സ്‌മൃതിപുരസ്കാര സ്വീകർത്താക്കൾ

   

K V Ramakrishnan
Poet, Translator & Teacher
(2025)

Dr. M Leelavathy
Writer & Literary Critic
(2024)

N K Desam
Poet & Literary Critic
(2023)

Smrtipuraskaram 2025

K. T. Krishna Variar Smrtipuraskaram 2025 presented to K. V. Ramakrishnan

Poet, translator, academician and former assistant editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly Shri. K. V. Ramakrishnan received the K. T. Krishna Variar Smrtipuraskaram 2025 at a simple and solemn function held at the former’s residence at Thrissur. The third edition of the poetry award, which includes a commemorative plaque and a cash prize of Rs. 30,000, honours Shri. Ramakrishnan’s lifetime work and contribution to Malayalam literature.

The Smrtipuraskaram instituted in memory of K. T. Krishna Variar, poet, translator, engineer and management expert, by his family, was presented on December 6, 2025, by Jayasree Variar, the late poet’s wife, to Shri. Ramakrishnan in the presence of their families, close friends and associates from the literary field. The first edition of the award was received by the late poet N. K. Desam and the second by Dr. M. Leelavathy.

The function began with a short invocation followed by a brief insight into the late poet’s life and works as well as into the three-year journey of the award instituted in his memory. Guruvayur Devaswom Chairman Dr. V. K. Vijayan gave a short introduction of the awardee, Sri. K. V. Ramakrishnan, which was replete with interesting anecdotes from KVR’s days as a teacher and his life as a writer. 

In his reply speech, KVR was eloquent about his earliest meeting with the late poet which steadily and gradually grew over time to become a lasting friendship. The programme concluded with a short and heartfelt vote of thanks. The setting was informal. The ambience was warm. The evening was delightful with lots of pleasantries exchanged over refreshments by the guests with Shri. K. V. Ramakrishnan and his ever graceful wife, Smt. Shantha.

K. V. Ramakrishnan is a much-awarded writer with an accolade-speckled writing journey. He has received the Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award (for his work Aksharavidya), Kanaka Shri Award (Kottum Chiriyum), Kakkad Award, State Bank of India Sahithya Puraskaram and Moodadi Damodaran Award (Rajashilpi). His long list of awards also includes N. N. Kakkad Award, Meloor Damodaran Award, V. T. Bhattathiripad Smaraka Puraskaram, Dr. C. P. Menon Smaraka Puraskaram, Deviprasadam Trust Olappamanna Puraskaram, the first ever Deshabhimani Kavithapuraskaram, Ankanam Shamsuddeen Puraskaram, Poonthanam Kavithapuraskaram, and many others.

Varanda Ganga, Agnishuddhi, Kedavilakku, Naazhikavatta, Chathurangam, and Puthiya Sarathi are some of his poetry collections. One of his most recent poetry collections is K. V. Ramakrishnante Kavithakal. Kavithayum Thaalavum and Kavyachinthakal are two of his essay collections. His works of translation include ‘Rabindranath Tagore’ and ‘Dracula’, which was written decades ago and is still widely read across generations. Kanal Chuvadukal is his autobiography.

KVR’s career as an academician started as a Lecturer in English at Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam, from where he moved on to Shri Krishna College, Guruvayur, as English Professor. He has served as Assistant Editor at Mathrubhumi Weekly and later, as Manager at the Publication Division of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala. He has functioned as Secretary, N. V. Smaraka Trust, and Publisher, Kavana Kaumudi. Currently, he dedicates his time to literary and related activities.

The media was supportive, as they had been in the previous years, in giving prompt coverage of the award ceremony.

Smrtipuraskaram 2024

It is two years since the poet left this world. However, his presence has been with us in spirit and through his poetry. 

It is a matter of great blessing to us, the poet's family, that the second edition of the K. T. Krishna Variar Smrtipuraskaram was accepted by one of the writers of the highest stature in Malayalam literature. The award was presented to Dr. M. Leelavathy by the late poet's wife Jayasree Variar at a quiet function at the former's residence, in the presence of the members of both families, on December 3, 2024. The first edition of the Smrtipuraskaram was graciously received by the renowned poet and critic N. K. Desam, known for his precise and metrical poetry, in 2023.

The award, which includes a plaque and a cash prize of Rs. 30,000, honours Dr. Leelavathy’s lifetime work and contribution to Malayalam literature.

A writer, literary critic, poet and educationist, Dr. Leelavathy, who has won many prestigious literature awards, has also been honoured with the Padma Shri in 2008. Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the country’s highest literary honour, was bestowed on her in 2020. She is one of the six writers in Malayalam to have received this great recognition, the others on the list being Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1970), Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (1989), Balamani Amma (1994), Kovilan (2004) and M. T. Vasudevan Nair (2013).

The Odakkuzhal Award, Vallathol Award, Basheer Award, Vayalar Award, Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, O. N. V. Literary Award and Thakazhi Memorial Award are some of the other prominent awards that have come Dr. Leelavathy's way. She has numerous works to her credit covering a wide range of genres including essays, literary criticisms and in-depth reviews of poetry, biographies and an autobiography, and poetry. Akkithathinte Kavitha, O. N. V. Kavithapatanangal, Vailoppilli Kavithapatanam, Kavithayude Vishnulokam, and Balamani Ammayude Kavithalokangal are some of her in-depth studies of the works of the respective titular poets. Appuvinte Anweshanam, Varnaraji, Kavitharathi, and Navatharangam are some of her other renowned works. 

Leelavathy Teacher, as she's fondly referred to, had written a foreword to K. T. Krishna Variar's collection of poems, Chathwarathile Parvakal (1994), which she was quick to recall on this occasion. A few other works by the late poet include Sindooracheppu, a collection of his selected poems, Soundaryalahari (translation) and Bhashabhagavadgita (translation).

We are thankful to the media for their timely support and wide coverage. 

 

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സ്മൃതിപുരസ്കാരം 2023

 

Today, December 3, is the first death anniversary of the poet. Shraddham, as per the Malayalam calendar, fell on November 24. After the Shraddham rituals were conducted at Chovvara, Ernakulam, the family proceeded to hand over the award, K. T. Krishna Variar Smrtipuraskaram, which was instituted in memory of Achhan (the poet), to the noted poet and literary critic N. K. Desam at the awardee's residence in the presence of a few friends and family of the poet.

Here are a few excerpts from the press coverage.

എറണാകുളം:  പ്രശസ്ത കവി എൻ കെ ദേശത്തിന് കെ ടി കൃഷ്ണ വാര്യർ പുരസ്കാരം സമ്മാനിച്ചു. കവിയുടെ അങ്കമാലി കോതകുളങ്ങരയുള്ള വസതിയിലെത്തിയാണ് കെ ടി കൃഷ്ണവാര്യരുടെ കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങൾ പുരസ്‍കാര സമർപ്പണം നടത്തിയത്. എൻ കെ ദേശത്തിന്റെ “ദേശികം” എന്ന കവിതാ ബൃഹദ് സമാഹാരമാണ് ഈ പുരസ്‍കാരത്തിന് തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെട്ടത്. മുപ്പതിനായിരം രൂപയും പ്രശസ്തിഫലകവുമടങ്ങുന്നതാണ് പുരസ്‍കാരം. കവിയും വിവർത്തകനും സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യാ വിദഗ്ധനുമായിരുന്ന കെ ടി കൃഷ്ണവാരിയരുടെ സ്മരണക്കായി ഏർപ്പെടുത്തപ്പെട്ടതാണ് പുരസ്‌കാരം...

പന്ത്രണ്ടാമത്തെ വയസ്സിൽ കാവ്യരചന തുടങ്ങിയ എൻ.കെ. ദേശം 1973ൽ ആദ്യ സമാഹാരമായ അന്തിമലരി പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചു. കന്യാഹൃദയം, അപ്പൂപ്പൻതാടി, ചൊട്ടയിലെ ശീലം, പവിഴമല്ലി, ഉല്ലേഖം, അൻപത്തൊന്നരക്ഷരാളി, എലിമീശ, കാവ്യകേളി, മുദ്ര, മഴത്തുള്ളികൾ, ടാഗോറിന്റെ ഗീതാഞ്ജലിയുടെ വിവർത്തനം എന്നിവയാണു പ്രധാന കൃതികൾ.

ഉല്ലേഖത്തിന് 1982ൽ ആദ്യ ഇടശേരി അവാർഡ് ലഭിച്ചു. മുദ്രയ്‌ക്കു 2007ൽ ഓടക്കുഴൽ അവാർഡും 2009ൽ കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാർഡും ലഭിച്ചു.എൻ.കെ. ദേശം 2013ൽ സാഹിത്യത്തിലെ സമഗ്ര സംഭാവനയ്‌ക്കുള്ള ആശാൻ പുരസ്കാരത്തിന് അർഹനായി.ഇദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഗീതാഞ്ജലിക്കു 2017ൽ പരിഭാഷയ്‌ക്കുള്ള കേന്ദ്ര സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാർഡ് ലഭിച്ചു.30 വയസ്സു വരെ പ്രണയ കവിതകൽ എഴുതിയ എൻ കെ ദേശം പിന്നീടു സാമൂഹിക, രാഷ്‌ട്രീയ ആക്ഷേപ ഹാസ്യത്തിലേക്കു തന്റെ രചനാരീതി മാറ്റുകയായിരുന്നു.

കവി നാളിതുവരെ രചിച്ച തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത കവിതകൾ ചേർത്ത് വള്ളത്തോൾ വിദ്യാപീഠം പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ച് നാഷനൽ ബുക് സ്‌റ്റാൾ വിതരണം ചെയ്യുന്ന “ദേശികം” എന്ന സമ്പൂർണ്ണ കവിതാ സമാഹാരം വ്യാപകമായ അനുവാചക പ്രശംസ ഏറ്റുവാങ്ങിയ കൃതിയാണ്.......

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