Author Award: K.V. Surendranath Award

Khadeeja Mumtaz, born in 1955 in Kattoor in Thrissur district, retired voluntarily while in service at Kozhikode Government Medical College, as Professor of Gynaecology. She was the Vice President of Kerala Sahitya Akademi for six years and was also a member of the Academic Council at Thunchathezhuthachan Malayalam University. Her notable works include Atmatheerthangalil Mungiya Nivaran, Bars, Sargam Samooham and Adhi Niveshangal , among others. Mumtaz started her literary career with Athmatheerthangalil Munginivarnnu, which was first published as a serial novel in Chandrika weekly and later as a book by Current Books in 2004. Mumtaz rose to fame with her novel Barsa (2007), which was a great critical and popular success. Her accolades include the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, the Cherukad Award, the K.V. Surendranath Award, and the Thrissur Sahitya Vedi Award.