Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode

Born:                  26 May 1926
                             Azhikode, Kannur, Kerala, India
Died:                   24 January 2012 (aged 85)
                             Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation:      Writer, social critic, orator, pro vice chancellor & acting vice chancellor (1974–78)
Nationality:        Indian
Notable works: Tatvamasi,
                                Aasante Seetakavyam,
                                Ramananum Malayalakavitayum,       
                                Mahatmavinte Margam, 
                                Malayala Sahityavimarsanam

Notable awards:

# Sahitya Akademi Award 1995 Tatvamasi
# Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award 1985 Tatvamasi
# Vayalar Award 1985 Tatvamasi

Sukumar Azhikode (26 May 1926 – 24 January 2012) was an Indian writer, critic and orator, acknowledged for his contributions to Malayalam language and insights on Indian philosophy. He was a scholar in Sanskrit, Malayalam, and English languages.

Azhikode's most famous work is Tatvamasi (1984, Malayalam), a book on Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads. Thathvamasi won several awards. He was a bachelor and lived in Eravimangalam near Thrissur, Kerala. Azhikode headed the Malayalam department of Calicut University and later retired as its pro-vice chancellor.

Awards & Honors:

# Sahitya Academi Award,
# Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award,
# Vayalar Award and the
# Rajaji Award.
In January 2007, Azhikode refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him stating that Such honours are against the Constitution. He stated 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.

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)
# 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)