Mangalat Govindan (1920-2004)

Profile

Born on 21st June 1920, he was the second son of Mangalat Chanthu and Kunhipurayil Madhavi. Renowned scholar of French language and a reputed translator from French to Malayalam, he had his primary education in sanskrit and Malayalam from a local teacher. Later on took up his education in french ruled Mahe at Ecole Centrale et Course Complimentaire and at College Calve, Pondicherry. Had his advanced diploma in French language from France.

Immediately after obtaining his degree of Baccalauriat he joined his service as a teacher (Institutor) at College Moderene at Karaikal, and later taught at Calve College, Pondicherry. He became the Sous Directeur and later Directeur of Ecole Centale et Cours Complimaetaire,Mahe. It was during his tenure as Directeur, the first rank in Brevet examination conducted in Pondicherry was obtained by one of his students of Mahe.

After leaving the Government service, he taught French at Sree Mahavira College, Moodabidri, Karnataka state and at the Technical Training Institute of Salem Steel Plant, Mohan Nagar, Salem, TamilNadu as Lecturer and Head of the Department of Foreign Languages respectively.

A staunch nationalist by nature suffered hardships at the hands of pro-French goondas for supporting the freedom movement in Mahe.

In the year 1953, he married Manjakandy Kamala of Talap, Kannur.

He was an activist of literary movements like 'sahitya samajams'in Mahe and nearby areas like Azhiyur of Kerala where discussions and debates used to take place on malayalam literature in 1930s and 1940s.

A scholar of much repute in Malayalam, French, English and Sanskrit. His contributions to malayalam literature include translations of french classics by Racine,Moliere,Jean Paul Satre and La Fontaine,'Andromaque'a classical tragedy by Racine, 'Les Mains sales'(Azhukku puranda kaikal) a play by Sartre.

'French Sahithya Charithram' a historical perspective of French literature in Malayalam, published by Kerala Sahithya Akademy and 'Kurukkanaum Pratimayum', a retold version of fables of La Fontaine in Malayalam are some of his contributions to the malayalam literature.

He has received highest civilian honour MALAYALA RATHNA for contributions to Malayalam language and Literature given by Government of Pondicherry.