Kottayam Pushpanath was an Indian author known for his contributions to detective fiction writing in Malayalam.[1] He has been called the "father of Malayalam fiction" and the "Arthur Conan Doyle of India". While incorporating ideologies and supernatural elements creatively in horror story writing, he primarily focused on plausible crime stories that motivated readers to become detectives themselves and solve the mysteries.
In 1968, he released his first novel, Chuvanna Manushyan, a scientific thriller, and went on to write over 350 works, including mainstream novels, science fiction, and horror fiction, during the 1970s and 1980s.
Early life
Kottayam Pushpanath was born Pushpanathan Pillai (Zacharia) in Kottayam district in Kerala, on May 14, 1937, to Sathyanesan Pillai and Rachel. He completed his primary and secondary education from Good Shepherd School and MT Seminary School in Kottayam and he graduated in History from the University of Kerala.[2] After finishing TTC from Cambridge Nicholson Institute (CNI) Kottayam, he started his career as a teacher at Kodiyathoor School in Kozhikode. Later he served as a teacher of History in different Government schools in Kallarkutty, Devikulam, Karapuzha, Nattakom and Kottayam Medical College school.[3]
Literary career
As a student at the MT Seminary school, Pushpanath wrote a short story "Thiramala” (Waves) for the school magazine, announcing his entry into the world of writing.[4] He released his first novel named Chuvanna Manushyan in 1968 which was a scientific thriller.[3] Later on, he penned down more than 300 works including science fiction, horror fiction, fantasy, non-fiction and many short stories during the period of 1970s and 80s.[5] Many of his works have been translated into different Indian languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Gujarati and Bengali. His novel Souparnika was serialised in Tamil. Kottayam Pushpanath has also translated Bram Stoker’s world-renowned Gothic horror novel Dracula[6] and Arthur Conan Doyle’s TheHound of the Baskervilles into Malayalam. Two of his novels – Brahmarakshass and Chuvanna Anki– were made into movies in Malayalam.[7][8]
Pushpanath followed the tradition of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot in creating two fictional detectives, Detective Marxin and Pushparaj.[9] Detective Pushparaj would be the protagonist if the novels are set in India and Detective Marxin would take the lead role in novels set outside India.[10] Some novels featured another fictional character, Detective Sudheer, as the lead.[11]
Kottayam Pushpanath established his publications in 1977, the Kottayam Pushpanath Publications, through which most of his works came out.[12] All his books are being re-published by Rayan Pushpanath through Kottayam Pushpanath Publications now.[13] Many of Pushpanath's books are published on mainstream digital platforms as e-books and audiobooks.[14]Kottayam Pushpanath Foundation was set up by the Kottayam Pushpanath family after the author's death, funded with the family’s assets and run by family members and foundation members for solely charitable purposes.[15]
Death
Kottayam Pushpanath died on 2 May 2018 aged 80 at his home in Kottayam after a long bout of age-related problems.[5]
