C. R. Rajagopalan

C. R. Rajagopalan (c. 1957 – 31 January 2022) was an Indian writer, teacher and environmental activist from Kerala. Rajagopalan worked for the monitoring and preservation of folklore and tribal culture.[1] He has written several books on heritage and folklore studies. He received awards from Kerala Folklore Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

C. R. Rajagopalan
Bornc. 1957
Perumpullissery, Thrissur District, Kerala, India
Died (aged 64)
Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation(s)folklore researcher, writer
SpouseSheetal V. S.
Parent(s)Rama Panicker
Narayani Amma
AwardsKerala Folklore Academy Award
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award

Biography

Rajagopalan was born to Rama Panicker and Narayani Amma in Perumpullissery in Thrissur District of Kerala.[2] He studied at C. N. N. High School, Thrissur Government College and Sri Kerala Varma College.[2] He did his PhD in theatrical aspects of masks used in Theyyam, Kummatti, Thirapputnam, Krishnanattam and their relevance in modern theatre practices, from the Calicut University. He served as an associate professor at Kerala Varma College, Thrissur and Dean at the University of Kerala.[3] He has received the Junior Fellowship from the Union Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and did Project on the Ethnic Music and UGC's Major Project on National Aesthetics of Folk Theater.[2] Rajagopalan has also served as the Director of the Nattarivu Padana Kendram, a center for folklore studies in Thrissur,[4] and director of the International Centre for Kerala Studies (ICKS) of Kerala University Kariavattom campus.[5]

He authored several books on folklore, directed albums of folk songs and documentaries on folklore and has presented papers in Greece, China, Poland, Italy, England, Switzerland, Rome, Geneva and Oxford.[2] He has also been the General Editor of DC Books' Nattarivukal, a series of 20 books on Folk knowledge, and the editor of Krishi Geetha.[2] He attended the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization's Heritage Knowledge Meeting.[2] He was a regular contributor to periodicals on folklore.[6]

Rajagopalan was actively involved in various movements against environmental pollution and was a serious supporter of environmental protection, alternative politics and lifestyle.[7] His support was instrumental in the publication of the Malayalam translation of the book One Straw Revolution by the Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka.[7]

Personal life and death

He was married to Sheetal V. S.[4] He died from COVID-19 on 31 January 2022, aged 64. In a condolence note, Kerala state Higher Education and Social Justice Minister R. Bindu said that the late Rajagopalan was synonymous with folklore studies.[8]

Works

His selected books on heritage and folklore studies include Ellam Kathiyeriyukayaanu, Alayunnavar, Mudiyettu, Nadodi Nattarang, Folklore Sidhanthangal, Kaavettam, Nadan Kalaroopangal, Karuthanikalude Koyth, Gothra Kalavadivukal, Desheeya Saundaryabodham, Thanneerppanthal, Njattuvelakk Pottukuthenda, Krishi Geethayum Bhakshya Surakshayum, Puzhayude Nattarivukal, Annavum Samskaravum, Varikkaplavinuvendi Oru Vadakkanpaattu, AAttakkolangal, Keraleeya Ramga Kala Charithram, Mannu, Lavanyam, Prathiridham, Naattunaav Mozhi, Malayalathinte Kathoram, Kannadi Nokkumpol, Diasphora, Erumadangal and Nattariv, 2000 years of Malayali Heritage.[9]

As editor

Out of the 20 books in the DC Books' Nattarivukal series, he edited the books Kaattarivukal (book on forest knowledge), Naattu Bhakshanam (book on local foods) Naattu Vaidyam (book on traditional medicine), Naattu Sangeetham (book on traditional music), Sasyangalude Nattariv (Information on local plant species), Kadalarivukal (book on sea informations), Krish Nattarivukal (book on traditional farming knowledge), Nadodi Kaivela (book on folk hand works), Pookkalum Pakshikalum (book on flowers and birds), Janthukkalum Nattarivukalum (book on local animals), Neerarivukal (book on knowledge of water) and Puzhayude Naattarivukal (book on local knowledge about rivers).[2]

He also edited the books Summer Rain, Harvesting the indigenous knowledge of Kerala, Pillerthalam, Naattarivinte Ninav, Uppum Chorum Naattucharithram, Piravi and Vayalkkalakal.[2]

Awards and honors

References
  1. "ഡോ.സി.ആര്‍. രാജഗോപാലന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു". Twentyfournews.com. 31 January 2022.
  2. "പ്രശസ്ത ഫോക്ക് ലോറിസ്റ്റ് സി.ആർ.രാജഗോപാലൻ അന്തരിച്ചു". Kairali News | Kairali News Live. 31 January 2022.
  3. "Folklore researcher C.R. Rajagopalan no more". The Hindu. 31 January 2022.
  4. ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം (31 January 2022). "അധ്യാപകനും എഴുത്തുകാരനുമായ ഡോ.സി.ആർ രാജഗോപാലൻ അന്തരിച്ചു | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam).
  5. "Tunes of tradition". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  6. "ഡോ. സി. ആര്‍. രാജഗോപാലന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു". DoolNews.
  7. Feb 1, T. Ramavarman /. "rajagopalan: Folklore Scholar Rajagopalan Dies | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  8. "ഡോ സി ആര്‍ രാജഗോപാല്‍ നാട്ടറിവു പഠനത്തിന്റെ പര്യായം: മന്ത്രി ഡോ. ആര്‍ ബിന്ദു". Kairali News | Kairali News Live. 31 January 2022.
  9. "ഡോ. സി.ആർ. രാജഗോപാലൻ അന്തരിച്ചു". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam).
  10. Jan 2, TNN /. "Int'l Folklore Film Festival Begins | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
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