Wikipedia

P. Thankappan Nair

Parameswaran Thankappan Nair (30 April 1933 – 18 June 2024) was an Indian writer, independent researcher, historian and Malayali author based in Kolkata, who wrote extensively on the history of Calcutta in the English language.[3] Fondly referred to as the "Barefoot Historian",[4] he published 61 books, with the latest titled "Gandhiji in Kolkata".[5][6]

P. Thankappan Nair
Born
Parameswaren Thankappan Nair

(1933-04-30)30 April 1933[1]
Kalady, Kingdom of Cochin, India
Died18 June 2024(2024-06-18) (aged 91)
EducationUniversity of Calcutta
Occupation(s)Author, historian, researcher
SpouseSita Devi[2]

Personal life

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P. T. Nair was born at Manjapra near Kalady, in the Changanattuveettil family. As of 2018, he relocated to Chendamangalam, a small town in Ernakulam district of Kerala, following his family's concerns about him.[7][8]

Nair died on 18 June 2024, at the age of 91.[9]

Career and research

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After passing his matriculation from Alwaye, Kerala, he arrived in Kolkata (the then Calcutta) in September 1955 in the Madras Mail.[6][10] He earned a B.A and LL.B at the University of Calcutta, and had started out as a typist at a salary of Rs 125. As the subject of the city was largely unexplored, he chose to write on the city, and spent the next five decades researching and writing on it as a hobby.[3][11]

As an outsider, his work dealt extensively with perspectives overlooked by institutional, and nationalist historians in India.[12] In so doing he extensively examined British social life in Calcutta, the history of Calcutta High Court, the city's taverns and hotels, and the city's south Indian diaspora.[3]

Nair was the owner of large collection of rare books. It was told that the Oxford Library at the University of Oxford sent him a blank cheque for buying those books on behalf of the library. But he chose to donate it to the Calcutta Town Hall Society.[7][13]

He was honoured by Burdwan University[when?] with a D.Litt. degree.[14]

In 1991 he announced the 300th anniversary of Calcutta city through his research.[15]

Often known as the barefoot historian of Calcutta,[6] or popularly known as Nair Babu,[16] he used his 1964 Remington typewriter and lived at 82C, Kansari Road, Bhabanipur, South Kolkata prior to return to Kerala.[3][17]

Awards

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Selected books

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  • First Circulating and College Libraries of Calcutta (2012)
  • Kalakātā āche kalakātātei (in Bengali) (2009)
  • Origin of the Kolkata Police (2007)[18]
  • B.S. Kesavan: First National Librarian of India (2005)
  • South Indians in Kolkata: History of Kannadigas, Konkanis, Malayalees, Tamilians, Telugus, South Indian Dishes and Tippoo Sultan's Heirs in Calcutta (2004)[19]
  • John Alexander Chapman: Selections from the Works of a Lover of India (2004)
  • Echoes from Belvedere: Home of National Library, Kolkata (2004)[20]
  • Hicky and his Gazette (2001)
  • The Mango in Indian Life and Culture (1995)
  • Calcutta Tercentenary Bibliography Volumes 1 & 2 (1993)
  • British Beginnings in Bengal, 1600-1660 (1991)
  • James Prinsep: Life and Work - Volume 1 (1991)
  • Job Charnock: The Founder of Calcutta: an Anthology (1990)
  • Calcutta Bevy: A Collection of Rare Poems (1989)
  • Calcutta Municipal Corporation at a Glance (1989)
  • Indian National Songs and Symbols (1987)[21]
  • A History of Calcutta's Streets (1987)[22]
  • A History of the Calcutta Press, the Beginnings (1987)
  • Rainey's a Historical and Topographical Sketch of Calcutta (edited work of H. James Rainey) (1986)
  • Calcutta in the Seventeenth Century (1986)[23]
  • Calcutta: Origin of the Name (1985)[18]
  • Bruton's Visit to Lord Jagannatha 350 years ago (edited work of William Bruton) (1985)
  • Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh (1985)[24]
  • Calcutta in the 18th Century (1984)
  • British Social Life in Ancient Calcutta: 1750 to 1850 (1983)
  • Marriage and Dowry in India (1978)[25]
  • The Peacock: The National Bird of India (1977)[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Recording angel of the city - P.T. Nair completes 50 years in calcutta". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  2. ^ "PT Nair, Kolkata's famed chronicler". Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "This Calcutta's storyteller ..." The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  4. ^ "The 'barefoot historian' of Calcutta from Kerala". The Indian Express. 9 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. ^ Elliot, Michele (16 November 2009). "thinking and making : kolkata: P. Thankappan Nair". Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Das, Soumitra (22 September 2005). "Recording angel of the city - P.T. Nair completes 50 years in calcutta". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India: telegraphindia.com, 22 September 2005. Archived from the original on 11 May 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  7. ^ a b "What makes Kolkata a great city in the words of its prolific chronicler". Hindustan Times. 25 November 2018. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  8. ^ জহর সরকার. "খালি পায়ের ইতিহাসবিদ". Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Noted Kolkata chronicler P. Thankappan Nair passes away at 91". Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  10. ^ SNS (26 November 2018). "Adieu P Thankappan Nair! The Kolkata chronicler calls it a day". The Statesman. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Kolkata's barefoot historian P.T. Nair behind the lens". Get Bengal. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  12. ^ দত্তগুপ্ত, সুমি (26 October 2021). "৮২, সি কাঁসারী পাড়া রোড : পাদপ্রদীপের আলোয় এক কলকাতাপ্রেমিকের ঠিকানা". Nagorik.net. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  13. ^ "নায়ারের ৭০০ বই কবে নেবে পুরসভা?". Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Calcutta in the 19th Century: Company's Days, P. Thankappan Nair, Firma KLM Private Ltd". www.bagchee.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Noted historian P. Thankappan Nair passes away". English.Mathrubhumi. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  16. ^ "When Nair babu called it a day". The Indian Express. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Finding P.T. Nair among his old books in Kolkata - Civil Society Magazine". www-civilsocietyonline-com.translate.goog. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  18. ^ a b Nair, P. Thankappan (1985). Calcutta: Origin of the Name. Subarnarekha. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  19. ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (2004). South Indians in Kolkata: History of Kannadigas, Konkanis, Malayalees, Tamilians, Telugus, South Indian Dishes, and Tippoo Sultan's Heirs in Calcutta. Punthi Pustak. ISBN 978-81-86791-50-9. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  20. ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (2004). Echoes from Belvedere: Home of National Library, Kolkata. Associated Book Agency. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  21. ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (1987). Indian National Songs and Symbols. South Asia Books. ISBN 978-0-8364-2128-6. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  22. ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (1987). A History of Calcutta's Streets. Firma KLM.
  23. ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (1986). Calcutta in the 17th Century. Firma KLM. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  24. ^ Nair, P. Thankappan (1985). Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Spectrum Publications. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Marriage and dowry in India / P. T. Nair - Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  26. ^ "P Thankappan Nair - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
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