Padma Shri Archives

VAIKOM MUHAMMAD BASHEER

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908–1994) was born on January 21, 1908, in Thalayolaparambu in the Vaikom taluk. He received his early education at a Malayalam school in his village and later at the English school in Vaikom. He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha held in Kozhikode as part of the Indian independence movement. For this, he endured police brutality and was imprisoned. He spent nearly ten years travelling across India, and later journeyed to countries like Africa and Arabia.

Basheer is renowned for his literary works such as Balyakalasakhi, Pathummayude Aadu, and Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu!, which have been translated and published in all major Indian languages. Other notable works include Mathilukal, Shabdangal, and Premalekhanam. A collection of 16 short stories, including Poovan Pazham, was published in English by Orient Longman. He was honored with fellowships from both the Sahitya Akademi and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri for his contributions to literature. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer passed away on July 5, 1994.

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.

O. N. V. KURUP

O. N. V. Kurup (1931–2016) was born on May 27, 1931, in Chavara, Kollam district. He served as a teacher for 25 years at University College, Thiruvananthapuram, and for five more years in other government colleges. A renowned poet and lyricist, his major works include Mayilpeeli, Agnishalabhangal, Aksharam, Uppu, Bhoomikku Oru Charamageetham, Mrigaya, Ujjayini, Swayamvaram, Aparahnam, Veruthe, Kshanikam–Paksha, Snehichutheeraathavar, Ee Purathana Kinnaram, and Dinantham. He received both the Kerala and Central Sahitya Akademi Awards, the Vayalar Award, the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award (Kolkata), the Soviet Land Nehru Award, and the Khurram Joshi National Poetry Award (Hyderabad). O.N.V. wrote lyrics for over 200 films and numerous plays, winning the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist 13 times and the National Award in 1989 for the film Vaishali. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2011. In 1999, he was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, and in 1987, he represented Indian poetry at the Struga International Poetry Festival in Macedonia. The University of Kerala conferred upon him an honorary D.Litt. He received the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 2007. O. N. V. Kurup passed away on February 13, 2016.