Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri

Achuthan Namboodiri Akkitham or Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri is a well known Malyalam writer, poet, , essayist, editor and a highly decorated literary personality among contemporary Malayalam writers. Fondly known as Akkitham, he is one of the most famous personalities of Kerala. His works gained a lot of fame in 1950’s. He has written some 45 collections of his poems, plays and short stories. He is also a great social reformer. He has helped in bring reforms among the Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala and promotes Vedic studies. He even helps in the promotion of Vedic literature among untouchables.

Early Life of Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri

Achuthan Namboodiri Akkitam was born on 18th March 1926 in Kumaranallur in Palakkad district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. His parents were Akkitham Vasudevan Nambudiri and Chekoor Parvathy Antharjanam. He began his career as a journalist in a magazine called ‘Unni nambudiri’. He even worked at ‘Mangalodayam’ and ‘Yogakshemam’ as Assistant Editor. Later in 1956 he joined All India Radio, Kozhikkode as a script writer. He then worked as the Editor of the programme, ‘Vayalum Veedum’ in AIR Thrissur. He worked with ‘Anandi’ where he propogated about the Vedas. He was even interested in Sanskrit, Music, Astrology and even drawing and painting.

Works

Some of his famous works are his three small Epics, ‘Irupatham noottandinte ithihasam’, ‘Desa sevika’ and ‘Balidarshanam’ . ‘Unnikkinavukal’, Oru kula Munthiringa’ and ‘Kalikkottilil’ are three collections of poems for children. ‘Avathalangal’ is a collection of songs and a collection of stories. ‘Upanayanam’ and ‘Samavarthanam’ are collection of his articles. ‘Akkithathinte Theranjedutha Kavithakal’ is a collection of his famous poems. Arangettam, Nimisha Kshetram, Idinju Polinja Lokam, Amritaghatika and Akkithattinte Teranjedutta are some of his major works. But for this octogenarian poet, his translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam is his life’s most valued work. Comprising 14,613 verses, the translation runs over 2,400 printed pages.His translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam is commendable.

Awards

He was given the Sanjayan Award in 1952 for ‘Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihas’. ‘Balidarsanam’ brought him the prestigious Kendriya Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973. In 2012 he was give the Vayalar Award. Apart from these he has won Aasan Prize, Vallathol Award, Lalitambika Sahitya Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Odakkuzhal Award, KrishnaGeedhi Award, Nalappad Award, Ezhuthachan Award and the Moorti Devi Award.