10290&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi%2520 |title=Thuranna Vathil |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1947 |edition=1 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=11010&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi%2520 |title=Ozhivukalam |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1951 |edition=1 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/70335 |title=Theranjedutha kathakal |last=Rafi |first=Ponjikkara |date=1967 |language=ml}} {{div col end}}

=== Non fiction === {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=83015&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Ponjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Sukradasayude charitram |last1=Sebeena Rafi |last2=Rafi |first2=Ponjikkara |date=1992 |publisher=D.C. Books |location=Kottayam}} * {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=78120&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520Ponjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Anuyathrakal, kandeththalukal |last=Rafi |first=Ponjikkara |date=1982 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangam |location=Kottayam}} * {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=27201&query_desc=au%253A%2522Raphi%252C%2520Ponjikkara%2522 |title=Charithra maanangal |last=Rafi |first=Ponjikkara |date=1985 |location=Kottayam, Current}} * {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=27202&query_desc=au%253A%2522Raphi%252C%2520Ponjikkara%2522 |title=Prakaasadhara |last=Rafi |first=Ponjikkara |date=1989 |location=Trissur, Current}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=80342&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Marxism Oru Thirinjunottam, Emmavoosilekkula Yathrayum |last1=Ponjikkara Rafi |last2=Sebeena Rafi |date=1991 |publisher=Bamsuri Books |edition=0 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=39730&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Kaliyugam |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1982 |publisher=D. C. B. Kottayam |edition=0 |language=ml}} {{div col end}}

=== Plays === {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * {{Cite book |url=http://122.165.117.71/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=18285&query_desc=au%253A%2522Ponjikkara%2520Rafi%2522%2520and%2520au%253APonjikkara%2520Rafi |title=Mathayi Master |last=Ponjikkara Rafi |date=1963 |edition=0 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PonjikkaraRafi/Html/PRafiBooks.htm |title=Mezhukuthiri |last=Rafi Ponjikkara }} {{div col end}}

== Filmography == {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * Koodappirappu * Minnaminugu {{div col end}}

== See also == {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * List of Malayalam-language authors by category * List of Malayalam-language authors {{div col end}} {{Portal|India|Literature}}

== Notes == {{reflist|group=note}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== Further reading == * {{Cite web |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/10603/25971 |title=Literary contributions of Ponjikkara Raphy |last=Anu |first=P. T. |date=2012-12-11 |website=University |language=en |access-date=2019-04-10}} * {{Cite web |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/10603/25972 |title=Stream of consciousness technique in novels: A special study in the selected novels of Ponjikkara Rafi, M T Vasudevan Nair and Vilasini |last=Ajithakumary |first=K. B. |date=2011-02-16 |website=University |language=en |access-date=2019-04-10}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/105712 |title=Bodhadharayum Vettoorum pinne ponjikkara Rafiyum |last=Somanathan Nair |first=P. G. |date=2008 |language=ml}} * {{Cite book |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/117487 |title=Ponjikkara Rafi : sargavismayam |date=2016 |language=ml}}

== External links == * {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PonjikkaraRafi/Html/PonjikkaraRafi.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-04-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-05}} * {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/PonjikkaraRafi/Html/Ponjikkarascript.htm |title=Handwriting |date=2019-04-05 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-05}} * {{cite book|author=Sisir Kumar Das|title=History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&pg=PA581|year=2005|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-798-9|pages=581–}}

{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafi, Ponjikkara}} Category:1924 births Category:1992 deaths Category:Writers from Kerala Category:Writers from Ernakulam district Category:20th-century Indian novelists Category:20th-century Indian essayists Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Category:20th-century Indian short story writers Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:20th-century Indian journalists