Sukumar Azhikode

Prof. Sukumar Azhikode
Born	26 May 1926 Azhikode, Kannur, Kerala, India
Died	January 24, 2012(2012-01-24) (aged 85) Thrissur, Kerala, India
Occupation	Writer, Social Critic, Orator, Pro Vice Chancellor & Acting vice chancellor(1974-1978)
Nationality	Indian
Notable work(s)	Tatvamasi, Aasante Seetakavyam, Ramananum Malayalakavitayum, Mahatmavinte Margam, Malayala Sahityavimarsanam
Notable award(s)	Sahitya Akademi Award 1985 Tatvamasi Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award 1985 Tatvamasi Vayalar Award 1985 Tatvamasi
Relative(s)	Father-Vidvan Panankavil Dhamodharan, Mother-Koloth Thattarath Madaviyamma

Sukumar Azhikode (Malayalam: സുകുമാര്‍ അഴീക്കോട്; 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 was a bachelor and lived in Eravimangalam near Thrissur, Kerala state. He died on 24 January 2012 at the age of 85 at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, in Thrissur due to cancer.

Awards

Azhikode's most famous work is Tatvamasi (1984, Malayalam), an authoritative book on Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads. Thathvamasi won twelve awards, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and the Rajaji Award.

An outstanding academic and teacher, Azhikode had served as chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT) and as member of the executive councils of Kerala and Kendra Sahitya academy.

A recipient of high literary honours including the Kendra Sahitya Academy award, Azhikode hit national headlines a few years back by declining to accept Padma Shri holding such honours went against the spirit of Indian Constitution that saw all citizens as equal.

Though a towering literary figure he never confined himself to scholastic themes alone but kept on boldly expressing his views and concerns on a wide range of topics of contemporary concerns including the day-to-day politics and politicians.

An ardent Gandhian till the end of his life, Azhikode was close to the Congress in his early life and in the 1960s even unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls as its candidate. But later, he distanced himself from the Congress and moved close to the Left camp without compromising on his Gandhian convictions and the Nehruvian vision of a liberal and just social order. Azhikode headed the Malayalam department of Calicut University and later retired as its pro-vice chancellor.

A prolific writer of columns and a powerful orator, his penchant to give vent to ire on social, political and cultural evils often sparked controversies.

He was involved a legal tiff with cine actor Mohanlal following heated exchanges in the backdrop of the ban on actor Thilakan as a fallout of a feud in the Malayalam filmdom.

Azhikode then came to defend Thilakan incurring the wrath of superstars. Last month, after Azheekode fell ill, a truce was worked out between the writer and the actor to withdraw the defamation case

In January 2007, Azhikode refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him stating that Such honours are against the Constitution. "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.

Death

Azhikode died on 24 January 2012, at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences in Trichur. He was suffering from cancer and had been hospitalized since 7 December 2011. He was 85 years old.

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) and 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)

References

• Ente Innalekal, Current Books, Kottayam, 2007