Sukumar Azhikode

Sukumar Azhikode was born on 12th May 1926 in Azhikode in Kannur, Kerala as Koloth Thattarath Sukumaran. Sukumar is well versed in Malayalam, Sanskrit and English. He was a writer, orator, social critic and academic. His parents are Vidvan Panankavil Dhamodharan and Koloth Thattarath Madaviyamma. His father was a teacher and his mother was a homemaker. He had six siblings and he was the fourth child in his family. He went to Azhikode South Elementary School and then to Rajas High School Chirakkal. In Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Patasala, he studied Ayurveda for a year. In 1943, he came out as a commerce graduate from St. Aloysius College in Mangalore.

After his graduation, he got a job as a clerk at Indian Overseas Bank in Kannur. As he didn’t have an interest in the job, he quit it and joined the Government College of Teacher Education in Kozhikode and completed the teacher training. In 1948, he joined Rajas High School Chirakkal as a teacher, where he was a student once. Simultaneously he did his Master’s degree in Sanskrit and Malayalam. He worked in various schools and colleges, including his alma mater St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, St. Joseph's College in Devagiri, SNM Training College in Moothakunnam and the University of Calicut. In 1981, he got a doctorate in Malayalam literature. He did a thesis, Western Influence in Malayalam Literary Criticism and for this work, he received his doctorate.

His interest in Indian philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads, came to light when Tatvamasi got published in 1984. Sukumar received various awards and honors for his exemplary literary works. He is the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award, Ezhuthachan Puraskaram and Vallathol Award. Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is one of the highest literary awards given by the Kerala government. Besides these honors, Sukumar was honored with Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards given by the Government of India. It was announced in 2007, but he refused to get it. Sukumar had also contested in the election but didn’t win it. Some of his notable works are Aasante Seetakavyam, Ramananum Malayalakavitayum, Mahatmavinte Margam and Malayala Sahityavimarsanam. Sukumar was suffering from bone cancer and had been admitted to Amala Institute of Medical Sciences on 7^th December 2011. He died in Thrissur on 24^th January 2012 at the age of 85.