Basheer Award Archives

SUGATHAKUMARI

Sugathakumari (1934–2020) was born in January 1934 and earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy. She served as the Principal of Jawahar Balabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, editor of the children’s magazine Thalir, and Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission. She was also the founding secretary of both the Prakriti Samrakshana Samithi (Nature Conservation Society) and Abhaya, a shelter for women and the mentally ill. A celebrated poet and activist, she received numerous awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Pathirappookkal, the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Sahitya Pravarthaka Award for Rathrimazha, the Odakkuzhal Award, Asan Prize, Vayalar Award for Ambalamani, the Asan Memorial Committee (Madras) Award for Kurinjippookkal, the Vishwadeepam Award for Thulavarshappacha, Vallathol Award, Balamani Amma Award, P. Kunhiraman Nair Award, Lifetime Achievement Award for Children’s Literature, Basheer Award, V.T. Sahitya Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, Panampilly Pratibha Award, Sreesakthi Award, Abu Dhabi Malayali Samajam Award for Radhayevide?, Janmashtami Award for Krishnakavithakal, the Bhattia Award for social service, the Sacred Soul International Award, and India’s first Vrikshamitra Award from the Government of India for her work in environmental conservation. She also received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, Durga Bai Deshmukh Award (as secretary of Abhaya), the prestigious Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, and the Saraswati Samman. In 2006, the Indian government honored her with the Padma Shri. She passed away on December 23, 2020.

C V BALAKRISHNAN

C V Balakrishnan is a versatile novelist, short-story writer and screenwriter writing in Malayalam. His oeuvre comprises more than sixty works across several genres. His works titled Athmavinu Sheri Enn Thonunna Karyangal, Paralmeen Neenthunna Padam and Ethetho Saraninkalil won the Kerala Sahitya Academy Awards, and his study titled Cinemayude Idangal won the State Award for Best Book on Cinema. He has also won several Awards for Overall Contributions such as the Muttathu Varkey Award, the Padmaprabha Award, the Basheer Award and the O Chandu Menon Award, among other accolades. Swecha is his latest collection of short stories.

P F Mathews

P F Mathews is a critically acclaimed author and screenwriter with several works to his credit. He has written the screenplay for movies such as Puthran, Kuttisraank, Ee. Ma. Yau and Athiran. Chaavunilam, Iruttil oru Punyalan and Kadalinte Manam are some of his acclaimed novels. P F Mathews is the winner of several prestigious accolades such as the SZIFF Tanzania Award, the National Award and Kerala State Television Award for Best Screenplay, the SBI Award for Best Novel and the Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Award. Moonga is his most recent work.

P K PARAKKADAVU

P K Parakkadavu is a renowned Malayalam author who has published around forty-six works. His works have also been translated into several languages like English, Arabic and various Indian languages. He is the recipient of several noted accolades such as the CV Sriraman Award, the Sahitya Academy Award for Overall Contributions, the Kerala Basha Institute’s Basheer Memorial Award, the S.B.T Award among others..He has served as an executive committee member of the Kerala Sahitya Academy, Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishath, a member of the Kendra Sahitya Academy, as well as an editor and editorial relations director at Madhyamam Periodicals. Idiminnalukalude Pranayam, Meesan Kallukalude Kaval, Kadalinte Daham and Ambalam Palli Sthree are a few of his other renowned publications.

Subhash Chandran

Subhash Chandran is a noted Malayalam author. He is the recipient of several prestigious literary accolades such as the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award, the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Vayalar Award, the Odakkuzhal Award and the Basheer Award, among others. The only Malayalam language author to be in the list of young native language writers by Times of India, he was also selected as one among the ten Personality Brands of Kerala by the Dhanam Finance Magazine. The translation of his work Manushyanu Oru Aamukham titled as A Preface to Man, received the Raymond Crossword Award. The novel has also been translated into Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Khadikharangal Nilakkuna Samayam, Das Capital and Madhyeyingane are a few of his other acclaimed publications. A journalism faculty of the Calicut University, he also currently heads the Mathrubhumi Weekly.

T D RAMAKRISHNAN

T D Ramakrishnan is a critically acclaimed author and translator. He is the author of two widely acclaimed Malayalam novels, namely, Francis Ittykora and Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki. The English translation of the latter titled Sugandhi Alias Andal Deavanayaki was longlisted for the DSC South Asian Literature Prize 2019. He is the recipient of several prestigious literary accolades, such as the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Vayalar Award. Also, the Basheer Award was instituted by the Kerala Bhasha Institute. Retiring from professional service as the Chief Controller of the Palakkad Division in the Southern Railway. He is also the recipient of the 2003 National Award for Outstanding Performance instituted by the Railway Ministry. Pacha, Manja, Chuvappu, Sirajunnisa, Mama Africa and Alpha are a few of his other notable publications.