C.V. Raman Pillai (1858-1922), popularly known as C.V., was a prominent Indian writer, journalist and politician. Born in the princely state of Travancore (now part of Kerala), he was a pioneer of Malayalam fiction. His rich body of work that includes iconic novels like Marthandavarma, Dharmaraja and Ramaraja Bahadur continues to receive acclaim and scholarly attention.
About the Translator
G.S. Iyer, a career diplomat, is also a scholar in Malayalam and Tamizh, and has rendered several classics from these languages into English. He has served in China, Japan, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the US, and was India’s ambassador to Morocco, Mexico and several Central American states. He was conferred the Grand Cordon of the Wissam Alaoui, Morocco’s highest civilian honour by His Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco.
He has also published A China Primer on China’s History and Four Crises, a study of his experiences in diplomacy.
He lives in Greater Noida, UP with his wife.