THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted poet and environmental activist Sugathakumari has been selected for the Ezhuthachan Award for 2009.
Announcing the award here on Friday, Education and Cultural Affairs Minister M.A.Baby said that Sugathakumari, who had enriched the Malayalam poetry for the past five decades, was the 17th writer in Malayalam literature to win this prestigious award after its inception in 1993.
A jury, comprising O.N.V.Kurup (chairman), Kerala Sahitya Akademi president M.Mukundan, D.Benjamin and S.Sreedevi, selected the awardee.
The jury in its recommendation to the Government noted that Sugathakumari, who started as a lyrical poet, had mellowed in her tone and lifted poetry to highlight the social values emphasizing beauty and truth. ‘’Her role as a frontline warrior for the cause of protecting the biodiversity of the Silent Valley highlighted the importance of redefining the mutual dependence of man and nature.
And closely following the great traditions of the first poet Valmiki in highlighting the plight of the abandoned womanhood, she set up a shelter, Abhaya, to rehabilitate destitute and harassed women rejected by their relatives and society’’ the jury observed.
O.N.V.Kurup said that the jury unanimously selected her for the award taking note of her contributions to the Malayalam poetry, as well as her efforts to protect the biodiversity of Silent Valley.
Though 17 writers had won the prestigious award so far, only three of them are female writers. Balamaniamma and Kamala Surayya were the other two women writers who received this top award.
Baby said that Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan would present the award comprising a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, citation and a memento at a function to be held here soon. The date will be fixed according to the convenience of the Chief Minister and the poet.
Sugathakumari, who was born in 1934, had her post-graduation in philosophy.
She had served as the principal of Jawahar Balabhavan here. She had also served as chairperson of the State Women’s Commission.
She had received the Kerala Sahithya Academy award for her works ‘Pathirapookkal’ and ‘Rathri Mazha’. Other awards she received include Odakkuzhal Award, Asan prize, Vayalar Award (Ambalamani), Asan Memorial Committee(Chennai) Award , Viswadeepam Award for ‘Thulavarshapacha’, Abu Dhabi Malayali Samajam Award for ‘Radhayevide’, Janmashtami Award (Krish-nakavithakal), Bhatiya Award for social service, Sacred Soul international award and Government of India’s Vrikshamithra Award for environment protection. In 2006, the country honoured her with Padmashree.