Award-winning Malayalam Writer & Ardent Gandhian Sukumar Azhikode passed away

Sukumar Azhikode, award-winning Malayalam writer, scholar and one of  the most influential Gandhian intellectual in Kerala, died on 24 January 2012. As an intellectual giant, humanist, a cultural guru, a committed secularist, a champion of human rights and a sentinel of social values, he gave expression to his ideals through more than 35 books, thousands of articles and countless orations.

Azhikode’s Work

Born in Azhikode village in Kannur district in 1926, he graduated in commerce and later did Masters in Malayalam literature. Well versed in Sanskrit and classical literature, Azhikode was also known for his deep understanding of Western philosophy and literature.

His work ranged from Indian philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads to the subtly nuanced pure literary criticism. His writings on poetry was geared towards sociological and cultural criticism.

Professor Azhikode's most noted work was Tatvamasi (1984). Tatvamasi is an intellectual exploration of the eternal wisdom of the Vedas and Upanishads.

Azhikode’s major critical works like Asante SeethaKavyam, a detailed textual study of poet Kumaran Asan’s Chinthavishtayaya Seetha (Seetha immersed in thought) are considered as classics of modern Malayalam literature.

He addressed his concerns through progressive literature (Purogamanasahityavum Mattum), Gandhism (Mahatmavinte Margam), Kumaran Asan (Aasaante Seethaakavyam), the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru (Guruvinte Dukham) and literary aesthetics (Sankara Kurup Vimarshikkapedunnu).

Azhikode as a teacher

An outstanding academic and teacher, he taught literature in different colleges before joining as head in the Malayalam Department of Calicut University. He had served as chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT) and as member of the executive councils of Kerala and Kendra Sahitya academy. Azhikode headed the Malayalam Department of Calicut University and later retired as its Pro-vice chancellor.

Azhikode’s political stand

Azhikode was close to the Congress in his early life and in the 1960s even unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls as its candidate. Later, however he distanced himself from the Congress and moved close to the Left camp without compromising on his Gandhian convictions and the Nehruvian vision of a liberal and just social order.

Awards conferred on Azhikode

Tatvamasi had won the Central Sahitya Akademi and the Kerala Sahithya Akademi awards as well as the prestigious Vayalar Award. Professor Azhikode famously rejected the Padma Shri award conferred on him in 2007, contending that such awards were against the Constitution.