Kozhikode: Early modernist Malayalam poet M N Paloor died here early on Tuesday. He was 86.
The native of Paravur in Ernakulam district had settled down in Kozhikode after retirement as an airline operator.
Born as Pazhoor Madhavan Namboodiri in a poor household on June 22, 1932, Paloor could not get formal education even as the boy learned Sanskrit that was customary of Brahmins of his times. Later, he joined Kalamandalam to learn Kathakali under renowned gurus Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon and Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair of the pivotal Kalluvazhi style of the classical dance-drama.
A personal tragedy turned out to be the trigger for Paloor to turn to literature seriously. He lost his 22-year-old sister, and found solace in writing poetry.
In 1959, a young Paloor left Kerala for Bombay where he had got a job with the Indian Airlines. Three years later, his first compilation of poems was released, titled 'Pedithondan' (‘The Fearful’).
After 31 years of service with the national carrier, he retired as a senior operator with its grounding supporting division. Paloor returned to Kerala and settled in Kozhikode.
A winner of the 2009 Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram in memory of iconic poet N Kumaran Asan, Paloor’s 'Kalikalam' had won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1983. His autobiography, 'Kathayillathavante Katha', won the 2013 Central Sahitya Akademi Award.
Paloor’s other major works include 'Theerthayatra', 'Bhamgiyum Abhamgiyum', 'Sangamasangeetam', 'Pachamanga' and 'Sargadhara'.
