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Malayalam writer Sukumar Azhikode passes away
TRIVANDRUM - Sukumar Azhikode, who dominated Kerala’s cultural scene for over six decades as a literary critic, orator, academic and journalist, died at a private hospital in the state’s cultural capital of Trichur on Tuesday. He was 85.
Azhikode, who was admitted to the Amala Hospital with symptoms of cancer on December 10, breathed his last at around 6.30am. The body will be cremated at Payyambalam Beach in Kannur at 11am on Wednesday with full state honours, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.
His friends and fans, wanted the body to be cremated at Trichur, where Azhikode lived most part of his life, but his relatives insisted on taking the mortal remains to his home district. Chandy said that the government will build a memorial for Azhikode in Trichur in consultation with all concerned.
The body was taken to Kannur after it was kept at the Sahitya Academy Hall for the public to pay homage. People from all walks of life thronged the Academy hall to pay their last respects. The mourners included chief minister and many of his cabinet colleagues as well as leaders of most political parties. A bachelor, Azhikode began his career as a teacher at Raja’s high school at Chirackkal in Kannur retired as Pro Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University in 1986. He was also the Chairman of the National Book Trust between 1993 and 1996.
Born in Azhikode village in Kannur district in 1926, he graduated in commerce and later did Masters and doctorate in Malayalam literature. He taught literature in different colleges before joining the Malayalam Department of Calicut University as its head. Azhikode made his presence in the cultural scene of Kerala through his scholarly and inspiring orations on not only literature and philosophy but also other issues. The sound knowledge he acquired in Sanskrit, Malayalam and English helped him in internalizing the classical traditions of all the three languages.
Azhikode’s most famous work Tatvamasi (1984, Malayalam) is considered as one of the most authoritative book on Indian philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads.
This work won him 12 awards including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and Rajaji Award.
He refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him in 2007 stating that such honours were against the Constitution.
The Constitution, according to him, treated everyone as equal. He argued that giving such honours to some was an act of discrimination.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Keralite expatriates in the Gulf countries also mourned the demise of Azhikode. Several community organisations and cultural bodies across the GCC countries expressed their grief and condolences.
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