Kottayam Pushpanath was born Pushpanathan Pillai in Kottayam district in Kerala, on May 14, 1937, to Sathyanesan Pillai and Rachel. He completed his primary and secondary education from Good Shepherd School and MT Seminary School in Kottayam and he graduated in History from the University of Kerala. After finishing TTC from Cambridge Nicholson Institute Kottayam, he started his career as a teacher in Kodiyathoor School in Kozhikode. Later he served as a teacher of History in different Government schools in Kallarkutty, Devikulam, Karapuzha, Nattakom and Kottayam Medical college school.
Literary career
As a student at the MT Seminary school, Pushpanath wrote a short story "Thiramala” for the school magazine, announcing his entry into the world of writing. He released his first novel named Chuvanna Manushyan in 1968 which was a scientific thriller. Later on, he penned down more than 300 works including science fiction, horror fiction, fantasy, non-fiction and many short stories during the period of 1970s and 80s. Many of his works has been translated into different Indian languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Gujarati and Bengali. His novel Souparnika was serialised in Tamil. Kottayam Pushpanath has also translated Bram Stoker’s world renowned Gothic horror novelDracula and Arthur Conan Doyle’s TheHound of the Baskervilles into Malayalam. Two of his novels – Brahmarakshass and Chuvanna Anki– were made into movies in Malayalam. Pushpanath followed the tradition of Sherlock Holmes and Hercules Poirot in creating two fictional detectives, Detective Marxin and Pushparaj, the two names which became as popular as the name of the author itself. Detective Pushparaj would be the protagonist if the novels are set in India and Detective Marxin would take the lead role in novels set outside India. Some novels featured another fictional character, Detective Sudheer, as the lead. His grandson, Rayan Pushpanath, has received royalty of Pushpanath’s every work. Kottayam Pushpanath established his own publications in 1977, the Kottayam Pushpanath Publications, through which most of his works came out. All his books are being re-published through Kottayam Pushpanath Publications now. Many of Pushpanath's books are published on mainstream digital platforms as e-books and audio books. Kottayam Pushpanath Foundation was set up by Kottayam Pushpanath family after the author's passing, funded with the family’s assets and run by family members and foundation members for solely charitable purposes.
Death
Kottayam Pushpanath died 2 May 2018 aged 80 at his home in Kottayam after a long bout of age-related problems. He was married to Mariyamma, and had three children - Salim Pushpanath, Seenu Pushpanathand Jemeela Pushpanath. His elder son Salim Pushpanath, who was himself famous as a tourism photographer. Pushpanath was buried at CSI cathedral in Kottayam with full state honors. He is survived by his wife Mariyamma Pushpanath, children Seenu and Jemeela and many grandchildren.
