The Kerala Sahitya Akademi announced its 2024 literary awards here on Thursday. Akademi president K. Satchidanandan made the official announcement.

Poets and writers K.V. Ramakrishnan and Ezhacheri Ramachandran have been selected for the fellowships of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi-2024. The fellowship contains a cash award of ₹50,000, a gold locket of two sovereigns, citation, certificate, and ‘ponnada.’

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Veteran writers, who are selected for Lifetime Achievement Awards are: P.K.N. Panicker; Payyannur Kunjhiraman; M.M. Narayanan; T.K. Gangadharan; K.E.N.; and Mallika Younis. The award, which will be presented to writers above 70 for their significant contributions to Malayalam literature, carries a cash prize of ₹30,000, certificate, ponnada, and a plaque.

Anitha Thampi won the award for poetry for Muringa Vazha Kariveppu. Aano by G.R. Indugopan won the award for novel. V. Shynilal got the award for the short story Garisappa Aruvi Adhava Oru Jalayatra.

Other award winners are Sasidharan Naduvil – drama (Pithalashalabham); G. Dileepan - literary criticism (Ramayanathinte Charithrasanchaarangal); Deepak P. - scholarly literature (Nirmithabuddhikalathe Samoohika Rashtreeya Jeevitham); K. Rajasekharan Nair - biography/autobiography (Njan Enna Bhaavam); K.R. Ajayan - travelogue (Aarohanam Himalayam); Chinju Prakash - translation – (Ente Rajyam Ente Shareeram); E.N. Sheeja - children’s literature (Ammamanamulla Kanivukal); and Niranjan - humour (Keralathinte Maidhathmakatha). Awards carry a cash prize of ₹25,000, certificate, and a plaque.

Endowment Awards

Winners of Endowment Awards are: C.B. Kumar Award (essay) – Pookkalude Pusthakam by M. Swaraj; Kuttippuzha Award (literary criticism) – Malayala Sahitya Vimarshanathile Marxian Swadheenam by S.S. Sreekumar; G.N. Pillai Award (scholarly literature under 40) Kathaprasangam: Kalayum Samoohavum by Soumya K.C. and Aarude Raman? by T.S. Shyamkumar; Geetha Hiranyan Award (short story under 40) – Pookkaran by Salim Sharif; (young poetry award under 40) – Rathriyil Achankara by Durgaprasad; and Thunchan memorial essay competition – Ezhuthachante Kavyabhasha by Praseeda K.P.

There was no eligible entry this year for the Vilasini Award for studies on novels or novelists.