“Manicheppinte Ezhuthukar” (Writers of Manicheppu) is a series introducing the writers who have contributed stories, poems, and other literary works to Manicheppu. This edition features Jose Prasad, one of the magazine’s long-standing contributors since its inception.
Anyone familiar with Malayalam children’s magazines is likely to recognize the name Jose Prasad. Since 2009, he has published more than 2,000 stories, poems, and other literary works in children’s publications. He hails from Neerchal, in Badiyadka Panchayat of Kasaragod district, and currently works as a primary school teacher at Elkana A.J.B. School in the neighboring Enmakaje Panchayat.
From left: Jose Prasad, E. Jinan, Jose Gothuruth, Sippy Pallippuram, and Chandirur Thaha.
Nearly three decades of close interaction with young children have kept Jose Prasad actively engaged in children’s literature. Many of the stories and songs he created spontaneously in the classroom to entertain his students became immensely popular. Encouraged by their response, he began submitting some of them to children’s magazines. Once they started getting published, his writings continued to appear regularly. Even today, whenever he writes a new story or poem, he first shares it with the children in his own classroom. Only the works that are well received by the students are sent for publication.
His writings have been published continuously in leading children’s magazines such as Balarama, Balabhumi, Kalikkudukka, Minnaminni, Thathamma, Kuttikalude Deepika, Kurunnukal, and Manicheppu. His works also appear in children’s magazines like Eureka and Thalir.
During the early years of his literary career, Jose Prasad wrote only stories and poems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, he completed three children’s novels. His novel Doctor Chiyo was serialized in the Chandrika Weekly, while The Adventures of Bharat Moosa and Maya and the Magicians were published in Balabhumi. These novels were later released as books by Prabhat Books, Insight Publica, and Malayala Manorama Books.
For the past four years, Jose Prasad has been a regular contributor to the online magazine Manicheppu. He wrote the script for Fikru, an illustrated comic series that ran for thirteen consecutive issues. The series was later published as a book by Balakeralam Publications. He also writes the script for the ongoing comic strip Charu@School, currently being published in Manicheppu.
He previously handled a regular chess-learning column for children in Balabhumi Weekly. At present, he writes the Mentalism Tricks column, helping school students learn the fascinating art of mentalism.
For many years, he has also been writing “Foreign Children’s Stories”, a popular column in Kuttikalude Deepika, in which he adapts contemporary children’s stories from around the world into Malayalam. He has translated internationally acclaimed classics such as Moby-Dick by Herman Melville and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry into Malayalam for young readers.
Jose Prasad considers the creation of the character Bharat Moosa to be the greatest achievement of his literary career. Following the success of his first novel, The Adventures of Bharat Moosa, the sequel, Bharat Moosa Against Drugs, was also published in Balabhumi.
He is currently putting the finishing touches on the third novel in the Bharat Moosa series, titled The Mullaperiyar Mystery. According to the author, every page of the novel is packed with suspense and excitement for young readers. Many children fondly regard Bharat Moosa as the “Harry Potter of Malayalam.”
So far, twenty-two books comprising children’s poems, stories, and novels have been published under his name. Two of his novels have also been published in English.
With family
Jose Prasad was born at Malamkadavu, in East Eleri Panchayat, a hilly region in eastern Kasaragod district. His father, T. O. Joseph Thannikkal, was a high school teacher at St. John’s School, Palavayal, and his mother is Philomina Joseph. He has three brothers: Prakash, Prashanth, and Prathap.
His wife, Susamma N. S., is a teacher at S.M.M.A.U.P. School, Mundyathadukka, Kasaragod. Their elder daughter, Kavya, works as a software engineer, while their younger daughter, Megha, is a college student.
Jose Prasad received the “Mali Award” (2023) from the Kochi International Book Festival Committee and the “Pullarkkattu Babu Memorial Award” (2024) from the Kodungallur Children’s Literature Society. He is also one of the leaders of Balasahithya Vedi, a collective of Malayalam children’s writers.
Living among children and writing for them, Jose Prasad continues his inspiring literary journey with unwavering dedication. Manicheppu wishes him continued success and hopes he will create many more remarkable contributions to Malayalam children’s literature in the years to come.
