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K R Meera is an Indian author and journalist. She writes in the Malayalam language. Her novel Aarachaar is widely regarded as one of the best literary works produced in the Malayalam language. Let us wish her a happy birthday.

K R Meera was born on 19 February 1970 in the Kollam district of Kerala. Her parents were both professors. She completed her pre-degree from D.B College, Sasthamcotta. She passed her master’s degree in Communicative English from Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

In 1993 she joined as a journalist in Kottayam-based Malayalam daily Malayala Manorama. She was the first female journalist to be hired at the newspaper. During her time as a journalist, Meera published many special stories which won her many recognitions. However after she published a few of her literary works, she resigned from her job and started concentrating fully on her writing career.

In 2002, her first short story collection Ormayude Njarambu was published.  Her next book Mohamanja was published in 2004, which was translated to English as Yellow is the Color of Longing (2011). Her 2008 collection Ave Maria won the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award.

After a few other novels came her novel Aarachaar. Aarachaar was widely regarded as her masterpiece. It was originally serialized in Madhyamam Weekly and was published as a book in 2012. Aarachaar was translated into English by J. Devika as The Hangwoman. The novel received the 2013 Kerala Sahitya Academy Award. It was also awarded the prestigious Odakkuzhal Award (2013), Vayalar Award (2014), and Sahitya Academy Award (2015).

Staff Reporter