M. N. Vijayan facts for kids

Moolayil Narayana Menon Vijayan, often called Vijayan Mash (born June 8, 1930 – died October 3, 2007), was a well-known Indian teacher, speaker, writer, and newspaper columnist. He wrote in the Malayalam language. Vijayan Mash was famous for his strong beliefs and his excellent speaking abilities. He led the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (a group for progressive art and letters) and was the editor of the newspaper Deshabhimani. He wrote many books, and his book Chithayile Velicham (meaning 'The Light in the Pyre') won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism in 1982.

About M. N. Vijayan's Life

Government Boys High School, Kodungallur, where Vijayan studied

M. N. Vijayan was born on June 8, 1930. His parents were Pathiyasseril Narayana Menon and Mooliyil Kochammu Amma. He was born in a small village called Lokamaleshwaram, near Kodungallur in Thrissur district of Kerala, India.

He went to Pathinettarayalam Lower Primary School. Later, he attended Government Boys High School in Kodungallur. After high school, he studied at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. He earned a master's degree in Malayalam literature from the University of Madras. He also studied law at the Government Law College, Ernakulam. During his college days, he was part of the Students Federation of India.

Vijayan started his career in 1952 as a lecturer (a type of college teacher) at The New College, Chennai. He then worked briefly at University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1960, he joined Brennen College, Thalassery. He taught Malayalam there until he retired in 1985.

Vijayan was married to Sharada. They had three children: a son named V. S. Anilkumar, who is also a writer and teacher, and two daughters, Sujatha Balachandran and Sunitha Rajagopal.

On October 3, 2007, Vijayan had a serious heart attack. This happened during a press conference in Thrissur. He was taken to the hospital but sadly passed away that same day. He was 77 years old. A book about his life, written by K. Balakrishnan, was published in 2015.

His Work in Politics and Journalism

From 1960 to 1999, M. N. Vijayan lived in Dharmadam, Thalassery. He worked as the editor of Deshabhimani, a cultural newspaper. This newspaper was owned by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). He also led the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, a group for progressive art and literature. He was also part of the Adhinivesha Prathirodha Samithi, a group that resisted globalization.

Vijayan was removed as editor of Deshabhimani. This happened because some leaders of the Communist Party felt he did not follow the party's main ideas. He disagreed with some leaders who wanted to accept money from foreign groups for political work.

For a time, he was also the editor of a magazine called Padom. In Padom, he criticized a government program in Kerala. This program was called the People's Campaign for Decentralised Planning. Vijayan and another professor, Sudheesh, wrote articles against it. Later, a court in Kerala said that their claims about a group called Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad receiving foreign money were true.

Vijayan resigned from the Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham. This was due to a disagreement with M. A. Baby, a leader in the CPI(M) at the time. Vijayan also wrote weekly articles for Samakalina Malayalam, Janashakthi, and Maruvakku. He used to write for Deshabhimani until he left that newspaper. He was also the editor of the monthly magazine Maruvaakku.

His Writings

Most of Vijayan's books are collections of his speeches. He was known as a very powerful speaker. He used ideas from psychology, Marxism, and social science to understand life and literature. Some famous writers said that Vijayan's writings were sometimes hard to understand. This was because he did not always follow normal grammar rules.

Vijayan was one of the first to use psychological ideas to analyze Malayalam literature. He had a big impact on the culture of Kerala. His works were often nominated for literary awards. However, he usually refused any awards given by the government. He did not like formal institutions.

List of Published Works

A Guide and Counselor

Even though he was not a doctor, Vijayan worked for many years as a free counselor. He used ideas from Freudian psychology to help people. Many writers, thinkers, journalists, and political activists saw him as a mentor. This means he was someone who guided and advised them.

The November 2007 issue of Samayam Masika magazine was dedicated to him. It had articles from many public figures about how Vijayan influenced them. His home in Dharmadam, Thalassery, was a safe place for people with psychological problems. Vijayan Mash and his wife helped them with great care.

He also studied the poems of Vailoppilli, a famous Malayalam poet. He used Freudian ideas to analyze poems like "Mampazham" and "Sahyante makan." These studies became very popular. Vijayan was a strong critic of groups that caused division. He used his speeches and writings to support the Communist Party of India (Marx). He helped them fight against harmful groups in Tellicherry and Kerala.

Vijayan became a guide for many writers, politicians, and journalists. He criticized groups like Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad. He believed they were negatively influencing the people of Kerala. Vijayan passed away while giving a press conference in Thrissur. He was explaining how some non-government groups in Kerala were hiding their true goals. He said they were pretending to be leftist but had other plans. He believed they were "selling their credibility" and "hijacking democracy."

Thrissur Current Books and Akam Samithi Thalassey published his early works. Thrissur Current Books later published all of M.N. Vijayan's works in ten volumes. The first M.N. Vijayan library was opened in Kannur. The Malayalam department at Govt. Brennen College started the M.N. Vijayan endowment in 2010. This is for excellent students of Malayalam literature.

See also

In Spanish: Vijayan Mash para niños