Name M. Bhattathiripad Nephews Hari Siblings Premji | Died 2001 Role Writer | |
Occupation Social reformer, writer Awards Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy AwardKerala Sahithya Academy AwardBasheer PuraskaramDeviprasadam Puraskaram Spouse Arya Antharjanam (m. 1948) | ||
Mullamangalath Raman Bhattathiripad (1908–2001), commonly known as M. R. Bhattathiripad or MRB, was a social reformer, cultural leader and a Malayalam writer.
Contents
Biography
He was born in 1908into a Nambudiri family of Kerala with limited resources due to which he got only nominal education. He joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with V. T. Bhattathiripad and his brother Premji. He was also an acive member of Purogamana Sahitya Prasthanam. When widow marriage was considered a taboo in Nambuthiri community, he married one which was the first known widow marriage in nambuthiri community in Kerala. It was his marriage with Uma Antharjanam, younger sister of VT's wife Sreedevi Antharjanam, on 13 September 1934. The ceremony, though boycotted by orthodox Nambudiris, was attended by notable social reformers like Arya Pallam and M. C. Joseph. MRB's younger brother Premji later followed his brother in 1943 by marrying a 27-year old widow named Arya Antharjanam.
When Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi started its flagship publication, Keli in 1963, MRB was the first editor.
He died on 8 October 2001, aged 93. He is survived by his three daughters. His wife predeceased him in 1996. His brother Premji also predeceased him.
Works
MRB wrote 14 books.
Awards and recognitions
He was a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy Award, the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award (1992), the Basheer Puraskaram, and the Deviprasadam Puraskaram.