Kunjunni Mash Biography: Kunjunni, also known as Kunjunni Mash (Mash is the Malayalam word for teacher/master), was a renowned Malayalam poet from India. He was considered a poet for children, and his compositions were similarly brief. He always leads a life of humility.
Kunjunni Mash Biography
Early years
On 10 May 1927, Kunjunni was born in the Thrissur village of Valapad to Njayapilly Illathu Neelakantan Moosath and Athiyarathu Narayani Amma. Kunjunni began his professional life as a teacher at the Chelari school. He joined Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama High School in Kozhikode in 1953.
Career
He was a resident of the Ashrama, where he taught, cared for, and interacted with the hostel boys. He retired from teaching in 1982 but continued to reside in the Ashrama, which he found most suitable for his simple life and writings until he moved back to his district for health reasons.
Mash was well-known for writing brief poems that appeared childlike but conveyed a meaningful message. Kunjunni wrote under the pseudonym “Kuttettan” for the Mathrubhumi weekly children’s column. He introduced writing to three or four generations of aspiring authors. In 1987, Kunjunni moved back to his birthplace and became involved in social and cultural activities in the Thrissur region.[2] He appeared in the 1993 film Bhoomi Geetham, directed by Kamal. His autobiography, Enniloode, is renowned for its candour, wit, and straightforwardness. Sippy Pallippuram’s Oridathu Oridathu Oru Kunjunni Mash is a biography of the poet.
Awards
In 1977, Kerala Sahitya Akademi selected Aksharathettu by Kunjunni for their annual award for children’s literature. He was awarded the State Institute of Children’s Literature Award in 1982 and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Poetry Award in 1987. In 2001, he was again honoured by the academy with the Award for Overall Contributions. He received the State Institute of Children’s Literature’s lifetime achievement award in 2002, the same year he received the Vazhakunnuam Award. The following year, he received the V. A. Kesavan Nair Award (2003). Additionally, he received the Tomyas Award.
