K. A. Beena

K. A. Beena (കെ.എ.ബീന) is an Indian author, journalist, and columnist who writes in Malayalam on a variety of topics, particularly social issues affecting women. Her publications include memoirs, magazine articles, travelogues, children's books, essay collections, short stories, and history books about journalism and media. She is currently the assistant director for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Bureau of Outreach and Communication.[1]

K. A. Beena
Native name
കെ.എ.ബീന
Born (1964-11-11) 11 November 1964
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
OccupationWriter, journalist, columnist
Notable worksBeena Kanda Russia
Website
kabeena.in

Early life and family

She was born in Vazhayila, Trivandrum district of Kerala, the daughter of journalist M. Karunakaran Nair and his wife Ambika. She has a Master's degree in journalism and English literature from the University of Kerala and wrote her thesis about K. Balakrishnan.[2] Her husband, Baiju Chandran, is the deputy director of Doordarshan in New Delhi. They have at least one child, filmmaker Ritwik Baiju.[3]

Career

Beena started writing in her early school days, completing Beena Kanda Russia, a travelogue, at the age of 13. It published for the first time in 1981. The book recounts her experiences of attending the International Children's camp at Artek in the Ukrainian SSR in 1977. In 1987, she became the assistant editor for Kerala Kaumudi women's magazine and moved to the Mathrubhumi Printing And Publishing Company in 1989. In 1991, she joined the Indian Information Service for the Government of India and worked as the news editor of All India Radio and Doordarshan. She also worked in the Press Information Bureau and Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.

Beena is a regular columnist in many Malayalam-language publications, including the Kerala Kaumudi daily Adayalangal, the Mathrubhumi online Akakazcha, the Manorama online Vakkukalkappuram, and the Deshabhimani weekly Vazhivilakku. She has also contributed to Vanitha, Kanyaka, and the Deshabhimani daily Malayalam news. Beena travels to villages around India and writes about the rural settings.[4] Her 2008 travelogue Brahmaputhrayile veedu is of her travel experiences in Northeast India; others include Chuvadukal and Nadi Thinnunna Dweep. Her book on Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, Basheer Enna Anugraham, is a memoir and tribute to the writer and details their unusual friendship.[2] Beena also writes novels for children, including Ammakkuttiyude Lokam and Ammakkuttiyude School. Perumazhayath is a memoir about nostalgia and friendship, and Sheethanidra and Kaumaram Kadannu Varunnathu are both short story collections. Radio Kathayum Kalayum details the history of radio broadcasting in Malayalam[1] and Date line – Charithathe Chirakilettiyavar contains biographies of 17 veteran journalists in Kerala.

As of January 2019, she is the assistant director of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Bureau of Outreach and Communication. She is also a coordinator for the Network of Women in Media's Trivandrum region.[1]

Awards

Selected works
  • 1981: Beena Kanda Russia - travelogue. ISBN 9788124017159
  • 2008: Brahmaputhrayile Veedu - travelogue, ISBN 9789354828874
  • 2008: Radio Kathayum Kalayum - Malayalam radio broadcasting history
  • 2010: Dateline – Charithrathe Chirakilettiyuavar, ISBN 9788122608854
  • 2010: Ammakkuttiyude School - children's literature
  • 2011: Bhootha Kannadi - essay collection, ISBN 9788130012100
  • 2012: Madhyamangalkku Parayanullathu - children's literature
  • 2013: Basheer Enna Anugraham - memoir
  • 2015: Basheerinte Kathukal - memoir
  • 2015: Chuvadukal - travelogue, ISBN 9788124020128
  • 2015: Perumazhayath - memoir
  • 2015: Kadannal - essay collection
  • 2017: Kuttikkalam - memoir, ISBN 9788126475032
  • 2017: Sanitary padinte anthima rahasyam - essay collection, ISBN 9789386637185
  • 2017: Ammakkuttiyude Lokam - children's literature, ISBN 9788126465170[8]
  • 2018: Athirthiyude Athiru - memoir, ISBN 9789352823369
  • 2022: Miliyude Aaakasham - children's literature
  • 2022: Rosum Koottukarum - children's literature, ISBN 9789355495549

References
  1. "Accomplished writer and journalist : K.A. Beena". Brand Kerala Online. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  2. Sudhish, Navamy (5 July 2013). "A torrent of memories". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  3. Nagarajan, Saraswathy (13 November 2013). "Home Alone". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. "ദലിതരും സ്ത്രീകളും ഇപ്പോഴും അടിമകൾ : കെ എ ബീന" [Dalits and women still slaves : KA Bina] (in Malayalam). Manorama Online. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  5. "Activities". University of Kerala Department of Communication and Journalism. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. "Laadli awards presented to mediapersons". The Hindu. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  7. "Media awards". The Hindu. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. "അമ്മക്കുട്ടിയുടെ ലോകം... ഗ്രാമീണ നന്മയുടെ എഴുത്ത്" [Ammakutty's world... the writing of rural goodness]. Malayalam.oneindia.com (in Malayalam). 10 June 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
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