Pala Narayanan Nair

Mahakavi Pala Narayanan Nair (Malayalam: പാലാ നാരായണന്‍ നായര്‍) (11 December 1911 - 11 June 2008) was an Indian poet. His most celebrated work 'Keralam Valarunnu', penned in 1953 in ten volumes, absorbs the cultural vibrancy, spirit and hope of the masses who were then on the threshold of imbibing the concept of a unified state.

The masterpiece earned him the Mahakavi title.^{[citation needed]} He penned more than 5,000 poems, noted for their mellifluous flow and richness of the language, which have been compiled in about 45 collections.

Pala Narayanan Nair was born to Keezhpallil Sankaran Nair-Parvathy Amma couple in Pala on December 11, 1911.

He had his schooling at VM School and St. Thomas School in Pala. Mr. Nair had joined military service, later, and participated in World War II. A teacher by profession, Mr. Nair had published his first poetry collection `Pookkal’ in 1935. He joined Travancore University Publication Department as a Pundit and had passed M.A. (Malayalam) with first rank in 1956. Mr. Nair had worked as a Malayalam professor at Alphonsa College, Pala. He was the first secretary of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the first Principal of NSS College, Kottiyam, in Kollam district.

Among his numerous poems, 'Amritakala' was a masterpiece. and "Keralam Valarunnu" was another outstanding poem.The laurels he received included Vallathol Puraskar (1991), Fokana Kerala Ganam Award (1992), Ulloor Award (1999), Ezhuthachchan puraskar (2000) and Mathrubhoomi Puraskar (2002).

Mr. Nair was also the recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, first Puthezhan Award, Asan Award, Mooloor Award, Vallathol Award and Ezhuthachan Award. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi had honoured him with fellowship in 2006.Poet and Gandhian, Pala Narayan Nair, who envisioned a unified Kerala in his 1948 poem Keralam Valarunnu is distressed by the increase in suicide rates in Kerala. He is also concerned by the rise of sectarianism and extremism in the state. Lack of direction among the youth and wasteful expenditure by households are the reasons cited by the poet for the social evils. Diversion of agricultural land for other purposes will lead to the destruction of the Malayalee identity, says the poet. Jinoop J Nair has directed a documentary about the life of Pala ("Pala kavithakalude Palazhy"). Pala's spirituality is "above the limits set by religions".

‘Amruthakala’, an anthology of poems, is his masterpiece. He has authored as many as 43 literary works that include, Keralam Valarunnu, Shanthi-vaikhari, Kasturba, Aalippazhom and Anthyapuja.

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Name	Nair, Pala Narayanan
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Date of death	11 June 2008
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