CHENNAI: Tamil writer A Madhavan (82) has been chosen for this year’s Sahitya Akademi award for his collection of essays titled Ilakkiya Chuvadukal. His parents were from Kanyakumari district, but moved to Thiruvananthapuram decades ago. Born in Thiruvananthapuram in 1934, Madhavan had to give up studies due to family circumstances.
Later, he owned a shop in Chaalai Street, a commercial hub in Thiruvananthapuram. Most of his short stories were based on his experiences in this trading area and were considered his significant contribution to modern Tamil literature.
Madhavan started writing, inspired by the Dravidian movement. His first collection of short stories titled Mohapallavi was published in 1974. However, the Tamil literary world came to know of him more through his collection of short stories titled Kadaitheru Kathaigal which was also published the same year. Krishna Parunthu, one of his novels, is considered a masterpiece. His other works include Thoovanam (1987), Punalum Manalum (1974), Kamini, Anaichatham, Madhavan Kathaigal, Arabia Kuthirai, A Madhavan Kathaigal and A Madhavan Muthukkal.
He has already been conferred with the Vishnupuram literary award.