Life and Career

Thinakkal Padmanabhan Nair was born on 1931 as the son of Puthiyidathu Krishnan Nair and Ammukutty Amma at Pallikunnu, Kannur. He had his schooling at Chirakkal Rajas High School. Took his bachelor's degree from Mangalapuram Arts College, and later studied Law at Madras Law College.

After his college education, he practiced as an advocate at Kannur for some time before joining FACT, Kochi division. He retired from FACT in 1989 as General Manager.

Padmanabhan has been writing since 1948, except for a brief period between 1963 to 1969. He emerged on the scene with a unique and highly individualistic idiom.

His story 'Prakasam Parathunna Penkutti' (The Girl Spreading Light) is regarded as one of the best short stories ever written in Malayalam.

The National Book Trust has brought out this book in eleven different Indian languages. It has also been translated to French, Russian, German and English.

A well-travelled person, he has been to several countries including, America, Canada, England, and Europe.