THRISSUR: Renowned children's writer Leela Namboodiripad aka Sumangala (87) passed away on Tuesday evening. She had been undergoing treatment for old age-related ailments for the past three months. The funeral will be held at 11 am on Wednesday at Paramekkavu Shanthighat.

She has won several awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for her contribution to children's literature in 1979, the Kerala State Institute Of Children's Literature's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Outstanding Contribution.

Sumangala was her pen name. Sumangala, who has written several books for children for 40 years, announced her retirement three years ago. She has authored 37 books out of which 23 are children's literature. Some of her main works are Panchatantra, Mittayippothi, Neypayasam, Manchadikuru, Kurinjiyum Kootukarum and Bhagavatha Kadhakal.

Her husband is the late Ashtamoorthy Namboodiripad. Children: Dr. Usha, Narayanan, Ashtamoorthy.