N. Kuttikrishna Pillai (31 October 1936 – 4 February 2024), better known as N. K. Desam, was an Indian Malayalam-language poet and literary critic from the southern state of Kerala. In 2009, his poetry collection Mudra won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. In 2017, his Malayalam transliteration of Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore was selected for the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize.
N. K. Desam | |
|---|---|
 Desam in 2021 | |
| Native name | എൻ. കെ. ദേശം |
| Born | N. Kuttikrishna Pillai 31 October 1936 Desom, Alwaye, Cochin, India |
| Died | 4 February 2024 (aged 87) Kothakulangara, Angamaly, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Poet, literary critic, Translator |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Notable works | Mudra, Gitanjali |
| Notable awards | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Odakkuzhal Award, Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize |
| Spouse | R. Leelavathi |
Biography
editN. K. Desam was born on 31 October 1936 in Desom village near Alwaye.[1] He was an officer at the Life Insurance Corporation and retired in 1996. He was married to R. Leelavathi and had three children.[2] He started writing from the early age of twelve and went on to publish more than 10 poetry collections. His first collection 'Anthimalari' was published in 1973. In 2016, he received the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for the translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Gitanjali’ in Malayalam language.[3]
N. K. Desam died on 4 February 2024, at a hospital in Kodungallur. He was 87.[4] His body was cremated the next day. Hundreds of people gathered at his cremation site along with local Policemen to pay their last tribute.[2]
Works
edit
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Anthimalari | S.P.C.S., Kottayam | |
| 1975 | Kanyahridayam | S.P.C.S., Kottayam | |
| 1979 | Appooppanthadi | Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Trichur | |
| 1979 | Chottayile Seelam | S.P.C.S., Kottayam | |
| 1981 | Pavizhamalli | S.P.C.S., Kottayam | |
| 1984 | Ullekham | N.B.S., Kottayam | |
| 1999 | Anpathonnaksharalee | S. T. Reddiar & Sons, Cochin | |
| 2001 | Elimeesa | S.P.C.S., Kottayam | |
| 2003 | Kavyakeli | Green Books, Trichur | |
| 2006 | Mudra | Current Books, Kottayam | |
| 2006 | Mazhathullikal | Kurukshethra Publications, Cochin | |
| 2010 | Geethanjali | Green Books, Trichur | Translation of Gitanjali |
| 2016 | Vyloppilli Kathakavithakal | Green Books, Trichur | |
| 2016 | Desikam | Vallathol Vidyapeedam, Sukapuram N.B.S., Kottayam |
Complete works |
Awards
edit- 1982: Edasseri Award (Ponnani) – Ullekham[5]
- 1987: Kavanakuthukam Award (Trichur) – Anthyapranamam[citation needed]
- 1984: Nattarangu (Trivandrum) – Total contribution[citation needed]
- 1992: Bodhi (Aluva) – Total contribution[citation needed]
- 2007: Sahodaran Ayyappan Award (Cherai) – Mudra[citation needed]
- 2007: Odakkuzhal Award (Cochin) – Mudra[6]
- 2008: Nalappadan Award (Punnayurkkulam) – Mudra[citation needed]
- 2008: Vennikulam (Thodiyur) – Mudra[citation needed]
- 2009: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (Trichur) – Mudra[7]
- 2009: Katharagam (Bangalore) – Mudra[citation needed]
- 2010: Changampuzha Award (Cochin) – Mudra[8]
- 2011: Cherukad Award (Perithalmanna) – Mudra[9]
- 2013: Asan Prize (Chennai) – Total contribution
- 2013: Krishnankutty Memorial Award (Trichur) – Contribution to Aksharaslokam
- 2013: Mukthakam (Trichur)
- 2013: Kavikulapathi (Pambakuda)
- 2017: Paanini Puraskaaram (Mavelikkara)
- 2013: Kaliyath Damodaran Award (Trichur) – Gitanjali
- 2017: Mukthakasree (Chengamanad) – Total contribution
- 2017: Chethala Vaishnavam (Shoranur) – Total contribution
- 2016: Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize (Chandigarh) – Gitanjali (Translation)[10]
- 2018: Ulloor Award (Trivandrum) – Mudra
- 2019: Ettumanoor Somadasan Award (Ettumanoor) – Various works
- 2020: Sanjayan Award[11]
References
edit- ^ "In Aluva, winning the hearts of voters". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ a b "80ന്റെ നിറവില് എന് കെ ദേശം". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). 30 October 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (5 February 2024). "Malayalam poet N.K. Desam dies at 87". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Poet NK Desam passes away
- ^ "ഇടശ്ശേരി അവാര്ഡ് 1982 - 2012". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "ഓടക്കുഴല് അവാര്ഡ്". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "List of Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award winners". Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Changampuzha Puraskaram". Changampuzha Samskarikakendram. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "ചെറുകാട് അവാര്ഡ്". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize 2016" (PDF) (Press release). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "Poet-critic N K Desam bags Sanjayan Award". Mathrubhumi. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
External links
edit- Dhanya Harikrishnan (2 August 2009). ദേശത്തിന്റെ കാവ്യലോകത്ത് ഇത്തിരി നേരം [Interview with N. K. Desam]. Ezhuth (in Malayalam).