THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prof Panmana Ramachandran Nair, 86, an erudite scholar and expert in structural linguistics and elaborated theories of language, died at his house near Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday after age-related ailments. Panmana Ramachandran Nair, whose academic career and associated degrees, title and honors stretched from being a language expert to a connoisseur of kathakali, considered himself a scholar-cum-linguistic expert in Malayalam language, whose one of the magnum opuses ‘Nalla Bhasha’, is still running into multiple reprints.
A venerable professor, who had been giving yeoman service to Malayalam language for over more than half century, had around 20 books under his belt and his passion for clean writing and literature of the highest class put him on the high pedestal of the Malayalam language.
He worked as a professor in various government colleges, including Palakkad, Chittoor and Thalasserry and retired as the head of of the Malayalam Department at Kerala University. He worked in various capacities over the years which include academician, grammarian, critic, translator, scholar and editor par excellence. A recipient of various titles and honours, including Kendra Sahitya Akedmi award, Panmana had served the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Kerala Kalamandalam and Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham.
He was a founding member of the P K Parameswaran Nair Memorial Trust set up in 1991 in remembrance of the great historian and critic. And being editor of the Trust, it has published around 30 books of literary studies so far. He is survived by wife Gomati Amma, children Harindra Kumar, Ushakumari, and Mahendrakumar. The cremation will be held at the Shanti Kavadam at Thycaud on Wednesday.
CM mourns Panmana
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who expressed his condolence in the death of the writer said his demise is a great loss to the field of Malayalam language and our culture in general.
