THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards 2019 have been announced. Hareesh's novel 'Meesha', which caused a lot of controversy, won the award in the novel category. P Raman, MR Renukumar (poetry) and Vinoy Thomas (short story) also won the award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a certificate and a citation. P Valsala and VP Unnithiri received the Academy Distinguished Fellowship. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and two sovereign gold medals. NK Jose, Palakkeezh Narayanan, P Appukuttan, Rose Mary, U Kalanathan, CP Aboobacker received the Comprehensive Contribution Award. Director Sathyan Anthikkad won the award for comedy.

Sajitha Mathil, Jisha Abhinaya (Drama), Dr KM Anil (Literary Criticism), G. Madhusoodanan (Scientific Literature), Dr RVG Menon (History of Science), MGS Narayanan (Biography), Arun Ezhuthachan (Travelogue), K. Aravindakshan (Translation) by K.R. Viswanathan (Translation) also received the award.

Professor Madhavan (IC Chacko Award) Anil Kumar (Kanakashree Award), Amal (Geetha Hiranyan Award), Bobby Jose Kattikad (Sibi Kumar Award), Sandeepananda Giri (KR Namboothiri Award) Meenakshi (GN Pillai Award), EM Suraja (Thunchan Memorial Essay Competition) has also won various endowment awards.

Meanwhile, the BJP protested against giving award to Hareesh's 'Meesha'. BJP state president K Surendran responded by saying that the award was given as a challenge to the Hindu community and that the Pinarayi Vijayan government's anger towards Hindus is not over yet. Pinarayi is doing the same thing he did in Sabarimala. Surendran says that there is a communal reference in the novel and that it was withdrawn by the publishers themselves.

Meesha was first published in Mathrubhumi Weekly. However, the weekly edition of the novel was stopped due to controversy. Eventually DC Books published the book.