Linguist Vellayani Arjunan dies at 90

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Famous linguist and Padma Shri awardee Vellayani Arjunan died due to age related ailments here on Wednesday. He was 90.
He had been a venerable presence in the literary and academic circles in the state. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2008.
Arjunana had authored forty books in different genres including poetry, short story, essays, literary criticism and research articles.
He had obtained post-graduate degrees in Malayalam, English and Hindi and PG diplomas in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil.
He began his career as a research assistant in the Kerala Lexicon Department. He also served as the director of state Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications.
Arjunan was also the director of the state Institute of Languages and the School of Communication and Information Science at Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam.
Arjunan was born to P Shankara Panicker and P Narayani in 1933. He did his primary schooling at Mudippura Nada Lower Primary School at Vellayani. He completed his higher education at Government Arts College and University College in Thiruvananthapuram.
He is survived by wife Radhamani and children and grandchildren. The funeral was held at his residence.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Vellayani Arjunan. He said that the demise of Arjunan who gave invaluable contributions to language and culture is a huge loss.