SUGATHAKUMARI
Author Award: Basheer Award
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.
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.
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. T D Ramakrishnan is the recipient of several prestigious literary accolades such as the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Vayalar Award and the Basheer Award 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.