Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode
Born	26 May 1926 Azhikode, Kannur, Kerala, India
Died	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. He was a scholar in Sanskrit, Malayalam, and English languages.

Azhikode's most famous work is Tatvamasi (1984, Malayalam), a book on Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads. Thathvamasi won several awards. He was a bachelor and lived in Eravimangalam near Thrissur, Kerala. Azhikode headed the Malayalam department of Calicut University and later retired as its pro-vice chancellor. He died on 24 January 2012 at the age of 85 at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, in Thrissur due to cancer.

Awards & Honors

Azhikode was a recipient of several literary awards, including the Sahitya Academi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and the Rajaji Award. In January 2007, Azhikode refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him stating that Such honours are against the Constitution. He stated 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.

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. 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)

• Aasaante Seethaakaavyam (Asan's Sita Kavya)
• Ramananum Malayalakavitayum (Ramanan and Malayalam Poetry)
• Shankarakkuruppu Vimarshikkappedunnu (Sankara Kurup Critiqued)
• Mahatmavinte Margam (Way of the Mahatma)
• Purogamanasahityavum Mattum (Modern Literature and Others)
• Malayala Sahityavimarsanam (Criticism of Malayalam Literature)
• Vayanayute Swargattil (In the Paradise of Reading)
• Tatvamasi
• Malayala Sahitya Patanangal (Studies on Malayalam Literature)
• Tatvavum Manushyanum (Philosophy and Humans)
• Khandanavum Mandanavum (Destructive Criticism and Constructive Criticism)
• Entinu Bharatadare
• Azhikodinte Prabhashanangal (Speeches of Azhikode)
• Azhikodinte Falitangal (Jokes of Azhikode)
• Guruvinte Dukham (Sorrow of the Teacher)
• Aakasam Nashtapetunna India (India Losing Horizon)
• Pathakal Kazhchakal (Routes and Sights)
• Mahakavi Ulloor (The Great Poet Ulloor)

References

• Ente Innalekal, Current Books, Kottayam, 2007