M. Leelavathy

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M. Leelavathy
Dr m leelavathy.jpg
Born (1927-09-16) 16 September 1927 (age 96)
EducationPhD
Occupation(s) Critic, teacher
SpouseC. Purushothama Menon
ChildrenVinayakumar
Jayakumar
Parent(s)Kazhunkampilli Kunjunni Nambidi
Mundanat Nangayya Maandal
Awards

Mundanat Leelavathy (born 16 September 1927) is a Malayalam writer, literary critic and educationist. [1] She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. She is a contemporary of such noted critics in Malayalam including K. M. George, S. Guptan Nair, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan, M. K. Sanu and Sukumar Azhikode. [2] Leelavathy is a recipient of the Padma Shri Award. [3]

Contents

Education and career

Leelavathy was born in Kottapadi near Guruvayur in Thrissur district (then in Malabar district of Madras State) on 16 September 1927. [4] She attended school in Kunnamkulam, another nearby town (Kottapadi is midway between Guruvayur and Kunnamkulam), before joining Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for her BA degree. She received her MA degree from Madras University. Leelavathy began her teaching career in 1949 as a lecturer at St. Mary's College, Thrissur. After a brief stint at Stella Maris College, Chennai, she joined Victoria College, Palakkad in 1952 and subsequently taught at Maharaja's College and Government Brennen College, Thalassery. She was awarded her PhD degree from Kerala University in 1972. [5] For a brief period of time, she also served as a visiting professor in University of Calicut. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983. She now lives in Thrikkakkara in Ernakulam district.

Awards and honours

During her long literary career, she won several awards and honours including Odakuzhal Award (1978) [5] and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1980) for Varnaraji, Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (1986) for Kavithadhwani, Nalapadan Award given by Nalapadan Memorial Cultural Society (1993) for Aadi Prabhandhangal Sahithyathil Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002), [6] Basheer Award (2005), [7] Guptan Nair Memorial Award (2007), [8] Vayalar Award (2007) for Appuvinte Anweshanam, [9] and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009). [10] Leelavathy is also a recipient of Padma Shri Award for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education. [11] She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary prize in Kerala, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works. [12] She was also conferred with many other literary awards including the Mathrubhumi Literary Award (2011), P. S. John Award (2011), [13] [14] K. P. Kesava Menon Award (2014), [15] and O. N. V. Literary Award (2020). [16] In 2021, she was also awarded with the prestigious Kendra Sahitya Academy Fellowship. [17]

List of awards

YearAwardsWorkReference
1979 Odakkuzhal Award Varnaraji
1980 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism Varnaraaji
1986 Sahitya Akademi Award for Critical study in Malayalam Kavitadwani
1999 Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award Rosemary
2002 Vallathol Award
2004 Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (Thayat Award)
2004 Deviprasadam Trust Award
2005 Basheer Award
2007 Guptan Nair Memorial Award
2007 Vayalar Award Appuvinte Anweshanam
2008 Padma Shri in Literature & Education field
2010 Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
2012 Mathrubhumi Literary Award
2018 Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize Sreemad Valmeeki Ramayana [23]
2020 O. N. V. Literary Award
2021 Thakazhi Memorial Award

[24]

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