Dr. Arun Kumar S Haripad
Dr. Arun Kumar S Haripad (born 30 May 1980), writing under the literary pseudonym Ezhuthalan (Malayalam: എഴുത്താളൻ), is an Indian bilingual poet, lyricist, academician, and humanitarian coordinator based in Haripad, Alappuzha district, Kerala. His poetic output, written across Malayalam and English, emphasizes humanistic ethics, subaltern dignity, environmental consciousness, and democratic values.
| Dr. Arun Kumar S Haripad | |
| എഴുത്താളൻ (Ezhuthalan) | |
| |
| Pen name | Ezhuthalan |
| Born | 30 May 1980 |
| Birthplace | Haripad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater |
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| Vocations | Poet, lyricist, secondary educator, editor, humanitarian activist |
| Public appointment | Faculty in English, Vocational Higher Secondary Education Department, Government of Kerala |
| Cultural offices |
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| Spouse | Lekshmy S |
| Selected distinctions |
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He serves professionally as an English educator within the Department of Vocational Higher Secondary Education under the Government of Kerala. Concurrently, he oversees several cultural and literary institutions in southern Kerala, including the regional chapter of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the quarterly literary journal Darppanam.
Early life and multi-disciplinary education
Arun Kumar was born on 30 May 1980 in the heritage town of Haripad in coastal Alappuzha. Raised in a household dedicated to academic learning and public schooling, he was guided by his father, V. N. Sivasankara Pillai, and his mother, Dr. L. Jayasree, a veteran academic educator.
His scholastic path combined literary criticism, pedagogical methods, and legal studies:
- Humanities & Letters: Completed a Master of Arts (M.A.) in English, subsequently qualifying the State Eligibility Test (SET) for collegiate lecturing.
- Doctoral Research: Awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in English for scholarly contributions to literary aesthetics and cultural narratives.
- Pedagogical Credentials: Concluded professional teacher education at the Teacher Education Centre in Kayamkulam, earning a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.).
- Jurisprudence: Read law at Annamalai University, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree.
Literary and creative career
Verse and social-response literature
Entering Kerala's literary scene in the early 2000s under his pen name Ezhuthalan, Dr. Arun Kumar gained early critical notices with his maiden Malayalam poetry anthology, Sudarshanam.
His later work became known for its direct engagement with humanitarian crises and social justice:
- Novu (നോവ്): Released in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram by Kerala's Minister for General Education, V. Sivankutty, the anthology addresses suffering and collective human empathy. All royalties and publication proceeds were dedicated to the state relief fund assisting displaced families affected by the catastrophic 2024 Wayanad landslides.
- Truth, Goodness and Beauty Behind Love: His primary English anthology, exploring metaphysical romanticism and ethical values, unveiled in Haripad by Kerala's Minister for Agriculture, P. Prasad.
- Atmayanathinte Kavita: A philosophical meditation on existential solitude, which was later adapted and arranged into an audio spoken-word CD.
- Other published volumes include Porali, Good Vision, and his titular collection Ezhuthalan.
Devotional music and lyrical compositions
Parallel to his published verse, Dr. Arun has penned lyrics for devotional music projects set to classical and light Carnatic instrumentation:
- Ambalapuzha Kannan (dedicated to the Krishna temple tradition of Ambalapuzha)
- Mannarisala Stuti Geetangal (invoking sacred grove serpent lore associated with the Mannarasala Temple)
- Nenjile Novu
- Munpe Nadannavar
Civic mobilization and humanitarian work
Operating primarily across the Onattukara and Kuttanad plains—specifically within the Thrippakkudam and Thalavady panchayats—Dr. Arun mobilizes writers and community bodies for rural development:
- Academic Infrastructure: Coordinating community-funded classroom modernizations and learning material drives for underprivileged primary students.
- Youth Wellness & Mindfulness: Organizing free community yoga bootcamps and emotional-health workshops for rural school-going children.
- Disaster Relief Networks: Facilitating emergency supply lines and volunteer networks during seasonal riverine floods across the low-lying Alappuzha basin.
Organizational leadership and editorial roles
- President, Ee Yugam Literary and Cultural Association: Promoting emerging writers in Alappuzha.
- President, IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association), Haripad Chapter: Curating community street theater and folk art performances.
- President, Uvakalasahiti: Organizing youth literary competitions and reading camps.
- Chief Editor, Darppanam Magazine: Guiding a regional cultural journal publishing contemporary Malayalam verse, essays, and artistic critiques.
Literary awards and honors
| Distinction | Conferring Entity / Literary Significance |
|---|---|
| Kerala Kalidasan Award | State-level recognition for metric elegance and contemporary poetic aesthetics |
| O.N.V. Memorial Award | Commemorating humanistic and socially conscious Malayalam lyricism |
| Kunjikuttan Thampuran Smaraka Award | Honoring classical linguistic mastery and verse composition |
| Ambedkar Sahityasree National Award | National citation for literature advocating social equity and subaltern dignity |
| Shreshtabhasha Malayalam Award | Conferred for contributions to modern Malayalam vocabulary and cultural education |
| Words Worth Award | Honoring cross-disciplinary literary scholarship and English compositions |
| Kala Sahiti Award | Cultural recognition for public performance and artistic leadership |
| Manishada Award | Acknowledging anti-war and pacifist themes in regional verse |
| KSTA Literary Honor | Awarded by the Kerala School Teachers Association for pedagogical and creative excellence |
| Kerala Kaumudi Felicitation | State media honor presented by political figures including former Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala |
Bibliography
- Sudarshanam (സുദർശനം) – Malayalam Poetry
- Novu (നോവ്) – Malayalam Poetry
- Truth, Goodness and Beauty Behind Love – English Poetry
- Porali (പോരാളി) – Malayalam Poetry
- Good Vision – Essays and Verse
- Ezhuthalan (എഴുത്താളൻ) – Collected Poems
Personal life
Dr. Arun Kumar S resides in Haripad, Alappuzha. He is married to Lekshmy S. Alongside his administrative teaching responsibilities, he continues to direct literary forums and educational charities throughout coastal Kerala.
Related links
References
- Department of General Education, Government of Kerala: Directory of Vocational Higher Secondary Faculty.
- State Media Reports: Book Launches of Novu and Truth, Goodness and Beauty Behind Love (Thiruvananthapuram & Haripad Bureau Coverage).
- Cultural Affairs Directorate: Register of Ee Yugam and IPTA Regional Branches.
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi / Literary Conclave Proceedings: Recipient Rosters of Regional Awards.