Famous writer and Kendra Sahitya Akademi awardee Omchery N N Pillai dies at 100

NEW DELHI: Noted writer and Kendra Sahitya Akademi awardee Omchery N N Pillai passed away. He was 100. He died at St Stephen's Hospital in Delhi. The state government has honored him with Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sree Award.

Omchery was born on February 1 in 1924 as the youngest son of P Narayana Pillai and Pappikkutty Amma at Moothedathukavu Village near T V Puram in Vaikom.

After studying at Vaikom English High School, he stayed at Agamananda Swamy's Advaita Ashram in Aluva for two years and studied Sanskrit, Vedas and Puranic legends. After his intermediate studies at CMS College in Kottayam, he graduated from University College in Thiruvananthapuram in Islamic History and Culture.

He then joined Delhi All India Radio in 1951 and later held the duties of publication department editor and publicity department officer. Delhi later became a part of Omchery's life. In 1962, he became an officer in the central information service.

He did advanced studies in mass communication at the University of Pennsylvania, Mexican State University, and Watten School in the United States and after returning, he became a professor at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Omchery retired from Central Service on February 1 in 1989, having worked in the Office of the Chief Censors and the Food Corporation of India. He later joined Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and worked there till December 2019.

Kendra Sahitya Akademi award was given to his memoir Akasmikam in 2020. He has composed nine full-length plays and 80 monologues. In 1972, he won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and the Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham award for his play Pralayam. He has also received the Sahitya Akademi award for his overall contribution in 2010.

Omchery was in the helm of all Malayalee organizations in Delhi. His wife Padma Shri Leela Omcheri predeceased him. The first play Ee Velicham Ningaludethakunnu (This Light is Ours) was composed at the instigation of AKG, who was the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. MPs K C George, P T Punnoos, Imbichi Bawa, V P Nair and others acted in it. In 1963, he formed the Experimental Theater. Actor Madhu has acted in his drama 'Cherippu Kadikkilla'.

The couple has a son S D Omchery and daughter Deepti Omechery Bhalla, a famous classical dancer.