New Delhi: Noted Malayalam poet Akkitham was conferred with the 55th Jnanpith award for his outstanding contribution to the Malayalam literature.
He has bagged the award at the age of 93. Akkitham, a native of Palakkad has penned over 43 works in Malayalam.
The award includes a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh and a bronze replica of Goddess Saraswati.
Jnanpith selection board has unanimously selected Akkitham for the award.
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri who is popularly known as Akkitham is the 6th Malayalam writer who bagged the award. Poet G Sankara Kurup was the first Malayalam writer who won the award. Thakazhi, SK Pottekatt, MT Vasudevan Nair and ONV Kurup are the other Malayalam writers who bagged the award.
Akkitham was honoured with Padma Sri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Government of India in 2017.
‘Irupatham Nootandinte Ithihasam’ is his major work. He also won a number of awards including Kendra and Kerala Sahithya Akademi awards and Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
