N. K. Desam

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N. K. Desam
Desam in 2021
Desam in 2021
Native name
എൻ. കെ. ദേശം
BornN. Kuttikrishna Pillai
(1936-10-31)31 October 1936
Desom, Alwaye, Cochin, India
Died4 February 2024(2024-02-04) (aged 87)
Kothakulangara, Angamaly, Kerala, India
OccupationPoet, literary critic, Translator
LanguageMalayalam
NationalityIndian
Notable worksMudra, Gitanjali
Notable awardsKerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Odakkuzhal Award, Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize
SpouseR. Leelavathi

N. Kuttikrishna Pillai (31 October 1936 – 4 February 2024), better known as N. K. Desam, was an Indian Malayalam-language poet and literary critic from the southern state of Kerala. In 2009, his poetry collection Mudra won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. In 2017, his Malayalam transliteration of Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore was selected for the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize.

Biography[edit]

N. K. Desam was born on 31 October 1936 in Desom village near Alwaye.[1] He was an officer at the Life Insurance Corporation and retired in 1996. He was married to R. Leelavathi and had three children.[2] He started writing from an early age of twelve and went on to publish more then 10 poetry collections. His first collection was 'Anthimalari' which he published in 1973. In 2016, he received the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for the translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Gitanjali’ in Malayalam language.[3]

N. K. Desam died on 4 February 2024, at a hospital in Kodungallur. He was 87 years old at the time of his death.[4] His body was cremated on the next day. Hundreds of people gathered at his cremation site along with local Policemen to pay their last tribute.[2]

Works[edit]

sampoorna krithikalude samaharam
Complete works
Year Title Publisher Notes
1973 Anthimalari S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1975 Kanyahridayam S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1979 Appooppanthadi Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Trichur
1979 Chottayile Seelam S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1981 Pavizhamalli S.P.C.S., Kottayam
1984 Ullekham N.B.S., Kottayam
1999 Anpathonnaksharalee S. T. Reddiar & Sons, Cochin
2001 Elimeesa S.P.C.S., Kottayam
2003 Kavyakeli Green Books, Trichur
2006 Mudra Current Books, Kottayam
2006 Mazhathullikal Kurukshethra Publications, Cochin
2010 Geethanjali Green Books, Trichur Translation of Gitanjali
2016 Vyloppilli Kathakavithakal Green Books, Trichur
2016 Desikam Vallathol Vidyapeedam, Sukapuram
N.B.S., Kottayam
Complete works

Awards[edit]

  • 1982: Edasseri Award (Ponnani) – Ullekham[5]
  • 1987: Kavanakuthukam Award (Trichur) – Anthyapranamam[citation needed]
  • 1984: Nattarangu (Trivandrum) – Total contribution[citation needed]
  • 1992: Bodhi (Aluva) – Total contribution[citation needed]
  • 2007: Sahodaran Ayyappan Award (Cherai) – Mudra[citation needed]
  • 2007: Odakkuzhal Award (Cochin) – Mudra[6]
  • 2008: Nalappadan Award (Punnayurkkulam) – Mudra[citation needed]
  • 2008: Vennikulam (Thodiyur) – Mudra[citation needed]
  • 2009: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (Trichur) – Mudra[7]
  • 2009: Katharagam (Bangalore) – Mudra[citation needed]
  • 2010: Changampuzha Award (Cochin) – Mudra[8]
  • 2011: Cherukad Award (Perithalmanna) – Mudra[9]
  • 2013: Asan Prize (Chennai) – Total contribution
  • 2013: Krishnankutty Memorial Award (Trichur) – Contribution to Aksharaslokam
  • 2013: Mukthakam (Trichur)
  • 2013: Kavikulapathi (Pambakuda)
  • 2017: Paanini Puraskaaram (Mavelikkara)
  • 2013: Kaliyath Damodaran Award (Trichur) – Gitanjali
  • 2017: Mukthakasree (Chengamanad) – Total contribution
  • 2017: Chethala Vaishnavam (Shoranur) – Total contribution
  • 2016: Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize (Chandigarh) – Gitanjali (Translation)[10]
  • 2018: Ulloor Award (Trivandrum) – Mudra
  • 2019: Ettumanoor Somadasan Award (Ettumanoor) – Various works
  • 2020: Sanjayan Award[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "In Aluva, winning the hearts of voters". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b "80ന്റെ നിറവില്‍ എന്‍ കെ ദേശം". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). 30 October 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  3. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (5 February 2024). "Malayalam poet N.K. Desam dies at 87". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  4. ^ Poet NK Desam passes away
  5. ^ "ഇടശ്ശേരി അവാര്‍ഡ് 1982 - 2012". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  6. ^ "ഓടക്കുഴല്‍ അവാര്‍ഡ്". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  7. ^ "List of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award winners". Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Changampuzha Puraskaram". Changampuzha Samskarikakendram. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  9. ^ "ചെറുകാട് അവാര്‍ഡ്". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize 2016" (PDF) (Press release). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Poet-critic N K Desam bags Sanjayan Award". Mathrubhumi. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

External links[edit]