Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-47
O.P. Joseph
O.P. Joseph, who left an indelible mark in the fields of literature, culture, and social work, was born on December 20, 1924, as the son of the couple Kunju Pailo and Maryam in a family in Aluva.
After passing the science examination from Aluva’s Advaita Ashramam Sanskrit School, he continued his high school education in Aluva itself. He obtained his B.A. degree from Aluva U.C. College. During his college years, Joseph was subjected to severe police brutality by the C.P. (Communist Party). He also served as Chairman of the Student Council at St. Albert’s College. His fellow students at St. Albert’s College included Varkala Radhakrishnan and Nitya Chaitanya Yati. He passed his B.Com. and LL.B. examinations from Calcutta University. Subsequently, he completed a diploma in Marketing Publicity, Editing, and Public Relations.
Joseph worked in advertising for three years with J. Walter Thompson, an American company in Calcutta. After that, he moved to Bombay and joined the Indian Government’s Kayar Board as an Exhibition Assistant. In 1957, he returned to Kerala and worked on the editorial committee of the Malayalam newspaper Express. In 1950, he served as the manager of Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair’s Kathakali troupe, which provided him the opportunity to travel across India.
In 1960, he was appointed as the Public Relations Manager at a factory and performed this role excellently for 25 years. After retiring, he served as Regional Director at Aries Advertising Company in Kochi. O.P. Joseph has held prestigious positions in various literary organizations.
He has rendered commendable service in roles such as General Secretary (1975) and Vice President (1994) of the Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad, General Council Member (1978) of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, and Executive Member (1991-1994) of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
O.P. Joseph was one of the founding members of the Public Relations Society of India and was elected its National President in 1984.
He has traveled to Southeast Asian countries and Australia. In recognition of his distinguished service in the fields of literature, art, and culture, he has received several awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1993), Film Critics Award (1994), Akshaya Pustakanidhi Award (1993), Kerala Catholic Bishops Council Award (1998), and P.A. Saithumuhammed Award (2003).
Since 1986, Joseph has been serving as a faculty member of the Kerala Press Academy. On August 15, 1972, he received a bronze medal for freedom fighters from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He has been a member of Lions Club International for the past 31 years and is currently the Cabinet Advisor of Lions District 324 E4.
Joseph has authored 23 books, including works with both original and translated content. These books include:
The Death of Miss Cheriyan
The Royal Path of Memories and the Public Path
Forest Flowers
Many Pains and Some Truths
The Radiance of Life’s Joy
The White Rose Bloomed on Isoal Hills
Frank Sinatra is Singing
Chatterley’s Lover
The Story of Genji
Iliad
Thirst
Jean Christophe
Narrow Door
Blood and Stones
In the Embrace of Freedom (Two Volumes)
The China I Saw
Cossacks
Life’s Sahara
Sath Hindustani
Caves of Freedom
The Criterion of Humanity
His first story was published at the age of 14 in the magazine Thiruhyadayam, and later in Cherupushpam.
Joseph, who paid attention to religious matters from a young age, worked as an altar boy in his childhood. His wife is Catherine, a member of the Mankooran family from Poyya.
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