Dr George Irumbayam

Dr.George Irumbayam :renowned malayalam
writer,researcher,editor,professor and translator.Born at Irumbayam,vaikom kerala on 19 Dec 1938.Eldest son of Poovathunkal Varkey and Annama.Has 2 brothers Joseph and Mathew ; 1 sister:chinnamma.Had education in the schools at Karikode,Pothy,Thalayolaparambu and colleges at palai,cochin & Trivandrum.Got first rank in the kerala university for B.A. [1961]and M.A[1963] Malayalam, securing TK Joseph gold medal and Dr Godavarma prize for the ranks respectively:took ph.d. from the university of calicut[1981]thesis :19th century malayalam novel.Worked as lecturer in Malayalam in different private and govt colleges of kerala during 1963 to 1978 and as professor of Malayalam from 1978 to 1994 mainly at govt arts & science college calicut,govt brennen college tellicherry & maharajas college ernakulam from where he retired as head of malayalam department on 31.3.1994. Worked on deputation in the u.p.s.c,New Delhi as research officer in 1970 & in the calicut university as research fellow during 1977 to 1980 .During this research he found out unknown malayalam books of 19th & early 20th century by which the history of printing in malayalam was substantially modified as he unearthed the first malayalam book printed in kerala"cherupaithangalku upakaarartham enklishil ninnu paribhashappeduthiya kathakal "1824.Till that time the first one was Baily’s bible - translation of 1829.Parishkara vijayam [1906] by Variath Chori Peter is the first latin catholic novel in malayalam.A copy of this book was found out by him & a study of this was published in the sunday edition of malayala manorama in 2006.The centenary publication of this novel was edited with a study & introduced by him. Till that time this novel was unknown to malayalis.
He wrote assays ,poems & critical studies from 1960s onwards.First book:kavithayude bhavi :a collection of literary essays was published in 1968.His 40th book, Bhasha sahityam samskaram another collection of essays & studies was published in 2010 by kerala sahitya academy trichur. In between, 3 collections of poems,3 studies on Malayalam novel,10 essay-collections,2 travalogues,3 translations from English & 13 edited works were published.6 lakh copies of his translation of gandhiji’s autobiography were sold out. Many English poems & Sherlock Holmes stories were translated by him into Malayalam. Worked as chief editor of sahitya niroopananam[literary criticism] a reputed quarterly in malayalam & as one of the editors of kolaya bymonthly & samskara keralam quarterly. Worked for a long time as president of malayala samrakshana vaedi , an organization for the protection & propagation of Malayalam language & as the president of calicut book club a literary organization in calicut.
Travel:uk,france,germany,spain,italy,portugal & holy land. Got 3 awards for literary contributions.some of his books are text\reference books in different universities. worked as a member of the cultural publications committee of govt of kerala & textbook committee & academic council of calicut university.
Married to prof teresa valavi & have 2 sons jaison & jesus ,one daughter sindhu.
Source:1.Wikipedia Malayalam
2. Sahityakara directory of kerala sahitya academy trichur
3. Who is who of Indian Writers- Sahitya Akademy New Delhi
4. Ernakulam district directory of sargadooth publications ,press club road,kochi - 11 ,email:infoekm@gmail.com