Renowned Malayalam poet and Jnanpith laureate Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri passed away this morning. He was 94 years old. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thrissur for age-related ailments. Akkitham was conferred with the 55th Jnanpith award for his lifetime contribution to the literature.
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was born on March 18, 1926, at Amettikkara, near Kumaranallur in Palakkad, Kerala, to Amettu Akkithathu Manayil Vasudevan Namboothiri and Checkur Manaykkal Parvathy Antharjanam. After studying Sanskrit, Astrology and Music, he joined college for higher education but did not complete his graduation. He started his career as an editor of Unni Namboothiri magazine. In 1956, he joined the Kozhikode station of the All India Radio (AIR) where he worked until 1975 after which he was transferred to the Thrissur station of the AIR. He was also associated with Anaadi, a literary movement for popularising studies of Vedas.
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was honoured with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Government of India in 2017. Literary critics consider ‘Irupathamnootandinte Ithihasam’, meaning ‘The legend of 20th century’ as Akkitham’s major work. Upanayanam, Idinju Polinja Lokam, Samavarthanam, Balidarsanam, Samanvayathinte Aakaasham and Idinju Polinja Lokam are his other major works.
The poet also received many awards including Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Ezhuthachan Award (the highest literary award of the Government of Kerala), Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry, Odakkuzhal Award, Vallathol Award, Vayalar Award and Aasan Prize.
