Ashitha (writer)
Indian writer (1956–2019)
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Ashitha (5 April 1956 – 27 March 2019) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, best known for her short stories, poems and translations. She helped popularize haiku poems in Malayalam through her translations. She was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story and other honours including the Padmarajan Award, Lalithambika Anterjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award and Edasseri Award.
Ashitha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 April 1956 |
| Died | 27 March 2019 (aged 62) |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Spouse | Raman Kutty |
| Children | A daughter |
| Parent(s) | Balachandran Nair Thankamani Amma |
| Writing career | |
| Genres | Short story, poetry, novel, translation |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards |
|
Biography
Ashitha was born on 5 April 1956[1] in Pazhayannur in Trichur district of Kerala to Kazhangottu Balachandran Nair and Thekkekarupath Thankamani Amma.[2] She completed her schooling from Delhi and Bombay and obtained her graduate and master's degrees in English literature from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam.[3][additional citation(s) needed]
Ashitha was married to K. V. Ramankutty and had a daughter, Uma Praseedha.[4][5] She was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and was undergoing treatment when she died on 27 March 2019, at 62, survived by her husband, daughter and son-in-law.[6][7]
Legacy
Ashitha, who authored over 20 books,[8][9] was known to have portrayed her life experiences through short stories and poems.[10] Counted among the most prominent women writers in Malayalam after Kamala Surayya and best known for her short stories,[11] she translated a number of works of Alexander Pushkin and Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī as well as many haikus.[12] She also adapted the Ramayana, Bhagavatam, Jataka tales and Aithihyamala for children.[13] Her biography, Athu Njanayirunnu (That Was I), was published by Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu.[14] The annual Ashitha Memorial Literary Award was instituted in 2022 in her memory.[15]
Awards
Ponnani Edasseri Smaraka Samithi selected Ashitha's work, Vismaya Chhihnangal for an Edasseri Award in 1986[16] and she received the Lalithambika Anterjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award in 1994.[17] Her short story anthology, Thathagatha, fetched her the Padmarajan Award in 2000.[18][19] Kerala Sahitya Akademi selected Ashithayude Kathakal, another short story anthology, for its annual award for story in 2015.[20] She was also a recipient of Ankanam Award[21] and Thoppil Ravi Foundation Award.[22]
Selected works
Short stories
- Ashitha (2002). Nilavinte Nattile. DC Books. ASIN B007E4VMWU.
- Ashitha (2012). Mazhameghangal. DC Books. ASIN B007E4VNO2.
- Ashitha (2007). Amma Ennotu Parnha Nunakal. Green Books. ISBN 979-8184230535.
- Ashitha (2015). Ashithayude Kathakal. Mathrubhumi. ISBN 978-8182664937.
- Ashitha (2013). Ori Sthreeyum Parayathathu. Kerala Bhasha Institute. ISBN 9788188420100.
- Ashitha (2015). Ma Faleshu (in Malayalam). Kelkkam Audio Books. ISBN 9780000104847.
(audio book)
- Ashitha (1987). Vismaya chihnangal. Edatt: Malayalam.
- Ashitha (1993). Apoorna viramanghal. Kozhikode: Mulberry.
- Ashitha (1999). Thathagatha.
Novels and novellas
- Ashitha (2013). Mayilpeelisparsham. Melinda Books. ISBN 978-8188420841.
- Ashitha (2017). Ashithayude Novallettukal. Saikatham Books. ISBN 978-9386222152.
- Ashitha (2018). Ashithayude Novallettukal. Saikatham Books. ISBN 978-9386222787.
Poetry
- Ashitha. Meera Paadunnu (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi. ISBN 978-81-8266-550-7.
- Ashitha. Ashithayude Haiku Kavithakal (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi.
- Ashitha. Shivena Sahanarthanam (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi.
- Ashitha (2014). Ashithayude Haiku Kavithakal (in Malayalam). Green Pepper. ISBN 978-8193034453.
Children's literature
- Ashitha (2015). Jaathaka Kadhakal. Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd. ISBN 978-93-83197-72-9.
- Ashitha (2008). 365 Kunjukathakal. DC Books. ISBN 978-81-264-0918-1.
- Ashitha. Ramayanam Kuttikalkku (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi. ISBN 978-81-8265-516-4.
- Ashitha. Bhagavatham Kuttikalkku (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi.
- Ashitha (2007). Kuttikalude Aithihyamala. DC Books. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- Ashitha (2015). Kochurajakumaran. Melinda Books. ISBN 978-9383885381.
- Ashitha (2018). Kunjhu Njandum Amma Njandum. Mambazham. ISBN 9789352821907. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- Ashitha (2018). Chemmariyadinte Soothram. Mambazham. ISBN 9789352821921. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- Ashitha (2018). Kottiyum Kurukkanum. Mambazham. ISBN 9789352821884. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- Ashitha (2018). Kothiyan Kakka. Mambazham. ISBN 9789352821860. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
Translations
- Ashitha. Rumi Paranja Kathakal (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi.
- Ashitha (2017). Parayam Namukku Kathakal. Read Me Books. ISBN 978-8193422526.
- Potter, Beatrix (2016). Peter Enna Muyalum Mattu Kathakalum. Translated by Ashitha (First ed.). Kozhikode, Keralaṃ, India: Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182669529. OCLC 971034780.
- Spyri, Johanna (2017). Heidi. Translated by Ashitha. Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182671591.
- Padhavinyaasangal: 32 Russian kavithakal. Translated by Ashitha. Thrissur: Cosmo books. 1999.
- Laotsu (2003). Tao: Guruvinte vazhi. Translated by Ashitha. Ayiloor: Sorba Publications. ISBN 9789382279419.
Memoirs
- Ashitha; Poythumkadavu, Shihabuddin (2019). Athu Njanayirunnu. Mathrubhumi. ASIN B07P7N27PK.
Others
- Ashitha (2015). Vishnu Sahasranamam. Saikatham Books. ISBN 978-9382909286.
- Ashitha (2015). Sneham Thanne Snehathilezhuthiyathu (Ashithayude Kathukal). Green Pepper. ISBN 978-9385253065.
In compilations
- Rajeevkumar, M. (1984). Antharjanam Muthal Ashitha Vare. Paridhi Publications, Thiruvananthapuram: Paridhi Publications, Thiruvananthapuram.
