George Onakkoor (born 16 November 1941, Travancore) is an Indian novelist who writes in Malayalam language. He was a Malayalam professor for over three decades at Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, Kerala. Onakkoor is a novelist, short-storywriter, critic, script and travel writer. He was the former Director of Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature, State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications and Kerala State Literacy Council. He also served as the first Non-official Chairman of the State Resource Centre. The awards he received include The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for his service as Chief Editor of the Children's Encyclopaedia; the award for the best research thesis submitted in Indian Universities in the field of Art and Literature, the Kesava Dev Centenary Memorial Award, Thakazhi Sahithya Award, C. Achutha Menon Award, Mother Teresa Award, KCBC Award, Kerala Shree Award, Kesava Dev Award etc. He is also the recipient of the prestigious SBT 'Suvarna Mudra'. He has been honoured by the Government of Kerala for his contributions to Language and Literature. The Award for the outstanding Indian writer given by the Euro-American Expatriate Literary Association was yet another laurels he received. The Kerala Sahithya Academy Award has been conferred on Dr. George Onakkoor twice for his novel (Illam in 1980) and travelogue (Adarunna Akaasham in 2005). His writings include Akale Akasham, Uzhavuchalukal, Ulkkadal, Illam, Kalthamara, Kamana, Ezhuthapurangal, Samathalangalkkappuram, Hridayathiloru Vaal, Parvathangalile Kaattu, Pranaya Thazhavarayile Devadaru, Yordan Ozhukunnathu Evidekku (Novels), Orchid, Kamana, The Sword in the Soul, The Wind in the Mountains, The Sea Within (Translations of his five novels), and Ivar Enikku Arayirunnu? (Memoirs).

Personal details

Education

B.A. in Economics, University of Kerala, 1962 (Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha) M.A. in Malayalam Language & Literature, University of Kerala, 1964 (St.Berchmans College, Changanasserry) M.Phil. in Malayalam, University of Kerala, 1978 (Kerala University Centre) Ph.D. from University of Kerala, 1983 Subject: 'The Concept of Hero in Malayalam Novel'

Student career

Chairman, Literary Association, Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha: 1961 & 1962 Magazine Editor, St. Berchmans College, Changanacherry: 1963 Arts Club Secretary, St. Berchmans College, Changanacherry: 1964 First Prize, Inter-Collegiate Debating Competition for Godavarma Trophy: 1963 First Prize, Inter-Collegiate Debating Competitions for Sree Narayana Trophy: 1963 & 1964

Publications, Literary

Literary Critic and Novelist. Author of fifty-two books.

Publications, Academic

Cinema

•Contributed, story, screenplay and dialogue for nine feature films in Malayalam: • Contributed script for twelve documentary films. • The film Oolkatal won a number of awards in 1979. • The film Yamanam won the Indira Gandhi Award for the best thematic content.

Radio and television

Awards

Editing and Publishing Experience

Administrative Experience

Positions in Academic, Cultural Bodies

Teaching experience

Research Experience

Other activities

Ulkkadal

In this novel, Rahulan, the protagonist, is a romantic and poet. The novel unveils as he reaches the city from his village and joins college for his PG. The loner Rahulan becomes friends with Davis and Jayasahankar. As the friendship grows, Rahulan also gets close with Reena, Davis's sister. Romance unfolds and it was only natural that Reena, the budding painter and Rahulan the poet were attracted to each other. But both brother – who had also found love in Susanna – and sister are wary about the profound presence of an orthodox father, James who will never approve his children finding soulmates outside their religion. Remember the Novel is set in 1970s Kerala where religion and caste boundaries were sacrosanct. The sudden twist in the story comes as fate becomes villain and Davis dies in a Motorbike accident leaving his sweetheart, Susanna astray. Rahulan gets a job as college lecturer and his heart still longs for Reena. James who could not bear the death of his only son turns a heart patient and Rahulan is forced to leave behind his unfulfilled love. Later Rahulan is nursing his broken heart and living a life in despair. Enter Meera, the student who falls in love with her lecturer. She uses her cunningness and outspoken nature to get him close and in very less time their romance becomes the talk of the town. But Rahulan meets Susanna again, but this time as Prof Paul's daughter-in-law. Rahulan learns of Susanna's brother's wedding plans with none other than Reena. Rahulan gets engaged to Meera. There is little he could do as he lets himself to be a puppet in fate's hands. As he reaches home form his engagement he is surprised to see Reena who has come to him leaving behind her home. Rahulan is caught between his love for Reena and engagement to Meera. The Novel reaches climax as Meera's father encounters Rahulan and Reena together, leaves the scene calling off the engagement. Rahulan wastes no time and welcomes Reena into his life. The novel was adapted into a movie with the same name and won accolades as the first ever movie in India fully based out of college campus. Ulkadal was the trend setter for a series of campus movies, a genre successfully explored by many film makers later in Indian cinema.