U. A. Khader facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
U. A. Khader
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| Born | 16 November 1935 Bilin, Rangoon, Burma |
| Died | 12 December 2020 (aged 85) Calicut, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Notable works | Thrikkotur Peruma, Raziya Sultana, Katha Pole Jeevitham, Shathru, Srishtavinte Khajana |
| Notable awards |
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U. A. Khader (born November 16, 1935 – died December 12, 2020) was a famous Indian writer. He wrote many books in the Malayalam language. These included novels, short stories, and travel books. His stories have been translated into other languages like English and Hindi. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2009 for his book Thrikkottur Novellakal. He also received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984 for Thrikkottur Peruma.
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Early Life
U. A. Khader was born on November 16, 1935. This was in Bilin, Mon State, near Yangon in Myanmar (which was called Burma back then). His father, Ussangaantakathu Moithootti Haji, came from Quilandy in Kerala, India. His mother, Mamaidi, was from Burma. Sadly, his mother died just three days after he was born. She passed away from smallpox.
When Khader was eight years old, World War II started. His family had to leave Burma because of the war. They moved to Kerala, India, where his father was from. He grew up in Quilandy, learning the ways of the Malayali people. He finished school at Koyilandy High School.
Khader later studied painting at the Madras College of Arts. While there, he met important writers and social leaders. One of them was C. H. Mohammed Koya, who later became a chief minister. Koya helped Khader discover his love for books and writing. He gave Khader a copy of Balyakalasakhi by Vaikom Muhammed Basheer. This was a big moment for Khader.
Career as a Writer
Khader began his writing journey by sending stories to magazines. His first story was printed in a Malayalam weekly called Chandrika in 1953. The story was about a real event where he sold his watch to buy a wedding gift. Khader learned to keep his personal feelings out of his stories. He wanted his writing to speak to everyone, not just about his own sadness.
He became the president of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham. This is a group for artists and writers in Kerala. Over his career, Khader wrote more than 70 books. These included short stories, novels, and travel books. Some of his well-known works are Thrikkottur Peruma and Raziya Sultana. His books were translated into many languages, like English and Hindi.
Khader often wrote about the Northern Malabar area of Kerala. He loved to tell stories about rural life there. His books often included local myths, customs, and rituals. He liked to write about traditional stories instead of modern ones. He believed that modern stories sometimes made readers feel left out. Khader's female characters were often strong and independent. They sometimes even met magical beings like Yakshinis. He also wrote about families moving for work, with women often running the homes.
From 1964 to 1990, Khader worked for the Kerala state government's health department. For some years, he also worked at the Kozhikode Akashvani (Radio) station.
Awards
- 1984: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story – for Thrikkottur Peruma
- 1993: S. K. Pottekkattu Award – for Katha Pole Jeevitham
- 1993: Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (Novel) – for Oru Piti Vattu
- 1999: C. H. Mohammed Koya Award – for Kalimuttam
- 2002: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel – for അഘോരശിവം
- 2009: Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award – for Thrikkottur Peruma
- 2019: Mathrubhumi Literary Award – for his contributions to Malayalam literature
Death
U. A. Khader passed away on December 12, 2020. He was at a hospital in Calicut. He had been sick with breathing problems and was also getting treatment for cancer. In 2019, the Kerala government had decided to help pay for his medical care.
See also
In Spanish: U. A. Khader para niños
