Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards announced; M Swaraj wins Essay award

THRISSUR: The Kerala Sahitya Akademi has announced the winners of this year's prestigious literary awards. Notably, CPM leader and former Nilambur by-election candidate M Swaraj has been honoured in the essay category for his acclaimed work 'Pookkalude Pusthakam'. He has been selected for the Sibi Kumar Endowment Award for Essay, which recognises excellence in the field.

In the fiction categories, GR Indugopan won the Best Novel award for 'Aano', while Anitha Thampi was named the winner in the poetry category for her collection 'Muringa Vazha Kariveppu'. V Shinilal was awarded Best Short Story for his work 'Garisappa Aruvi Athava Oru Jalayathra'.

Poets K.V. Ramakrishnan and Ezhacheri Ramachandran have been selected for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi’s Honorary Membership for 2024. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 50,000, a gold medal weighing two sovereigns, a citation, a shawl, and a plaque.

In addition, P.K.N. Panicker, Payyannur Kunjiraman, M.M. Narayanan, T.K. Gangadharan, K.E.N., and Mallika Yunis will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award includes a cash prize of Rs 30,000, a certificate, a shawl, and a plaque.