Njattyela Sreedharan
Indian lexicographer (1938–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Njattyela Sreedharan[3][4] (Malayalam: ഞാറ്റ്യേല ശ്രീധരന്, IPA: [ɲaːtːjeːlɐ ʃriːd̪ʰɐɾɐn]; 20 December 1938 – 13 August 2025) was an Indian lexicographer[5] from Thalassery[6] in Kerala. He is known for compiling a dictionary connecting four major Dravidian languages Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.[7][8]
Njattyela Sreedharan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 December 1938 Thalassery, Madras Province, British India |
| Died | 13 August 2025 (aged 86) Thalassery, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Lexicographer[1][2] |
| Spouse | Yashoda |
Background
Sreedharan was born in Thalassery, Madras Province, British India on 20 December 1938.[9][10] He died at his residence on 13 August 2025, at the age of 86.[11][12][13]
Selected books
- Malayalam–Tamil Dictionary (2012)[14]
- Chathur Dravida Bhasha Nighandu (Dictionary of Four Dravidian Languages) (2020)[15][16]
- Chathur Dravida Bhasha Padaparichayam (Published by Kerala Bhasha Institute) (2023)[17]
- Ormakalude Thirayattam (Autobiography) (2024)[18]
The Chathur Dravida Bhasha Nighandu was digitized and published as the Samam Four-Language Dictionary in 2024, through a collaboration between the Indic Digital Archive Foundation and the Malayalam Mission’s Karnataka Chapter.[19][20]
In popular culture
The 2021 documentary Dreaming of Words,[21][22][23] directed by Nandan,[24][25][26] celebrates the life and work of Njattyela Sreedharan.[27] Dreaming of Words has received numerous accolades including a National Film Award and was screened at the annual convention of the Modern Language Association[28] and the annual conference of the Linguistic Society of America[29] in January 2022.
Major awards
- Dr. Hermann Gundert Award for the best dictionary (2022) instituted by Dravidian Linguistics Association.[30][31]
- Special Jury Award at the 5th India Reading Olympiad (2023), organised by the Food4Thought Foundation, which was presented during the 13th Hyderabad Literary Festival.[32]