Kochi: Malayalam satirical poet Chemmanam Chacko died in Kochi on Tuesday. He was 92.
The college lecturer who painted a sharp critique of the Kerala society in his poems stands tall in the rare satirical tradition in Malayalam poetry. Critics have often compared his achievements to that of the great classical poet, Kunchan Nambiar.
Chacko won an array of awards, including two Kerala Sahitya Academy Awards. The academy picked his 'Rajapatha' for the state award in 1977 and honoured him with a lifetime achievement award in 2006.
Chacko was born in the Mulakkulam village near Vaikom on March 7, 1926 to Sara and Yohannan Kathanar. He went to the Pambakkuda Government Middle School, Piravom Government Middle School, Piravom St Joseph’s School, Aluva U C School and the Thiruvananthapuram University College.
After completing Malayalam BA in 1953, he pursued a Sahitya Visharad degree. He topped the exam at the state level.
He worked as a teacher at the Piravom St Joseph’s School, Palayamcottai St Johns College, Thiruvananthapuram Mar Ivanios College and the Kerala University Malayalam department. He also served as the director of the book publishing division of the Kerala University between 1968 and 1986.
He started writing poetry as early as the 1940s. His first published work was ‘Pravachanam’ in 1946. It was published in the ‘Chakravalam’ magazine. His first published book was an anthology of poems titled ‘Vilambaram’ in 1947.
He made a mark as a satirical poet in 1965 when he published ‘Ulparty Yuddham’. His oeuvre comprises about 50 books in various categories. His poems include Vilambaram, Kanakaksharangal, Nellu, Innu, Puthari, Asthram, Agneyasthram, Dukhathinte Chiri, Avanazhi, Jaithrayathra, Rajapatha, Dahajalam, Bhoomikulukkam, Ambum Villum, Rajavinu Vasthramilla, Alillakkaserakal, Chinthreu, Narmasankadam, Onnu Onnu Randayiram, Ottayalpattalam, Ottayante Choonduviral, Aksharaporattam, Thalelezhuthu and Kanalkattakal.
He has also authored children’s poems such as ‘Chakkaramambazham’ and ‘Nettippattam’. He has written children’s stories including ‘Indian Kazhutha’ and ‘Varghese Aana’.
He has also written satire in prose and several essays.
He has served as an executive committee member of the Kerala Sahitya Academy, the Authors Guild of India, Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad, Malayalam Film Censor Board and the Kendra Sahitya Academy Malayalam Advisory Board.
He received the Kunjan Nambiar Poetry Award in 2012, Mahakavi Ulloor Poetry Award in 2003, Sanjayan Award in 2004, P Memorial Award in 2004, Pandit K P Karuppan Award in 2004, Mooloor Award in 1993, Kuttamath Award in 1992, Sahodaran Ayyappan Award in 1993 and the A D Hari Sharma Award in 1978. In 1995, his ‘Kinjana Varthamanam’ was awarded the Hasya Sahitya Award.
He shifted to Padamugal near Kochi in 2004. He is survived by wife Baby and two daughters, Dr Jaya and Dr Shobha. Dr Cherian Varghese and Dr George Paul are sons-in-law.
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