Eminent painter and sculptor MM Devan passes away

Eminent painter, sculptor, writer, art critic and orator M V Devan passed away nearby Aluva this evening, family sources said.
He was 86 and is survived by two daughters.
Devan, who was the founder member and present chairman of Kerala Kalapeedom, had also served as the chairman of Kerala Lalit Kala Academy, Secretary of Madras state Lalita Kala Academy, Art consultant of FEDO, a unit of the Fertilisers and chemicals Travancore (FACT) here.
He was also awarded Kerala government's prestigious Ravi Varma Puraskar.
Born in Panniyamnur village in Thalassery in northern Kerala on Jan 15, 1928, he left for Madras after high school to study painting. He learnt the basics of painting from government school of Arts and Crafts under stalwarts like Debi Prasad Roy Choudhary and K C S Panicker.

Devan later joined as staff artist at Mathrubhumi daily, Kozhikode.

He again left for Madras and joined the Southern Languages Book Trust as art consultant from 1961-62. Devan continued his pursuit of art with Madras Lalit Kala Academy and Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
Devan was associated with various literary publications, including "Navashakti" and "Gopuram."
The collections of critical essays ' Devaspandanam' is his magnum opus.