The eminent author and scholar broke new ground in Malayalam literary criticism through the method of incisive textual study and has to her credit several books and hundreds of articles. Eminent author, literary critic and academic M. Leelvathy has been chosen for Kerala government’s highest literary award “Ezhuthachan Puraskaram”. Ms. Leelavathy was selected for the honour this year in view of her outstanding contributions to Malayalam literature, Kerala Culture Minister M. A. Baby said at Kochi.
A panel, headed by Jnanpith laureate Prof. O.N.V. Kurup, selected Dr. Leelavathy for the prestigious award. State Minister of Education and Culture M.A. Baby and panel members called on Dr. Leelavathy at her residence in Kochi last evening and informed her about the selection.
Leelavathy was born in Kottapadi near Guruvayur in Thrissur district. She attended school in Kunnamkulam before joining Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam for her B.A. dgree. She received her M.A. degree from Madras University. Leelavathi began her teaching career in 1949 as a lecturere at Victoria College, Palakkad and subsequently taught at Maharaja’s College and Government Brennen College, Thalassery. She was awarded her Ph.D. degree from Kerala University in 1972. For a brief period of time, she also served as a Visiting Professor in University of Calicut. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983.
During her long literary career, she won several awards and honors including Odakuzhal Award (1978) and Kerala Sahithya Academy Award (1980) for Varnaraji, Kendra Sahithya Academy Award (1986) for Kavithadhwani, Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002), Basheer Award (2005), Guptan Nair Memorial Award (2007), Vayalar Ramavarma Award (2007) for Appuvinte Anweshanam, and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009). Leelavathy is also a recipient of Padma Shri Award for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education. She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works.
Ms. Leelavathy, who broke new ground in Malayalam literary criticism through the method of incisive textual study, has to her credit several books and hundreds of articles.
The award, instituted after revered medieval poet Thuchanthu Ezhuthachan carries Rs. 1 lakh, citation and memento and would be presented by Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan at a function here next month.
