Njattyela Sreedharan
Njattyela Sreedharan | |
|---|---|
 His movie poster with him. | |
| Born | 20 December 1938 Thalassery, Madras Province, British India |
| Died | 14 August 2025 (aged 86) Thalassery, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Lexicographer[1][2] |
| Spouse | Yashoda |
Njattyela Sreedharan[3][4] (Malayalam: ഞാറ്റ്യേല ശ്രീധരന്; 20 December 1938 – 14 August 2025) was an Indian lexicographer[5] from Thalassery[6] in Kerala. He is known for compiling a dictionary connecting four major Dravidian languages Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.[7][8]
Background
Sreedharan was born in Thalassery, Madras Province, British India on 20 December 1938.[9][10] He died at his residence on 14 August 2025, at the age of 86.[11][12][13]
Selected books
- Malayalam-Tamil Dictionary (2012)[14]
- Chathur Dravida Bhasha Nighandu (Dictionary of Four Dravidian Languages) (2020)[15][16]
- Chathur Dravida Bhasha Padaparichayam (Published by Kerala Bhasha Institute) (2023)[17]
- Ormakalude Thirayattam (Autobiography) (2024)[18]
In popular culture
The 2021 documentary Dreaming of Words,[19][20][21] directed by Nandan,[22][23][24] celebrates the life and work of Njattyela Sreedharan.[25] Dreaming of Words has received numerous accolades including a National Film Award and was screened at the annual convention of the Modern Language Association[26] and the annual conference of the Linguistic Society of America[27] in January 2022.
Major awards
- Dr. Hermann Gundert Award for the best dictionary (2022) instituted by Dravidian Linguistics Association.[28][29]
- Special Jury Award at the 5th India Reading Olympiad (2023), organised by the Food4Thought Foundation, which was presented during the 13th Hyderabad Literary Festival.[30]
See also
References
- ^ "Unique dictionary covering 4 Dravidian languages ready". Deccan Herald. October 28, 2020.
- ^ "ഞാറ്റ്യേല ശ്രീധരനെ ആദരിച്ചു | Madhyamam". February 2021.
- ^ "Beedi-worker-turned-lexicographer spends 25 years to compile dictionary in 4 Dravidian languages". OnManorama.
- ^ "The work of his dreams, and love for words, awaits a reprint". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "For the love of words, 82-year-old compiles dictionary of four south Indian languages". The News Minute. November 30, 2020.
- ^ "Dreaming of Words – Njattyela Sreedharan United Four Languages and Hearts Through His Unique Dictionary". November 18, 2020.
- ^ "83-YO Kerala School Dropout Creates Unique Dictionary in 4 South Indian Languages". The Better India. December 31, 2020.
- ^ "One man's 40-year labour of love results in dictionary of four Dravidian languages | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. 27 March 2021.
- ^ "നാല് ഭാഷകളിൽ വാക്കുകളെ സ്വപ്നം കണ്ടയാൾ - ഇത് തലശ്ശേരിയിലെ ശ്രീധരേട്ടൻ". News18 Malayalam. February 4, 2020.
- ^ "The Man Who Wrote A Dictionary In Four Languages - Silver Talkies". silvertalkies.com.
- ^ "Njattyela Sreedharan, self-taught linguist and creator of four-language Dravidian dictionary, passes away at 87". The Hindu. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "ഞാറ്റ്യേല ശ്രീധരൻ അന്തരിച്ചു; വിടപറഞ്ഞത് തലശേരിയുടെ രണ്ടാംഗുണ്ടർട്ട്". Deshabhimani. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "ഞാറ്റ്യേല ശ്രീധരന് ഓര്മ്മയായി; വിട പറഞ്ഞത് ചതുര്ഭാഷാ നിഘണ്ടുവിന്റെ പിതാവ്". Mathrubhumi. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Amazon.in". www.amazon.in.
- ^ Sajit, C. p (October 30, 2020). "For Keralites, door opens to three other Dravidian languages". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ ഡെസ്ക്, വെബ് (January 24, 2021). "ഇവിടെ വാക്കുകൾ വീർപ്പുമുട്ടുകയാണ് | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com.
- ^ https://www.mathrubhumi.com/literature/news/njattyela-sreedharan-chathurbhasha-dictionary-released-by-bhasha-institute-1.8650916
- ^ https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=1591529&u=death
- ^ "Dreaming of Words". February 21, 2021 – via IMDb.
- ^ "On the extraordinary achievements of an ordinary man". January 4, 2021.
- ^ "DC South Asian Film Festival". dcsaff.eventive.org.
- ^ "Dreaming of Words: Man who connected four Indian languages". November 17, 2020.
- ^ Staff Reporter (September 1, 2021). "Main serial categories left blank in State TV Awards in Kerala". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "Award Winners Results 6th Edition | BUEIFF 2021". 29 April 2021.
- ^ "ACL2022 | Award-Winning Indian Documentary "Dreaming of Words" to be Screened at ACL2022". The Asian Conference on Language (ACL). February 8, 2022.
- ^ B, Nandan (January 7, 2022). "Dreaming of Words". MLA – via mla.confex.com.
- ^ "Dreaming of Words | Linguistic Society of America". www.linguisticsociety.org.
- ^ "Clipping of Thiruvananthapuram - Kannur".
- ^ Award winners ijdl.org p.1
- ^ https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/kannur/news/news-1.10832000?anonId=6584f79d-3c14-4e02-8098-491c3ed7b8c5&paywallId=678f8f9b0f451b1d10ba1d59&clientId=678628e52da52b55fd8b84a3&mobileView=false