Kerala artiste M.V. Devan dead

Multi-faceted artiste M.V. Devan passed away here Tuesday, his family said. He was 86.

Devan was a painter, sculptor, writer, art critic and orator, all rolled into one.

A highly gifted personality, he was also a former chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi from 1974 to 1977.

Born in Kannur district in 1928, he left for Madras (now Chennai) in 1946 to study painting.

He learned the basics of painting at the Government School of Arts and Crafts in Madras under Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury and K.C.S. Paniker.

Returning in 1952, he joined the Mathrubhumi daily in Kozhikode as staff artiste and worked there till 1961.

The next year, he returned to Madras to continue his pursuit of art with the Lalit Kala Akademi there till 1968 and then moved on to the Akademi in New Delhi.

In 1974, he was made chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi. He held the post till 1977.

During this time, he established an organisation called Perunthachan, which dealt with consultancy in the housing sector.

Over the years, he won prestigious awards like the Kerala Sahitya Akademi's Vayalar Ramavarma Award and Malayattoor Award to name a few.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy paid glowing tributes to the artiste, saying he had brought laurels to the state through his work.

His last rites would be held Wednesday.