Ambalapuzha Gopakumar

Thathamathu Nanupilla Gopakumaran Nair (born 27 June 1944), also known as Dr. Ambalapuzha Gopakumar (ഡോ.അമ്പലപ്പുഴ ഗോപകുമാർ) is a Malayalam poet, historian, orator and writer from Kerala, India. He is the recipient of Kerala State Institute of Children's literature Award, 2012. Gopakumar is also the author of 'History of Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple' which describes the origin and history of Amabalapuzha and the famous Sreekrishna Temple. He is widely regarded as an authority on the history of Chemapakassery, the erstwhile name of Ambalapuzha. Dr. Gopakumar was the former director of Vaikom Kshetra Kalapeedom. In August 2016, he was given the 'Janmashtamy' award for literature. He is also the recipient of Amritakeerti Puraskar 2016, in recognition of his contributions to spiritual, philosophical and cultural literature. Ambalapuzha Gopakumar was born to Thathamathu C K Nanupilla and K.M.Rajamma, on 27 June 1944 at Ambalapuzha, Alappuzha in Kerala. He lost his father when he was nine. His childhood days were spent in Ambalapuzha where he attended the public 'Government Model High School, Ambalapuzha'.