Writer SV Venugopan Nair passes away

Thiruvananthapuram: Noted writer and teacher S V Venugopan Nair passed away here on Tuesday. He was being treated at a private hospital here for age-related ailments. He was 76.Nair, a Kerala Sahitya Akademi awardee, has penned several short stories and his noted collections include ‘Adisheshan’, ‘Garbhasreeman’, ‘Mrithithaalam’, ‘Rekhayillatha Oraal’, ‘Ottappalam’, ‘Ente Paradaivangal’ and ‘Bhoomiputhrante Vazhi’. Besides the Sahitya Akademi award, he has also bagged Edassery award, Padmarajan Puraskaaram, Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Sahitya award and Dr K M George Foundation Research award.Born at Karode in Neyyattinkara on April 18, 1945, Nair completed his studies at Kulathoor high school and University College in Thiruvananthapuram. He had served as a faculty at Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, and had also served in other colleges under the Nair Service Society including at Manjeri, Dhanuvachapuram, Nilamel and Ottapalam. He is survived by wife Valsala and three children. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Nair. He was noted by his simple and local language in his works and was also a noted personality as an orator and teacher, said the chief minister in his message. He found a place in the minds of Keralites through several of his noted story collections, the chief minister observed.