Sukumar Azhikode

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Dr. Sukumar Azhikode (b. May 26, 1926 Azhikode, Kerala, India) is a teacher, critic and orator, acknowledged for his contributions to Malayalam literary criticism and insights on Indian philosophy. He is a bachelor and lives in Viyyoor near Thrissur.

1 Education and Career
2 Awards
3 Vaghbhadananda Guru
4 Criticisms
5 Organizations and Institutions
6 Major works
7 References

[edit] Education and Career

'Sukumar Azhikode (SA)' completed BCom in 1946, later BT in Malayalam and MA & PhD in Sanskrit. Azhikode was a teacher at Rajas High School,Chirackal St. Aloysius College,Mangalore and Devagiri College,Kozhikode and later a principal at SNM Training College, Moottakunnam, and a professor and Pro-Vice Chancellor at Calicut University. He retired in 1986.

[edit] Awards

Azhikode's most famous work is Thathvamasi (1984, Malayalam), an authoritative book on Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads. Thathvamasi has won twelve awards including the Indian Sahithya Academy and Kerala State Sahithya Academy Prizes, Vayalar Award and the Rajaji Award.

In Jan 2007, he refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him stating that “Such honours are against the Constitution. The Constitution says everyone should be treated as equal. Giving such honours at different levels, the State discriminates between people. I see the Padma Shri conferred on me as an opportunity to expose this discrimination”.^[1]

[edit] Vaghbhadananda Guru

Azhikode considers Vagbhadananda Guru as his teacher and the Guru's book Aathmavidya as the stepping stone to his later pursuits on Vedas and Upanishads. Azhikode remembers the encouragement and persuasion of Malayalam writers M. T. Vasudevan Nair and N. P. Muhammad when he wrote the book.

[edit] Criticisms

Azhikode is accused by some of his critics of 'attention seeking'. A section of media alleges he criticises 'prominent' people to gain prominence and a space in media. But he is generally regarded as one of the finest orators and social critics in Kerala.^{[citation needed]}. He is the best example to show that education has nothing to do with the culture. The way he criticizes widely accepted and adored personalities bring shame not only to him but also the Malayalees. The least thing he should do is to verify what he speaks is truth. To do this one does not require Phds or awards.

[edit] Organizations and Institutions

Azhikode is the founder/president of Navabharathavedi - a socio-cultural organization. He has also worked at several newspapers including Dinabandhu, Malayala Harijan, Desamitram, Navayugam and Dinaprabha and was the Chairman of National Book Trust of India between 1993 and 1996, and also edited the Malayalam newspaper Varthamanam.

He changes his living status according to the situations. He has recently been critizising against spiritual/financial fraud. As he is continuing a life lonely, he keeps depicting his abnormal mode of speech and gains attention in the kerala media/public. He resorts to language which befits the most vulgar minds, and many a times speaks things that portrays a very evil mind.He seems to be educated but does not have a culture, such people write books on Indian philosophy, a real shame!