Mathew M. Kuzhiveli
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Travancore (1905–1947)
India (1947–1974)Mathew M. Kuzhiveli | |
|---|---|
 commemorative postage stamp released in honor of Mathew M. Kuzhiveli | |
| Born | April 20, 1905 |
| Died | October 27, 1974 (aged 69) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Occupation | children's writer and publisher |
| Citizenship | Travancore (1905–1947) India (1947–1974) |
| Notable works | Vijnjanam (first Malayalam encyclopedia) |
| Notable awards |
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Mathew M. Kuzhiveli is an Indian teacher, educationalist, publisher, children's writer, and the first encyclopedia author in Malayalam. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship and the Padma Shri (posthumously). In 2019, India Post has honored him by releasing a commemorative postage stamp.
Personal life
Mathew M. Kuzhiveli was born on April 20, 1905, at Pala in present-day Kottayam district of Kerala.[1] He was born in Kuzhiveli family, which was one of the founding families of the Pala Lalam Old Church, to Mathai Kuzhiveli and Maria.[2] He studied at Pala St. Thomas School and Changanassery S.B. College.[2] He later completed an L.T. Degree from the Government Training College, Thiruvanthapuram.[3] He was also studied at University of Madras.[4]
After studies, Kuzhiveli became a teacher at Pala St. Thomas High School and later, he became the headmaster of St. Thomas Training School there.[2] At that time, he also published a magazine called School Master from Pala.[2]
Later, when the Travancore University (now Kerala University) was established, Mathew M. Kuzhiveli became the head of the Publications Department there.[2] There was even an attempt to take disciplinary action against him for being willing to publish a language encyclopedia on his own without asking permission from the authorities while he was working at the university.[2]
Kuzhiveli held several important positions including Deputy Director of Kerala University Publications (1942–48), the first Text Books Officer of the Travancore–Cochin state (1950–1952), Extension Education Officer of Kerala University (1957–1959), Member of Text Book Committee formed by Kerala Government, Senator of Kerala University and Convenor of different Committees on Education.[4][5] He retired from service in 1962 as the Director of Publications Department, Kerala University.[5]
Kuzhiveli died on October 27, 1974.[1]
Kuzhiveli was married to Annamma of Angamaly Parakkal family.[2] They had four boys and five girls.[2] He gave the name Balan, the name of one of his sons, to his children's literature publishing venture.[2]
