Writer Dr T Anitha Kumari passes away at 63

KOZHIKODE: Dr T Anitha Kumari, a writer and teacher from Thiruvananthapuram, passed away at the age of 63. She breathed her last at around 5.30 am yesterday while undergoing cancer treatment at the MVR Cancer Centre in Kozhikode.

She had been living for the past three years at her daughter Dr Aparna's house in Thenhipalam. Aparna is an assistant professor in the Commerce Department at the University of Calicut. Anitha Kumari had earlier lived at Alliance Tower near DPI Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. She had taught at various SN Colleges since 1988.

In 2015, she joined Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University in Tirur as a professor and became Dean of the Faculty of Literature. She also served as registrar for a brief period from 2018. From 2019, she served as the Hermann Gundert Chair holder and visiting professor at the University of Tübingen in Germany.

Anitha Kumari was also a member of the Film Censor Board from 2004 to 2012. She received the Film Critics Award for Best Film Book in 2007 and the Dr K M George Award for Best Research Work in the same year. She had also served as a member of the state television and state film award committees.

She wrote and directed the documentary ‘Kavitha Pookkum Kadu’, based on poet Sugathakumari.

Anitha Kumari wrote across several genres, including poetry, novels, essays and books on cinema. Her major works include ‘Susannakku Parayanullathu’ and ‘Oru Feministinte Dayaneeyaavastha’, both collections of stories; ‘Santhwanathinte Sandhya’, a novel; ‘Padmarajan: Cinema Sahithyam Jeevitham’; and the essay collection ‘Bhramathmakathayude Vasanthangal’.

She also edited and published several works, including ‘Bhashasahithyacharitam: Atoor’, ‘Gaveshanapadhanavum Reethisasthravum Arivulpadanathinte Puthuvazhikal’, co-edited with Dr E Radhakrishnan, ‘Cinema: Aswadanathinte Charithravazhikal 1930-60’, ‘Malayala Gaveshanam: Charithravum Varthamanavum’, and ‘Basheerinte Lokangal’.

Her last rites will be held at 11 am today at Santhikavadam in Thiruvananthapuram.