Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode

Born	26 May 1926 Azhikode, Kannur, Kerala, India
Died	January 24, 2012 (aged 85) Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation	Writer, Social Critic, Orator, Pro Vice Chancellor & Acting vice chancellor (1974–1978)
Nationality	Indian
Notable work(s)	Tatvamasi, Aasante Seetakavyam, Ramananum Malayalakavitayum, Mahatmavinte Margam, Malayala Sahityavimarsanam
Notable award(s)	Sahitya Akademi Award 1985 Tatvamasi Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award 1985 Tatvamasi Vayalar Award 1985 Tatvamasi
Relative(s)	Father-Vidvan Panankavil Dhamodharan, Mother-Koloth Thattarath Madaviyamma

Sukumar Azhikode (26 May 1926 – 24 January 2012) was an Indian writer, critic andorator, 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 Thrissurdue 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 theKendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and theRajaji Award.

Azhikode had served as chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT) and as member of the executive councils of Kerala and Kendra Sahitya academy.[citation needed]

He did not confine himself to scholastic themes and expressed his views and concerns on a wide range of topics of contemporary concerns including the day-to-day politics and politicians.

A Gandhian till the end of his life, Azhikode was close to the Indian National Congress in his early life and in the 1960s[vague] unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls as its candidate. But later, he distanced himself from the Congress and moved close to the Left camp without compromising on his Gandhian convictions and the Nehruvian vision of a liberal and just social order.

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

He was involved a legal tiff with cine actor Mohanlal following heated exchanges in the backdrop of the ban on actor Thilakan as a fallout of a feud in the Malayalam filmdom.[citation needed] Azhikode then came to defend Thilakan incurring the wrath of superstars. After Azheekode fell ill, a truce was worked out between the writer and the actor to withdraw the defamation case.[citation needed]

A recipient of literary honours including the Kendra Sahitya Academy award.[citation needed] 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.

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)
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)