Thrissur (Kerala), Oct 15,2020: Renowned Malayalam poet and Jnanpith laureate Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri died at a private hospital here on Thursday, family sources said. Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri who is popularly known as Akkitham has penned over 46 works in Malayalam. ‘Irupatham Nootandinte Ithihasam’ is his major work.
Akkitham was 94 and admitted to hospital due to age related ailments.
Recently, he was conferred with the Jnanpith award, the highest literary award in the country, at a special function held at his house at Kumaranallur in Palakkad district.
Earlier, he was honoured with Padma Sri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Government of India in 2017. He also won a number of awards including Kendra and Kerala Sahithya Akademi awards, Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Odakkuzhal Award, Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram, Sanjayan Award, Padmaprabha Literary Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award, Vallathol Award, Vayalar Award,Puthoor Award, Krishna Geedhi Award, Nalappad Award, Puthezhan Award among others.
The poet, who was instrumental in heralding modernism in Malayalam poetry, was also a true Gandhian, social reformer, journalist and an example of simplicity.
