M. Leelavathy Explained

M. Leelavathy
Birth Date:16 September 1927
Birth Place:Kottappadi, Thrissur
Education:PhD
Occupation:Critic, teacher
Children:Vinayakumar
Jayakumar
Parents:Kazhunkampilli Kunjunni Nambidi
Mundanat Nangayya Maandal
Spouse:C. Purushothama Menon

Mundanat Leelavathy (born 16 September 1927) is a Malayalam writer, literary critic and educationist.[1] She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. She is a contemporary of such noted critics in Malayalam including K. M. George, S. Guptan Nair, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan, M. K. Sanu and Sukumar Azhikode.[2] Leelavathy is a recipient of the Padma Shri Award.[3]

Education and career

Leelavathy was born in Kottapadi near Guruvayur in Thrissur district (then in Malabar district of Madras State) on 16 September 1927.[4] She attended school in Kunnamkulam, another nearby town (Kottapadi is midway between Guruvayur and Kunnamkulam), before joining Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for her BA degree. She received her MA degree from Madras University. Leelavathy began her teaching career in 1949 as a lecturer at St. Mary's College, Thrissur. After a brief stint at Stella Maris College, Chennai, she joined Victoria College, Palakkad in 1952 and subsequently taught at Maharaja's College and Government Brennen College, Thalassery. She was awarded her PhD degree from Kerala University in 1972.[5] For a brief period of time, she also served as a visiting professor in University of Calicut. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983. She now lives in Thrikkakkara in Ernakulam district.

Awards and honours

During her long literary career, she won several awards and honours including Odakuzhal Award (1978) and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1980) for Varnaraji, Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (1986) for Kavithadhwani, Nalapadan Award given by Nalapadan Memorial Cultural Society (1993) for Aadi Prabhandhangal Sahithyathil Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002),[6] Basheer Award (2005),[7] Guptan Nair Memorial Award (2007),[8] Vayalar Award (2007) for Appuvinte Anweshanam,[9] and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009).[10] Leelavathy is also a recipient of Padma Shri Award for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education.[11] She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary prize in Kerala, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works.[12] She was also conferred with many other literary awards including the Mathrubhumi Literary Award (2011), P. S. John Award (2011),[13] [14] K. P. Kesava Menon Award (2014),[15] and O. N. V. Literary Award (2020).[16] In 2021, she was also awarded with the prestigious Kendra Sahitya Academy Fellowship.[17]

List of awards

YearAwardsWorkReference
1979Odakkuzhal AwardVarnaraji
1980Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary CriticismVarnaraaji
1986Sahitya Akademi Award for Critical study in MalayalamKavitadwani
1999Lalithambika Antharjanam Smaraka Sahitya AwardRosemary
2002Vallathol Award
2004Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (Thayat Award)
2004Deviprasadam Trust Award
2005Basheer Award
2007Guptan Nair Memorial Award
2007Vayalar AwardAppuvinte Anweshanam
2008Padma Shriin Literature & Education field
2010Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
2012Mathrubhumi Literary Award
2018Sahitya Akademi Translation PrizeSreemad Valmeeki Ramayana[18]
2020O. N. V. Literary Award
2021[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Nayar award for M. Leelavathy. https://web.archive.org/web/20091006042813/http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/02/stories/2009100254620600.htm. dead. 6 October 2009. 2 October 2009. The Hindu. 2 May 2010.
  2. Book: Paniker, Ayyappa. Ayyappa Paniker. Modern Indian Literature, An Anthology. 1992. K. M. George. K. M. George (writer). Sahitya Akademi. 2. 254–255. 9788172013240.
  3. Web site: Padma Shri Awardees. india.gov.in. 2 May 2010.
  4. Web site: 16 September 2020. ആഘോഷങ്ങളില്ല; ലീലാവതി ടീച്ചര്‍ക്ക് ഇന്ന് 93-ാം പിറന്നാള്‍.
  5. Web site: Labour India - Our Experts. labourindia.com. 2 May 2010.
  6. Web site: Literary Awards . kerala.gov.in . 2 May 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm . 24 May 2007 .
  7. News: The Hindu images. 3 September 2005. The Hindu. 2 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929072130/http://www.thehinduimages.com/hindu/photoDetail.do?photoId=5557082. 29 September 2011. dead.
  8. News: Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Around the City. https://web.archive.org/web/20101104060454/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/07/stories/2007020722480300.htm. dead. 4 November 2010. 7 February 2007. The Hindu. 2 May 2010.
  9. News: Vayalar award for M. Leelavathy. https://web.archive.org/web/20071012105620/http://hindu.com/2007/10/11/stories/2007101154550500.htm. dead. 12 October 2007. 11 October 2007. The Hindu. 2 May 2010.
  10. News: Nayar award for M. Leelavathy . https://web.archive.org/web/20091006042813/http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/02/stories/2009100254620600.htm. dead. 6 October 2009. 2 October 2009. The Hindu. 2 May 2010.
  11. News: Padma award winners from Kerala . https://web.archive.org/web/20080129064315/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/26/stories/2008012660110400.htm. dead. 29 January 2008. 26 January 2008. The Hindu. 2 May 2010.
  12. News: ഡോ.എം.ലീലാവതിക്ക് എഴുത്തച്ഛന്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരം. 1 November 2010. Mathrubhumi. 1 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110926221619/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=136865. 26 September 2011. dead.
  13. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/leelavati-chosen-for-mathrubhumi-literary-award/article4062066.ece "Leelavati chosen for Mathrubhumi Literary Award"
  14. http://kaumudiglobal.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=28303 "M Leelavathi to be honoured"
  15. Web site: ഡോ. എം. ലീലാവതിക്ക് കേശവമേനോന്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരം. 2 January 2015. DC Books. https://web.archive.org/web/20150102100920/http://www.dcbooks.com/k-p-kesava-menon-award-for-m-leelavathi.html. 2 January 2015. dead.
  16. News: Kerala: Noted critic M Leelavathy bags this year's ONV literary award . 18 December 2020 . The New Indian Express . en-IN . 18 December 2020.
  17. News: M Leelavathy, Ruskin Bond win Kendra Sahitya Akademi Fellowship .
  18. Web site: AKADEMI TRANSLATION PRIZES (1989-2018) . Sahitya Akademi . 20 November 2019 .
  19. News: 2022-04-18 . Thakazhi memorial award presented to Leelavathi . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-06-16 . 0971-751X.