P Thankappan Nair, The ‘Barefoot Chronicler’ Of Kolkata
A Malayali from Kerala who hardly knew Bengali well enough to write in the language, chronicled history of Kolkata streets. The well-known writer and researcher P Thankappan Nair, who was known as the ‘barefoot historian of Calcutta’ passed away on Tuesday due to age-related illness.
Nair, a short, lanky 22-year-old Malayali lad got off the Madras Mail at Howrah Station without imagining that he would once become one of the celebrated historians. And he wouldn’t have thought then that many million informed citizens of Bengal would mourn his death. The one who came with less knowledge of the Bengali language has left behind 40 books in English for the people of Kolkata, to read and quote.
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After matriculation, Nair went to Calcutta in search of a job in October 1955 where he began his life journey as a typist. Later he went on to work as a journalist. However, he got passionately involved in the city’s past which was uncommon at those times.
He decided to quit his job security and stay back, to roam the streets of Kolkata, for research. He spent his days slogging in the library till its closing time. Nair became one of the rare persons who knew where and what to look for.
Nair became a veritable encyclopedia of the history of British social life in Kolkata. His approach was never academic since he believed that academic writing is only for each other. The historian wrote in a simple, rambling manner for the people.
His books are mainly on the history of Kolkata and the social life of the colonial masters and their view of the colonized ‘native’. Nair has also written in Malayalam. His writings covered diverse subjects and his works include Indian National Song and Symbols, The Mango in Indian Life and Culture, and South Indians in Kolkata.
Nair did not lead a cozy life as a historian. However, his indomitable willpower did not deter him. Nair had to witness some adverse tragedies during his lifetime including the untimely death of his son.
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Nair later relocated to Chendamangalam, Kerala in 2018, the native place of his partner, Seethadevi, who is also a poet. He was not idle in his hometown, and he went on writing till the end. More than a person who has chronicled history with his tremendous work, P Thankappan Nair will be remembered by many as a common man walking the streets of Kolkata.
