Sukumar Azhikode | |
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Born | 26 May 1926 Azhikode, Kannur, Kerala, India |
Died | 24 January 2012 Thrissur, Kerala, India |
(aged 85)
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 1989 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.
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.
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.
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)