Jnanpith Awardee, Malayalam poet dies at 94

Renowned Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri passed away at a private hospital in Kerala's Thrissur on Thursday.

He was 94 years old, was admitted to the hospital and was under treatment for age-related ailments.

Akkitham, who had won the 55th Jnanpith Award last year, had won many awards including Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards and Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.

He was honoured with Padmashri in 2017.

Akkitham, who was born on March 19, 1926, wrote his first poem when he was just eight.

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After schooling in Sanskrit, Astrology and Music, he did college education but did not complete his graduate degree course.

He started his career as an editor of Unni Namboothiri magazine, which he used as a platform for his social activities.

He also worked as an assistant editor at Mangalodayam and Yogakshemam magazines.

In 1956, he joined the Kozhikode station of the All India Radio (AIR) where he served until 1975 after which he was transferred to the Thrissur station of the AIR.

He was also associated with Anaadi, a literary initiative for popularising studies of Vedas.

The poet, who was instrumental in heralding modernism in Malayalam poetry, was also a true Gandhian, social reformer, journalist and an example of simplicity.

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