Geetha Hiranyan

Geetha Hiranyan (20 March 1958 – 2 January 2002) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Known for her short stories, compiled in three books, Ottasnappil Othukkanavilla Janmasathyam, Asangaditha and Iniyum Veedatha Hrudayathinte Kadam, she was a recipient of a number of honours including G. Sankara Kurup Janmasathabdhi Kavitha Award and Kunju Pilla Smaraka Award. Geetha Hiranyan, née Geetha Potti, was born on 20 March 1956 at Kottavattom, near Kottarakara in Kollam district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Thottavttath C. Sreedharan Potti and Vasumathy Devi; she was related to the noted writer and social reformer, Lalithambika Antharjanam. After earning master's and MPhil degrees, she started her career as a lecturer at Malabar Christian College, simultaneously continuing her doctoral studies. Later she taught at various government colleges in Malappuram, Kalpetta, Perinthalmanna, Thrissur, Pattambi and Kodungalloor before joining Kerala Sahitya Akademi as the publications officer on deputation. It was at this time, she became ill due to which she could not continue her service. Geetha was married to K. K. Hiranyan, a writer, critic and an academic, and the couple had a daughter, Uma and a son Ananthakrishnan. She died on 2 January 2002, aged 43, at Thrissur and the body was cremated at Ullannoor Mana, her ancestral house.