P. Govinda Pillai

P. Govinda Pillai (23 May 1926 – 22 November 2012) was a veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and ideologue from Kerala, India, and former Chief Editor of Deshabhimani.

Biography
Pillai was born on 23 May 1926 in Pulluvazhi, Perumbavoor, in a Nair family, the son of Parameswaran Pillai and Parukuttyamma. He graduated with BA Hons. from St.Xaviers', Mumbai. He was elected as a member of Thiru-Kochi Assembly in 1951 and later as a member of the Kerala Assembly 1967–70. He was the Kerala Press Academy Chairman 1981–82.

Pillai wrote and spoke widely on the subject of fine arts and served as the Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation and as the founding Director of the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT).

Pillai often appeared on Kairali TV, commenting on national and international events. His unfavorable critical remarks about E.M.S. Namboodiripad on various issues invited fierce backlash from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo. The party saw it as "grave indiscipline" and publicly censured him on the issue. However, in 2010, he received the Janasevana Praveen from the V. Sambasivan Foundation.

He died on 22 November 2012 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Books

 *  Marxum mooladhanavum (Marx and Capital)
 *  Isangalkkippuram (Within "ism"s)
 *  Marxist saundaryashastram, udbhavavum valarchayum (Marxist aesthetics: origin and growth)
 *  Bhudakaalavum Munvidhiyum (Past and Prejudice)
 *  Frederick Engels – Snigdhanaya Sahakari Varishtanaya viplavakari
 *  Mar Gregoriosinte Mathavum Marxisavum (Religion and Marxism of Mar Gregorios)
 *  EMS um Malayala Sahityavum  (EMS and Kerala literature)
 *  Kerala Navodhanam Oru Marxist Veekshanam Vol 1 (Kerala renaissance: A Marxist perspective Vol 1)
 *  Kerala Navodhanam Oru Marxist Veekshanam – Mathacharyar Mathanishedhikal
 *  Mahabharatham Muthal Communism Vare (From Mahabharatha to Communism)
 *  Mulkraj Muthal Pavanan Vare (From Mulkraj to Pavanan)
 *  Aagolavalkaranam Maadhyamam Samskaram (Globalization Media Culture)
 *  EMS Namboothiripad – A Biography
 *  Charles Darwin;Jeevithavum Kaalavum (2009) (Charles Darwin: life and times)
 *  Vynjanika viplavam-Oru samskarika charithram (2011) (Knowledge revolution: A cultural history)
 *  Guide book for Gramcii readers (joint author with EMS)
 * samskaravum navodhanavum translated by P. P. Sathyan.

Translations

 *  Kaattukadannal (Gadfly by Ethel Lilian Voynich)
 *  Bhoothakalavum Munvidhikalum (Past and Prejudice by Romila Thapar)

Awards

 * 2007: Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (Scholarly literature)