Legendary Malayalam poet Akkitham passes away

Popular Malayalam poet Akkitham passed away on Thursday, October 15, in Thrissur. He was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Thrissur, and according to reports, he left the physical world at 8.10 AM.

Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was born on March 18, 1926, in Palakkad. At the age of 8, he penned his first poem. Soon, he emerged as one of the most respectable figures in Malayalam literature and went on to win the Sahitya Academy Award in 1973.

In his glorious career that spanned for more than seven decades, Akkitham won several other accolades that include, India’s highest literary honor, the Jnanpith Award in 2019.

The poet was also honored with Padma Shri by the Indian government, and he had also won Odakkuzhal Award, Vallathol Award, Vayalar Award and Aasan Prize.

Apart from writing noted poems, Akkitham is also known for his critical essays, short stories and other literary works. Many of his works were translated into several other Indian languages.