When Mathrubhumi Weekly Vishu Special edition literary competition resumed after 15 years, Rahul Manappatt, first year MA Malayalam student of Kozhikode Government Arts College, did not think in his wildest dreams that he would bag the award. His short story 'Irachikkombu' won the award in short story category. Rahul is totally excited to bag one of the most prestigious awards in Malayalam literature.

A jury including noted writers like Sara Joseph, K P Ramanunni and E P Rajagopalan announced the winner. They evaluated that Rahul's story is creative and linguistically beautiful. Rahul Manappatt told Mathrubhumi.com that the encouragement from Mathrubhumi ever since he started writing, played a key role in his writing career.

"In fact, I am more inclined towards poetry. The college magazine column in Mathrubhumi weekly had published my 19 poems. My works were published in Mathrubhumi since I was in Plus Two. All of them were poems. I have written stories only for competitions. The prize winning story was written when I was travelling in bus to college. Later, I developed it into the short story 'Irachikkombu'," Rahul said.

"I'm living in Amayoor at Manjeri in Malappuram. My parents are daily wage workers. The background of my story is my native place Puthanamkunnu. I tried to depict the life of a Dalit Christian butcher lady and her survival. I came to know about the award when I woke up from an afternoon nap. My friend told me the news.

I felt as if I lived in a world of poetry all these days and suddenly woke up to the world of stories. I have been thinking of sending a story ever since I saw the advertisement of Vishu Edition. Also I decided not to send a poem. Thus I sent the story and it seems like this award has opened a new door before me," Rahul said.

"As I used to write poetry, I was confident about my language. I wrote the story connecting five parts and mixing past and present. I read all writers in Malayalam. I love poems of Methil and also stories of E Santhosh Kumar. I am really excited to be part of the Vishu Edition which earlier found out talented writers like N S Madhavan, N Prabhakaran, Ashitha and Subhash Chandran," the young writer said.

"One cannot predict the beginning and end of writing. Maybe a writer disappears with a single story. I cannot predict how this story would be read and interpreted. Now I'm waiting for the Vishu Edition of Mathrubhumi," Rahul added.