Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri

Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri Biography

Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, popularly known as Akkitham, is a Malayalam language poet. He was born on 18 March 1926 in Kumaranallur, a village of Palakkad district, Kerala. He is a well known Malayalam language poet who is one among the high profile writers of contemporary Malayalam literature. He is a well known editor, essayist and freedom fighter as well. His his literary works began to gained popularity from public since early 1950s. ‘Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam’ is regarded as the masterpiece work of Akkitham till now. Till now 45 collections of his poems, plays and short stories written by him have been published.

He is one among the most celebrated poets of Malayalam alive right now. He has accumulated numerous awards for his valuable literary works, of which Kendra Sahitya Academy Award is the celebrated one. He got it for Balidarsanam in 1973. He has also received Aasan Prize, Vallathol Award, Lalitambika Sahitya Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Odakkuzhal Award, KrishnaGeedhi Award, Vayalar Award (2012), Nalappad Award, Ezhuthachan Award and Moorti Devi Award of Jnanpith Award Committee. He is a Gandhian who believed in Gandhi principles a lot. He has worked in Akashvani and he anchored the program, Gandhi Margam for 18 years. He worked there for 19 years.

From the schooldays itself, he was inspired by the great principles of Indian freedom fighters and he, along with his friends used to arrange wide protests against British rule. Popular leaders of Kerala – Kelappan, Thiruvathra Damodharan and Idasseri Govindan Nair were his close friends that time. Apart from his literature skills, he has been instrumental in bringing many social reforms to Kerala. He has done many social reforms relevant to the time and has been in news always.

He was a member of Yogakshema Sabha in Thrissur and through his efforts he was able to bring social reforms among the Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala, the state notorious for feudalism and caste system before Indian independence. He was one among the social leaders who rose against social issues like untouchability that has been swallowing Kerala during early period. He is a Kerala Brahmin. Yet he participated in Paliyam Sathyagraha against untouchability in 1947. His notable works are Nimisha Kshetram, Upanayanam, Arangettam, Idinju Polinja Lokam, Amritaghatika, Samavarttanam, Akkithattinte Teranjedutta Kavitakal and Kalikkottilil.

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Updated: September 07, 2013