Karoor Soman: Biodata, Works, and Awards
Biography and Career Highlights
- Karoor Soman is a renowned Malayalam writer who currently lives in London.
- He hails from Charummood, Mavelikara, in Kerala, India.
- He is a Universal Records Forum (URF) World Record Holder for publishing the most books (34) by a single person in a single day.
- His literary career spans over four and a half decades, and he has published 70 works covering various genres.
- All of his book titles published since 1985 begin with the Malayalam letter ‘Ka’. This is considered a unique and very rare event in Malayalam literary history.
Early Life and Education:
- He began his literary activities during his school days, writing poems for the children’s magazine ‘Balarama’ by Malayalam Manorama.
- His dramas were broadcast on All India Radio stations in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.
- During his high school years, he won first place in an essay competition on “Leprosy and Methods of Prevention” and received the book ‘Prasangha Sopanam’ from Thoppil Bhasi.
- Later, Thoppil Bhasi wrote the foreword for his first Malayalam musical drama from the Gulf, Kadalinakkare Embassy School.
- A drama he wrote and acted in during a school annual function, Iruladanaja Thaazhvara (The Dark Valley), which was critical of the police, led to his arrest, beating, and torture on false charges of Naxalite connection in Mavelikara.
- Poet and scholar K.K. Paniker intervened to secure his release from the police.
- Threatened by the police and his parents to stop writing, he escaped to Ranchi, Bihar.
- His first job was with the daily newspaper Ranchi Express.
- He studied in Kerala, Ranchi, and New Delhi.
Media and Editorial Roles:
- He is the Chief Editor of Lima World Library (an International Online Literary Portal), Karoor Publications, and K.P. E-Paper Publications (distributed via Amazon).
- He founded ‘Pravasi Malayalam,’ the first Malayalam magazine from the United Kingdom, in 2005, with Kakkanadan as the Chief Editor.
- He has served as the Convenor for the Arts and Literature section and Chief Editor of Jwala magazine for UUKMA, the largest organization for expatriate Malayalees in the UK.
- He has also served as the Chairman of the Cultural Division of the World Malayali Council for the Middle East and Africa.
- He worked as a reporter for the London Olympics in 2012 for a month for the daily newspaper Madhyamam.
Family
- Parents: Karoor Samuel and Rachel. Wife: Omana Thiyattukunnel. Children: Rajeev, Simmy, Sibin. Grandchildren: Noah, Rani.
BOOKS
Novel
(1) Kannirpookal, (2) KathanamazhaNananjapol, (3) Kanal, (4) Karoor Kochukunju,(5)
KinavukaludeTheeram, (6) Kanapuranangal, (7) Kathanayakan, (8) Kalpadukal (first malayalam
novel from Europe),(9) Kaumarasandhyakal,(10) Kaval Malaga,(11) Kavalkkarude
Sangeerthanangal, (12) Kalanthrangal, (13) Kalayavanika,(14) Kanmadapookal, (15) Kariyasthan
(Crime novel), (16) Kanniyadalangal (Novelite), (17) Kalvilakk, (18) KanniyasthreeKarmel, (19)
Kilikonjal (Children Novel), (20) Kattadipookal (Children novel) (21) Krishimandri (Childrennovel).
English novels/Stories
(1) Malabar Aflame, (2) Dove and the Devils, (3) Kindled Tales Drama (4) Foot print
Drama
(1) Kadalkkara, (Sangeetha Nadakam 1985) (2) Kadalinakkarae Embasy School, (Sangeetha
Nadakam) (3) First Gulf Malayala Sngeetha Nadakam, (4) Kalapralayam, (5) Kadalolangal
Stories
(1) Kattukozhikal, (2) Kalathinttakannadi, (3) Karinthrivilak, (4) Kattumirghangal (5)Kulirile Thalirukal
Poems
(1) KaruthaPakshikal, (2) Kadalas, (3) Kalimannu,(4) Kannadimalika
Articles
(1) Kathakalurangunna Poonniyabhumi(Gulf),(2) Kalaghadikaram,(3) Kalamudrakal,
(4)Kalam Kavinjozhukunnu, (5) KalathinumChirakukal (Saudiyudemannil), (6) Kadannuvarunnu,(7)
Kalachakram, (8) Kayar Vittakalakal, (9) Kannundayal Pora Kananam
History/Biography
(1)KamanayudaSthreeparvvam, (2) KathakarentteKanalvazhikal (Biography), (3)
KarirumpninteKaruthu (Sardar Vallabai Patel), (4) Kalachakram (Britten)
Travelogue
(1) Kanaka NakshtrangaludeNattil (Austria), (2) Kalam MaikkathaPaithrakaKazchakal (En-
gland),(3) KadalinakkaraIkkarea (Europe), (4) KanninuKulirayi (France), (5) Kazchakalkkappuram
(Itali), (6) Kunjilam Deepukal (Finland),(7) Kannyasthree Kakkakaludae Nadu (Botswana-Africa),
(8) Kattilparakkunna panthukal (Spain), (9) Karppathiyan parvathanirakal (Romaniya), (10) Kalam
chumbicha Macidoniya (Macidoniya) (11) Kaazhchakalakappuram (Italy),
Science/Sports/Tourism
(1) Kanakkayangal (Chandrayan), (2) KanamarayatheKawthukaKazchakal (Mangalyan),(3)
Kalikkalam (Olympics History), (4) Kayikaswapnangalude London Diary(2012), (5) Keralam(Travel
&Tourism) (6) Kalam Marunnu, (7) Kandethalukal
Kerala Travel and Tourism.
Kerala Travel and Tourism
Awards and Honors
He has received about 20 national and international awards, including:
- London Malayali Council Samagra Sahitya Puraskar.
- Universal Records Forum (URF) World Record Holder for publishing the most books in a single day.
- Amazon International Award/Writer recognition.
- Bharathiya Dalit Sahitya Academy Award.
- Parapuram Pravasi Sahitya Award.
- Kallikkad Ramachandran Smaraka Award.
- Gandhi Bhavan Sahitya Award.
- Sahithyposhini Sahithya Award.
- Victor Luise Smaraka Sahitya Award.
- Ludhiyana Malayali Association Drama Award.
- World Malayali Council Sahitya Award.
- American E-Malayali Sahitya Madhyama Puraskar.