M. C. Nambudiripad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
M.C. Nambudiripad
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| Born | 2 February 1919 Pattambi, India
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| Died | 26 November 2012 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | Popular science writing, translation |
Moothiringode Chithrabhanu Nambudiripad (born February 2, 1919 – died November 26, 2012) was a very important writer. He helped make science easy to understand for everyone. He wrote in the Malayalam language. He also translated many books. He helped start a movement in Kerala, India. This movement made science popular for more people. He won many awards for his writing and translations. He also got awards for helping his community.
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His Early Life and Education
M. C. Nambudiripad was born on February 2, 1919. His family home was near Pattambi in the Palghat district of Kerala. Like many boys from his community, he first studied ancient texts. He spent six years learning the Vedic studies.
After that, he went to high school in Ottapalam. He later studied at Zamorin's College in Calicut. He then earned a degree in physics. He got this degree from St. Joseph's College in Thiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Many years later, he also trained at a Public Health Laboratory. This was in Thiruvananthapuram.
He passed away on November 26, 2012. He was 93 years old. He died after a serious heart attack.
Making Science Easy to Understand
Nambudiripad was well-known for writing about science. He wrote in Malayalam. He helped create a group called Sasthra Sahithya Samithi in 1957. This group was for science and science writing. Later, it became Sasthra Sahithya Parishad.
He was an editor for two journals from this group. These journals were called Sasthragathi and Eureka. He edited them for many years. He also wrote for other popular Malayalam magazines. He gave talks about science on All India Radio. This was the only radio station in India back then. A part of one of his books was even in school textbooks. Many students read it for a long time.
Awards for His Books
Nambudiripad received awards for his early books. Two of his books won awards from the Madras government. These were The Development of Science and Through the Eyes of Science. Two other books also won awards. These were Autobiography of Earth and Martians. They received awards from the Government of India.
Translating Important Books
He was also a very skilled translator. Later in his life, he spent many years translating a big book. It was J.D. Bernal's "Science in History." He translated it into Malayalam in four volumes. For this huge effort, he won an award in 2002. This award was for translation from the Kerala Sahithya Academy.
Even when he was over 90 years old, he started another translation. He translated another book by Bernal. This one was called "The Social Function of Science." The Sasthra Sahithya Parishad published this book. It was released in January 2012.
Besides science books, he translated other types of books too. He translated two novels into Malayalam. One was "The Yearling" by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (in 1956). The other was "Lament on the Death of a Master of Arts" by Mulkraj Anand. He also translated the life stories of Albert Schweitzer and Harold Russel. Russel's book was called Victory in My Hands.
Other Special Recognitions
Nambudiripad received other awards too. These were not just for his writing and translations.
- He won the C. Achutha Menon Award in 2008. This award remembers Mr. Menon, a former Chief Minister of Kerala. It is given for achievements in social, scientific, literary, and educational fields.
- He also received a Roll of Honour from the Chinmaya mission.
Nambudiripad stayed active until the very end of his life. He continued writing, working in business, and helping with social activities.
