Writer 'rebirth' through Facebook; R Rajasree joins elite club after winning prestigious Vayalar award

KANNUR: R Rajasree belongs to the new wave of writers who had little to do with a pen to climb the ladders of prominence. Rajasree’s baby steps into literary fame came after she started posting her writings on Facebook. She would post the chapters either in the dead of night or at the crack of dawn; any delay would result in a flurry of messages, tags, and phone calls from readers.

Rajasree’s sophomore novel, *Athreyakam*, was not first posted on social media, and the work ended up winning the 50th Vayalar Award, one of the most prestigious honours in Malayalam literature. Athreyakam also signals the return of a writer who revived her literary prowess through social media after being dormant for years. "Kalyaniyennum Dakshayaniyennum Peraya Randu Sthreekalude Katha"—Rajasree’s first novel- created history in sales when published.

The knack for writing started in school days itself, as writing short stories turned into Rajasree’s favourite pastime.

Publishers approached her after about twenty chapters were posted on social media. It was this work that won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Athreyakam appeared five years later, but the work had begun in 2016. *Athreyakam* did not aim to novelise the lives of characters from the *Mahabharata*; rather, it portrays a small region—a place where existence itself is under threat, and where people are marginalised due to their attire, food habits, customs, beliefs, and ideologies.

Rajasree was born on July 22, 1977, at Parassinikadavu in Kannur. Father: P. N. Rajappan Master; Mother: R. Rajamma. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Research Centre of the Department of Malayalam, Government Brennen College, Thalassery.

Previous women recipients of Vayalar Award

• Sugathakumari - 1984

• Madhavikutty - 1997

• Sarah Joseph - 2004

• M. Leelavathi - 2007

• K.R. Meera - 2014

Rajasree expressed immense happiness at receiving an award named after a great poet. She had returned to writing after a hiatus of 25 years. 'Athreyakam' was the result of her research on marginalised people in society.

“I used to study the names of Vayalar award recipients at college, and now the prestigious award has come to me”, said Rajasree.