Mundanat Leelavathy (born 16 September 1927) is a

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

literary Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to ...

critic, and

educationist Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Var ...

. She taught at various colleges in

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

before retiring as Principal from

Government Brennen College, Thalassery Brennen College is an educational institution in Kerala, affiliated to the Kannur University. It is located in Dharmadam, Thalassery of Kerala state, India. The college evolved from a school established by the English philanthropist Edward Bre ...

. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Kendra Sahithya Academy Award, and Kerala Sahithya Academy Award. She is a contemporary of such noted critics in Malayalam including

K. M. George K. M. George may refer to: * K. M. George (politician), political leader and founder of Kerala Congress * K. M. George (writer) Karimpumannil Mathai George (1914–2002), popularly known as Dr. K. M. George, was an eminent Malayalam writer and ...

S. Guptan Nair S. Guptan Nair (1919 – 2006) was an Indian scholar, academic, critic and writer of Malayalam literature. Known for his literary works as well as for his oratorical skills, Nair was a prolific writer with over 35 books to his credit. He was a d ...

N. Krishna Pillai N. Krishna Pillai (22 September 1916 – 10 July 1988) was an Indian dramatist, literary critic, translator and historian of Malayalam language. Known for his realism and dramatic portrayal of psycho-social tensions, Pillai's plays earned him th ...

P. K. Balakrishnan Panikkassery Keshavan Balakrishnan (March 2, 1925 – April 3, 1991) was an Indian novelist and critic. A doyen of Malayalam literature, he is best known for his novel, '' Ini Njan Urangatte'' (''And now, Let me Sleep''), a novel based on Maha ...

, M.K. Sanu, and

Sukumar Azhikode Koloth Thattarath Sukumaran, popularly known as Sukumar Azhikode (26 May 1926 – 24 January 2012) was an Indian academic, orator, critic and writer of Malayalam literature, known for his contributions to Malayalam language and insights on Indian ...

. Leelavathy is a recipient of the

Padma Shri Award Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred ...

Education and career

Leelavathy was born in

Kottapadi Kottapadi is a village near Guruvayur town in the district of Thrissur, Kerala, South India. Kottapadi literally translates to ''Gates to Fort''. Kottapadi has now gained prominence Punnathurkotta for which it has been named, which used to ho ...

near

Guruvayur Guruvayur () is a municipal temple town in Thrissur District, of Kerala State in India. It is a suburban town of Thrissur city, located from Thrissur towards the north-west. It houses the Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple. It is located at ...

in Thrissur district (Then in

Malabar district Malabar District, also known as Malayalam District, was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792-1800) and Madras Presidency (1800-1947) in British India, and independent India's Madras State (19 ...

Madras Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

state) on 16 September 1927. She attended school in

Kunnamkulam Kunnamkulam is a municipal town situated in the Thrissur District of Kerala in India, spread over an area of 34.18 km2. It is an old commercial town, with an ancient history, famous for its printing and book binding industry. In the past, t ...

, another nearby town (Kottapadi is midway between Guruvayur and Kunnamkulam), before joining

Maharaja's College, Ernakulam The Maharaja's College is a government college of higher education located in Kochi, Kerala. Established in 1875, it is one of the oldest colleges in India. Located in the heart of the city, the college is spread over a campus of on the ban ...

for her B.A. degree. She received her M.A. degree from

Madras University The University of Madras (informally known as Madras University) is a public state university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1857, it is one of the oldest and among the most prestigious universities in India, incorporated by an a ...

. Leelavathy began her teaching career in 1949 as a lecturer at St. Mary's College, Thrissur. After a brief stint at

Stella Maris College Stella or STELLA may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Comedy *Stella (comedy group), a comedy troupe consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black and David Wain Characters *Stella (given name), including a list of characters with th ...

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

, she joined

Victoria College, Palakkad The Government Victoria College in Palakkad, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Malabar region of Kerala. It holds a rich educational heritage in the history of malabar region. It is affiliated to the Calicut University and ...

in 1952 and subsequently taught at Maharaja's College and

. She was awarded her Ph.D. degree from

Kerala University University of Kerala, formerly the University of Travancore, is a state-run public university located in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital of Kerala, India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Chit ...

in 1972. For a brief period of time, she also served as a Visiting Professor in

University of Calicut The University of Calicut, also known as Calicut University, is a State ownership, state-run public university headquartered at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district of the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1968, it is the first university to ...

. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983. She now lives in

Thrikkakkara Thrikkakkara is a region in the city of Kochi, as well as a municipality in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala, India. The municipality comprises 43 wards, including Marottichuvadu. It is especially notable for its significance in ...

Ernakulam Ernakulam () is the Central Business District of the city of Kochi in Kerala, India and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Many major establishments, including the Kerala High Court, the office of the Kochi Municipal Corporation a ...

district.

Awards and honors

During her long literary career, she won several awards and honors including Odakuzhal Award (1978) and

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1958, by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy), to Malayalam writers for their outstanding books of literary merit. The awards are given in various categories.

(1980) for ''Varnaraji'', Kendra Sahithya Academy Award (1986) for ''Kavithadhwani'', Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002), Basheer Award (2005), Guptan Nair Memorial Award (2007), Vayalar Ramavarma Award (2007) for ''Appuvinte Anweshanam'', and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009). Leelavathy is also a recipient of

for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

. She won

Ezhuthachan Puraskaram The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary honour is given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Government of Kerala. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, the father of the Malayalam language and consists of a cash prize of 5,00,00 ...

, the highest literary prize in Kerala, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works. She was also conferred with many other literary awards including the

Mathrubhumi Literary Award Mathrubhumi Literary Award (also known as Mathrubhumi Sahitya Puraskaram) is a literary award instituted in 2001 by leading Malayalam daily ''Mathrubhumi''. A sum of 3 lakh, a plaque and citation constitute the award. The award is conferred as a ...

(2011), P. S. John Award (2011), K. P. Kesava Menon Award (2014), and

O. N. V. Literary Award The O. N. V. Literary Award is awarded annually by O. N. V. Cultural Academy from 2017 in memory of poet O. N. V. Kurup (1931–2016). The award is a national award for which writers from across India are considered for their overall contributions ...

(2020).. In 2021, she was also awarded with the prestigious Kendra Sahitya Academy Fellowship.,

List of awards

References

External links

Spiritualism, materialism fuse in Balamaniyamma's poems
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leelavathy, M. Living people 1927 births Malayalam-language writers Writers from Kerala Malayalam literary critics Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education Government Victoria College, Palakkad faculty Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni Maharaja's College, Ernakulam faculty 20th-century Indian women writers 20th-century Indian writers 21st-century Indian women writers 21st-century Indian writers People from Thrissur district 20th-century Indian women scientists 21st-century Indian women scientists Indian women educational theorists 20th-century Indian educational theorists Women writers from Kerala 21st-century Indian educational theorists Women educators from Kerala Educators from Kerala 20th-century women educators 21st-century women educators Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Prize for Translation