KOLLAM: Noted literary critic K P Appan who passed away at the Medical Trust Hospital, Kayamkulam, on Monday was born to Padmanabhan and Karthyayani of Karthikayil, Poonthoppu, Alappuzha, on August 25, 1936.
He had his school education at Sanathana Dharma Vidya Sala, Alappuzha.
He had his college education from SD College, Alappuzha and Maharajas College, Ernakulam.
He worked as a lecturer at UC College, Aluva, for one year.
Later joined SN College, Cherthala and worked there for six years. In 1970 he came to Kollam SN College and retired from there on March 31, 1992.
The strong emotional bond between him and the S N College had been a speciality. His classes in the S N College had been noted for its supreme literary value and erudition. Students of other classes also used to sneak into his class to listen him.
Some of his colleagues still remember that though Appan had been a member of the Malayalam faculty many of the English teachers of the college had been clearing their doubts on English literature by interacting with him.
A pioneer of modern Malayalam literary criticism, Appan was known for his courageous stand on literary issues. He never minced words in criticising literature of inferior character.
But he always paid attention to writers who had chosen to break away from the trodden paths and paved a way of their own. He helped the readers to understand that writers of a new genre like Maythil Radhakrishnan and K P Nirmal Kumar were to be noted for their style and sincerity in approach.
He had been known for his great fascination for the vision and values of Bible. His books “ Bible Velichathine Kavacham ” and “ Madhruam Ninte Jeevitham ” stand testimony to his fascination for Biblical values.
Though the Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad and Kerala Sahithya Akademi had announced awards for him, he rejected all awards bestowed on him.
Appan with his titanic stature in literary criticism and his exalted position as a teacher and a great human being commanded the respect and love of Kollam city for the past 38 years. But all these years he had been trying to keep away from making public speeches. No body remembers him delivering a public speech in the past three decades.
He had authored over 20 major works on literary criticism.
His first book was “ Kshobhikkunnavarude Suvisesham,” (1972). Some of his major works are “Thiraskaram,” (1978), “Kalahavum Viswasavum,” (1984), “Maarunna Malayala Novel,” (1988), “Kalaham, Vivadam, Vilayiruthal,” (1992), “Malayala Bhavana Moolyangalaum Sangharshangalum,” (1992), “Bible Velichathinte Kavacham,” (1994), ‘Penayude Samara Mukhangal,” (1995), ‘Samayapravahavum Sahithyakalayum,” (1996), “Abhimukhasambhashanagal,” (1997), “Utharadhunika Varthamanavum Vamsavaliyum,” (1997), “Katha Akhyanavum Anubhava Sathayum” (1999).
Full state honours The state government has issued an order for giving full State honours for the cremation K.P.Appan.
