Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode
Born 26 May 1926
Azhikode, Kannur, Kerala, India
Died 24 January 2012 (aged 85)
Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation Writer, social critic, orator, pro vice chancellor & acting vice chancellor (1974–78)
Nationality Indian
Notable works Tatvamasi, Aasante Seetakavyam, Ramananum Malayalakavitayum, Mahatmavinte Margam, Malayala Sahityavimarsanam
Notable awards Sahitya Akademi Award
1985 Tatvamasi
Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award
1985 Tatvamasi
Vayalar Award
1985 Tatvamasi
Relatives Father-Vidvan Panankavil Dhamodharan, Mother-Koloth Thattarath Madaviyamma

Sukumar Azhikode (26 May 1926 – 24 January 2012) was an Indian writer, critic and orator, acknowledged for his contributions to Malayalam language and insights on Indian philosophy.[1] He was a scholar in Sanskrit, Malayalam, and English languages.[2]

Azhikode was a bachelor and lived in Eravimangalam near Thrissur, Kerala state. He died on 24 January 2012 at the age of 85 at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, in Thrissur due to cancer.

Awards

Azhikode's most famous work is Tatvamasi (1984, Malayalam), a book on Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads. Thathvamasi won twelve awards, including the Kendra Sahitya Academi Award, Kerala Sahithya Academi Award, Vayalar Award and the Rajaji Award.

Azhikode headed the Malayalam department of Calicut University and later retired as its pro-vice chancellor.

A recipient of literary honours including the Kendra Sahitya Academy award. In January 2007, Azhikode 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."[3]

He also won the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Sahithya Puraskaram lifetime achievement award.

Death

Azhikode died on 24 January 2012, at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences in Thrissur. He was suffering from cancer and had been hospitalized since 7 December 2011.[4] He was 85 years old.

Major works

His concerns were wide and touched upon progressive literature (Purogamanasahityavum Mattum), Gandhism (Mahatmavinte Margam), Kumaran Asan (Aasaante Seethaakavyam), the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru (Guruvinte Dukham) and literary aesthetics (Sankara Kurup Vimarshikkapedunnu)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sukumar Azhikode.
  1. ↑ "Ezhuthachan Puraskaram for Sukumar Azhikode". The Hindu. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  2. ↑ "Renowned Kerala writer Sukumar Azhikode passes away". The Times of India. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Azhikode rejects award". The Hindu (India). 27 January 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Sukumar Azhikode passes away". The Hindu.