K. M. George

Karimpumannil Mathai George (1914–2002), popularly known as Dr. K. M. George, was an eminent Malayalam writer and educator. An erudite scholar and literary critic with astute organisational capabilities, he is best known as a pioneer of Comparative Indian Studies and Literatures. He was a recipient of the fourth highest Indian civilian honour, the Padma Shri, the highest literary award of the Government of Kerala, the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram and the third highest Indian civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, besides other honours. K. M. George was born on 20 April 1914 at Edayaranmula, in the present-day Pathanamthitta district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Kurien Mathai and Mariamma. After schooling at Malakkara Primary School, Edayaranmula Marthoma School and St. Thomas School, Kozhenchery, he passed the intermediate course from Madras Christian College (MCC) before graduating in Mathematics from the Union Christian College, Aluva. Starting his career as a lecturer at his alma mater, MCC, he continued his studies and secured a master's degree in Malayalam literature from the University of Madras in 1941. He was a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, and at Chicago and California Universities. He was also a Senior Specialist at the East–West Center, Hawaii, engaged in research on the impact of the West on Indian writing. He was associated with Sahitya Akademi (Indian Academy of Letters) right from its inception and was the Secretary of its Southern Region. He was also the vice president of Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Academy of Letters). George was married to Eliyamma, the marriage taking place in 1944. He died on 19 November 2002, at Thiruvananthapuram. at the age of 88.