THRISSUR: The last rites of writer Ekalavyan, who died here on Sunday due to renal failure, will take place in the Aarthattu St Mary’s Simhasana Church cemetery at Kunnamkulam at 4 pm on Tuesday. The 78-year-old writer had breathed his last at Amala hospital, where he was admitted about two months ago following renal failure.
He was one of the most prolific writers of contemporary Malayalam literature.
K M Mathew, who wrote under the pseudonym Ekalavyan, is known for his versatility in writing. A retired Army man, his lucid prose played a significant role in imparting information on army life to the common man. His novel ‘Trench’ was purely based on his experience in the Army.
With his engaging style, he attracted readers cutting across class and caste boundaries. In his five-decade-old literary career, he wrote about 40 books, including 33 novels, three short story collections, a travelogue and screenplay for a television serial. Movies “Ayanam”, “Kanchanam”, “Manasa Vaja Karmana”, “Papathinte Shambalam” and “Orittu Snehathinayi” made by Harikumar, I V Sasi, N Vasantha Kumar are based on his novels.
Born in Kunnamkulam, Thrissur, on August 14 1934, Mathew joined the Indian Army in 1953. He chose the penname Ekalavyan as he found it difficult to use own name while in the service.