P. Thankappan Nair
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30 April 1933[1]
P. Thankappan Nair | |
|---|---|
| Born | Parameswaren Thankappan Nair 30 April 1933[1] |
| Died | 18 June 2024 (aged 91) |
| Education | University of Calcutta |
| Occupation(s) | Author, historian, researcher |
| Spouse | Sita Devi[2] |
Parameswaran Thankappan Nair (30 April 1933 – 18 June 2024) was an Indian writer, independent researcher, historian and Malayali author based in Kolkata, who wrote extensively on the history of Calcutta in the English language.[3] Fondly referred to as the "Barefoot Historian",[4] he published 61 books, with the latest titled "Gandhiji in Kolkata".[5][6]
Career and research
After passing his matriculation from Alwaye, Kerala, he arrived in Kolkata (the then Calcutta) in September 1955 in the Madras Mail.[6][10] He earned a B.A and LL.B at the University of Calcutta, and had started out as a typist at a salary of Rs 125. As the subject of the city was largely unexplored, he chose to write on the city, and spent the next five decades researching and writing on it as a hobby.[3][11]
As an outsider, his work dealt extensively with perspectives overlooked by institutional, and nationalist historians in India.[12] In so doing he extensively examined British social life in Calcutta, the history of Calcutta High Court, the city's taverns and hotels, and the city's south Indian diaspora.[3]
Nair was the owner of large collection of rare books. It was told that the Oxford Library at the University of Oxford sent him a blank cheque for buying those books on behalf of the library. But he chose to donate it to the Calcutta Town Hall Society.[7][13]
He was honoured by Burdwan University[when?] with a D.Litt. degree.[14]
In 1991 he announced the 300th anniversary of Calcutta city through his research.[15]
Often known as the barefoot historian of Calcutta,[6] or popularly known as Nair Babu,[16] he used his 1964 Remington typewriter and lived at 82C, Kansaripara Road, Bhowanipore, South Kolkata prior to return to Kerala.[3][17]
