Noted Malayalam poet Akkitham passes away at 94

Noted Malayalam poet Akkitham passed away on Thursday. He was 94. He had won the 55th Jnanpith Award last year.

He was unwell for a few days. He breathed his last around 8.10 a.m.

The funeral will be held according to the Covid protocols and will take place at his hometown in Patambi in Palakkad district, later in the day.

The 93-year-old literary icon was given the Jnanpith at his residence 'Devayanam' by Kerala Culture Minister A.K. Balan on September 24.

Seated in an armchair at his home, Akkitham received the award and became the sixth Keralite to be conferred with the prestigious literary award.

Akkitham's work includes "Irupatham Noottantinte Ithihasam", "Balidarashanam" and "Dharma Sooryan" among over 45 works of poems, plays and short stories.

Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri born in 1926 in Kerala’s Palakkad district, popularly known as Akkitham, penned his first poem when he was eight. He went on to become one of the most respected names in Malayalam poetry, winning several literary accolades, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973. A Padma Shri awardee, Akkitham is also known for his critical essays, short stories and other literary works. His works have been translated into multiple languages.