Noted writer in both Tamil and Malayalam, Thoppil Mohamed Meeran passed away at his residence in Tirunelveli at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife and two sons
Tirunelveli: Author of Saaivu Naarkkaali (The Reclining Chair), Thoppal Mohamed Meeran, passed away at the age of 74. Meeran breathed his last at his residence at Veerabahu Nagar in Pettai, Tamil Nadu at around 1.30 am on Friday (May 10).
Meeran is survived by his wife Jaleela and two sons Shameem Ahmed and Mirzad Ahmed.
Born in the coastal hamlet of Thengapattinam in Kanniyakumari district on September 26, 1944, Meeran has authored many novels.
His works include Oru Kadalora Gramathin Kathai, Thuraimugam, Koonan Thoppu, Saaivu Naarkkaali and Anju Vannam Theru between 1988 and 2011.
Saaivu Naarkkaali (The Reclining Chair) that was released in 1995 brought him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1997.
He also authored several short stories such as Anbukku Muthumai Illai, Thangarasu, Ananthasayanam Colony, Oru Kutti Theevin Varippadam, Thoppil Mohamed Meeran Kathaigal and Oru Maamaramum Konjam Paravaigalum. The translations too gave him a prominent place in the literary world.
A native speaker of Malayalam and Tamil, Meeran translated the biography of Indian independence activist and Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.
Meeran received eight awards including the Sahitya Akademi Award and Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkiya Perumantram Award in 1992. Meeran belonged to a family that sold dry chillies for a living. But his works that reflected the social reality and conflicts.
His mortal remains will be kept for the public to pay their last respects. The last rites are expected to take place on Friday evening.
Condolences for the writer began pouring from many quarters. Netizens tweeted expressing the loss to the Tamil literary community.
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