‘Malayalam Encyclopaedia’ functioned as a separate department (Department of Malayalam Encyclopaedia) under the Department of Higher Education of the Government of Kerala from 1961 to 1976.  In November 1976 it was reconstituted as an autonomous body called the State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications(SIEP).  To ensure the smooth functioning of the Institute a Governing Body was constituted with the Chief Minister as Chairman.  In March 1987 the Institute was brought under the control of the Department of Cultural Affairs.

The SIEP is now engaged in the publication of two encyclopaedias – SARVAVIJNANAKOSAM, a general encyclopaedia in twenty volumes being a compendium of world knowledge, and VISWASAHITYAVIJNANAKOSAM ( encyclopaedia of world literature) a subject encyclopaedia in ten volumes giving an objective and up to date picture of world literature.  twelve volumes of the general encyclopaedia and four volumes of the encyclopaedia of world literature have so far been published.  The institute has chalked out a time-bound programme for publishing the remaining volumes within a short period.

 


A Brief History

            In 1961 during the tenure of Sri. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai as Chief Minister the Department of Malayalam Encyclopaedia started functioning under the auspices of the Department of Higher Education. Prof. N. Gopala Pillai was appointed as the first Chief Editor (1961-69).  He was succeeded by Dr. K.M. George (1969-75).  It was during this period that the number of volumes was fixed at 20.  Volumes I  &  II of the general encyclopaedia were also published (1972, 74).  In April 1975 Dr. Vellayani Arjunan took over as Chief Editor (1975-1988).  The next year witnessed the transformation of the Department into an autonomous body named The State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications.  In March 1987 the institute was brought under the Department of Cultural Affairs.  During the period of thirteen years from 1975, six volumes were brought out (III-1976, IV – 1978, V-1979, VI – 1981, VII – 1984, VIII - 1987).  The work on the encyclopaedia of world literature was inaugurated on February 22, 1984.  In July 1988 Dr. C.G. Ramachandran Nair was appointed as Director of the institute.  Subsequently the ninth volume of the general encyclopaedia was published in 1990.  Prof. M. Achuthan served as Director during 1992-95.  The first volume of the encyclopaedia of world literature came out (1994).  In November 1995 Dr. George Onakkur became Director.  volume X of the general encyclopaedia was brought out in 1995 and volume II of the encyclopaedia of world literature in 1996.  Prof. V. Aravindakshan was appointed Director in April 1997 and during his tenure volume 11 of the general encyclopaedia and the single volume encyclopaedia of environmental science was published (2000, 2000).  Dr. Vellayani Arjunan was appointed Director in August 2001 and during this period volume 12 of the general encyclopaedia and volumes 3 and 4 of the encyclopaedia of world literature (2003, 2004, 2004)were published.  Dr. M.R. Thampan became the Director on September 30, 2004 and volume 13 of Sarvavijnanakosam and volume 5 of Viswasahityakosam were brought out during his tenure. Prof. K. Pappootty, the present Director took charge on November 29, 2006 and the first volume of the revised set of Sarvavijnanakosam was published in March 2007.

Previous Directors

PROF. N. GOPALA PILLAI ( 1961-68 )

(CHIEF EDITOR)

DR. K.M. GEORGE ( 1969-75 )

DR. VELLAYANI ARJUNAN ( 1975-88: 2001-04)

DR. C.G. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR ( 1988-90 )

PROF. M. ACHUTHAN ( 1993-95 )

DR. GEORGE ONAKKOOR ( 1995-97 )

PROF. V. ARAVINDAKSHAN ( 1997-2001 )

DR. M.R. THAMPAN ( 2004-2006 )


Present Director

Prof. K. Pappootty ( 2006-  )