Thottam Rajasekharan

Thottam Rajasekharan
Born (1930-09-24) 24 September 1930
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Occupation Writer
Notable awards Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works
1982 Cinema: Mithyayum Sathyavum
[1]
Years active 1954 – present
Website
thottamrajasekharan.com

Personal life

Born in Veluthery family Thottam, Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram on 24 September 1930. Father R. Kumaran Vakil, (Also Known as Kochummini). Mother Velutheriyil M. Gomathy. Educated at Kamaleswaram Primary School, S.M.V High School and University College (Intermediate, B.A Degree and Post Graduate Courses). After obtaining M.A Degree, Worked as Lecturer in Mar Ivanios College. Thiruvananthapuram for two years. Afterwards joined Dinamony a Malayalam Daily published from Kollam and served for one year as a member of the Editorial Board. Later on, selected by PSC as Social Education Officer in Community Development Programme, and joined Government Service in Kazhakuttom NES block after undergoing one year training at Gandhigram in 1955. Consequent on selection by PSC as District Information Officer in the State Public Relations Department entered the post in 1958 in the State Secretariat, where the department was located. In this Department served in different capacities for 27 years, as District Information Officer, Editor, Press Relations Officer, Rural Radio Officer, Deputy Director, Additional Director and as Director of Public Relations for ten years. During his tenure as DPR from 1975 to 1985 he was also in charge of Films and allied matters. He was closely associated with the emergence of Kerala State Film Development Corporation, establishment of Chitranjali studio complex, construction of Public Sector Theatres, conversion of Tagore Theatre into a full fledged cinema theatre, rejuvenation of Film Society Movement, Introduction of Film Awards and Film Subsidy, holding Film Award Nights on a grand scale and started the scheme to give pension to Film Artistes in distress. Besides he also undertook in his personal capacity honorary welfare services benefitting about one thousand inpatients of Nooranad Leprosy Sanatorium and continued the same for more than fifteen years. Construction of a cinema theatre inside the campus, modernizing water supply system, promoting recreational facilities and acting as liaison officer with the concerned Government Departments are certain services rendered during this time. Functioned as part time PRO at Raj Bhavan for five years serving Governors from Sri. N.N Wanchoo to Smt. Jyothi Venkitachellum. Many journalism workshops were organized in different Districts with the active support of Kerala Union of Working Journalists and launched Kerala Press Academy at kakkanad as a fully government aided, unique venture. A scheme to give pension to journalists in distress became operational. Retired as DPR in May 1985. After retirement he was elected as Hon’ Secretary of the Kumaran Asan Smaraka Committee for a period of five years. He introduced many innovative programmes including ‘Udayasthama Kavya Pooja’ in connection with Poet Asan’s Birthday celebrations, Vriksholsavam, Sahithee Sakhyam, publication of many books including an anthology of tributes to Asan paid by many eminent Indian writers. In 1986 September he took charge as Director of Kerala Press Academy. The post graduate Training Course in Journalism and communication organized by the Academy was a novel experiment conducted with the creative support and active participation of Government, Newspaper managements and journalists working at different levels in Media establishments. When he bid farewell to the Institute after 2 ½ years of service more than hundred students who attended two full time batches and two evening batches have come out with post graduate diplomas. During this period he was also actively associated with the Training courses held by Institute of Management in government, Academic Staff Training College at Karyavattom Campus and a few Private institutions. Also served as a member of the Film Certification Board (Film Censor) in 1990 for a term. In the meanwhile destiny pushed him to play a vital role in the struggle organized to liberate Sivagiri Mutt a great spiritual centre for learning and enlightenment founded by great saint and social reformer Sree Narayanaguru, which was illegally and forcibly taken over by the then Government. The battle for liberation was fought by an organization consisting of ardent followers of the Guru, entitled Sri Narayana Dharma samanuya Samithi and he functioned as its Chairman for nine long years from 1997-2006 until the supreme court issued the historic Verdict to restore the Mutt and allied institutions to the Sanyasins.

Major works

References

  1. ↑ Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

  1. ↑ Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works
  2. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/on-the-luring-world-of-cinema/article2816651.ece
  3. ↑ books.google.co.in/books/about/Udʼōgaparvvaṃ.html?id=PcJ0GwAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
  4. ↑ http://www.leadersyellowpages.com/phonenumbers/india/thiruvananthapuram/thottam+rajasekharan/LYP103-1-22787.html
  5. ↑ http://www.sngcollege.org/snms/devotes.php
  6. ↑ http://ibnlive.in.com/news/a-school-with-its-very-own-history-lessons/293330-60-123.html
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