M. Sukumaran

M. Sukumaran (1943–2018) was born in 1943 in Chittur, Palakkad. His father was Narayana Mannadiar and his mother was Meenakshiamma. In 1963, he began working as a clerk at the Accountant General’s Office in Thiruvananthapuram, but was dismissed from service in 1974 due to his involvement in trade union activities. He authored several acclaimed works including Paara, Azhimukham, Shuddhavayu, Thookkumarangal Njangalkku, Charithragatha, Vanchikkunnampathi, and Pithrutharppanam. He received Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards for Marichittillathavaruṭe Smārakangal in 1976, Janithakam in 1997, and for his overall contributions in 2004. Pithrutharppanam won the Padmarajan Memorial Award for Best Short Story in 1992 and the U.P. Jayaraj Memorial Award in 2004. He also received the Muttathu Varkey and C.V. Kunhuraman Foundation Awards for lifetime achievement in 2008 and 2016, respectively. Sukumaran won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story for Sheshakriya in 1981 and Kazhakam in 1995. His story Pithrutharppanam was adapted into the film Margam, which won the Kerala State Award for Best Feature Film in 2003. In 2006, he was honored with the Central Sahitya Akademi Award for his novella collection Chuvanna Chihnangal. He passed away on March 16, 2018.