DR. V.S SHARMA

Dr. V. Subrahmanya Sharma is an eminent Malayalam litterateur and connoisseur of fine arts and an epitome of Kerala culture. Suave and soft in speech, gentle in manner, Dr. Sharma has had a quite and dignified career in the Groves of Academe. Malayalam literature was his subject of specialisation, and he brought to bear on it his aesthetic sensibility. His literary criticism, which constitutes the bulk of his writings, is thus influenced by his sense of the beautiful and the good. In his writings, and especially in his numerous forewords (Avataarika) to the works of others, one finds a sense of sobriety, balance and proportion, an implied recognition of the labours put in, and a proper evaluation of the merits.

In pursuit of a teaching-cum-research career, Dr. Sharma was associated with the Department of Malayalam, Kerala University for almost three decades. During this period, he guided atleast 40 research students, published more than 100 research papers and 90 books. In addition to this, he has been active in giving lectures and speeches on subjects of literary, religious, philosophical and cultural interest. Among his works, the noted ones are Kunchan Nambiar and his works (1978), Balarama Bharatam – Saraswati (1981), Swati Titrunal’s Life and Kritis (1985), The Royal Family of Travancore (1992), Mookapanchasati (2005) and Sri Sankara, the Poet (2005). ‘Kunchan Nambair and his works’ was Dr. Sharma’s doctoral thesis for his Ph.D. ‘Balaramabharatham – Saraswati’, a commentary on the Sanskrit text of Natya Sastra by Karthika Tirunal Maharaja, has fetched him his D.Litt from Kerala University.

During his very successful and remarkable career, Dr. Sharma held various prestigious positions like Dean of Fine Arts, M. G. University (1992-96), Chairman, Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy (1993-96), President, Kunjan Nambiar Memorial, Killikurisimangalam (1994-96), President, Margi, Trivandrum (1995-97), Hon’ble Director and Vice-President, Ulloor Memorial, Trivandrum (1990-2000), Chief editor, Sannidhanam magazine of Travancore Devaswom Board, Honorary Director, Centre for performing and Virtual Arts, University of Kerala, Dean, Faculty of fine arts, University of Kerala (upto Sept. 2017). He also served as Member, Senate and Academic Council, M.G. University ( 1992-2000), Member, BSRB, Trivandrum (1998 – 2000), Member, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library, Kolkata, Member, Senate and Academic council, Kerala University ( 2017).

For the valuable contributions to Malayalam language and literature, Dr. Sharma was honored with various titles like Sahityaratnam (2007), Sahitya Kala Nidhi (2008), Vachaspati Puraskaram (2008), Vijayadasami Puraskaram (2001 & 2012), Mukunda Raja Puraskaram ( 2013), MKK Nair Puraskaram, Aksharaloka Puraskaram from Kanyakumari Malayali Samajam, Samkalika Sangeetha Puraskaram, Calicut (2016). He received National Akashvani award for scripting best musical feature ‘Rituvandanam’ in 1984. Dr. Sharma is a recipient of Senior Fellowship of MHRD, Government of India (1995 -97) and Department of Culture, Government of India (2009 – 2011). In 2019, he was bestowed upon the Swami Nirmalananda Award as a recognition towards his untiring efforts to promote the Ramakrishna Movement in Kerala.

As a scholar and guide, Dr. Sharma’s sincerity, determination and commitment earned him admiration of the scholarly world and gratitude of students which was reflected in the festschrift ‘Devayanam’, brought out on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday in 1996. Dr. Sharma continues to share his thoughts and knowledge through journals. He edits ‘Amba Prasadam’, a monthly journal of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust, Trivandrum. He has started dictating his memoirs which are being published in ‘Shivadam’, a monthly from Tripunithura under the title ‘Devayaanam’ (The pathway to God). His meaningful life is totally dedicated to literature (Sahitya), art (Kala), social service (seva) and devotion to God (bhakti).