Jnanpith Award Archives

THAKAZHI SIVASANKARA PILLAI

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (1912–1999) was born on April 17, 1912. His first novel, Thyagathinu Prathiphalam, was published in 1934. From 1936 to 1957, he practiced as a lawyer in Ambalapuzha. He authored more than twenty-five novels and around two hundred short stories, including notable works like Randidangazhi, Thottiyude Makan, and Anubhavangal Paalichakal. Most of his works have been translated into various Indian and foreign languages. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958 for Chemmeen, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965 for Enippadikal, and the Vayalar Award in 1980 for Kayar. He was also honored with the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1974 and the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1984. Thakazhi served as President of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 1978 and again in 1981. In 1985, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan. He passed away on April 10, 1999.

G SANKARA KURUP

G. Sankara Kurup was born on June 3, 1901, in Nayathode near Kalady. He served as a teacher for ten years at the Thrissur Training College and for nineteen years at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. After retiring in 1956, he worked as a producer at All India Radio in Thiruvananthapuram. He was a member of the General Council of the Sahitya Akademi and a Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Kurup received several prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award (1963), the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1960), the first Jnanpith Award instituted by the Bharatiya Jnanpith (1965), and the Soviet Land Nehru Award (1967). In 1968, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan. Over his lifetime, he published a total of 49 works. He passed away on February 2, 1978. His major works include G. Sankara Kurup’s Selected Poems, G. Sankara Kurup’s Poems, Children’s Poems, and the acclaimed Odakkuzhal. He also translated Gitanjali into Malayalam.

M T VASUDEVAN NAIR

M. T. Vasudevan Nair is a renowned short story writer, novelist, screenwriter, and film director, born on July 15, 1933, in Kudallur near Ponnani. He began his career as a teacher and later worked as the associate editor and then editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly (1956–1981). He also served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Periodicals from 1988 to 1999. His literary brilliance earned him numerous accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Kaalam, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Naalukettu, the Vayalar Award for Randamoozham, the Odakkuzhal Award for Vanaprastham, and the prestigious Jnanpith Award. As a screenwriter, he won several Kerala State and National Film Awards, including the National Award for Best Film for Nirmalyam in 1974. He has been conferred honorary D.Litt degrees by both the University of Calicut and Mahatma Gandhi University. In 2004, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan.

S. K. Pottekkatt

S. K. Pottekkatt (1913–1982) was born on March 14, 1913, in Kozhikode. He was a celebrated travel writer, novelist, and short story author. In 1949, he undertook his first foreign journey by sea and went on to visit most countries across Europe, Africa, America, South Asia, and East Asia, often interacting closely with local communities. He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1962 for his novel Oru Theruvinte Katha and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973 for Oru Desathinte Katha, which also earned him the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1980. The University of Calicut honored him with a doctorate. Other notable works include Nadan Premam and Vishakanyaka. He passed away on August 6, 1982.