Mundanat Leelavathy (born 16 September 1927) is a

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

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...

literary Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, plays, and poems. It includes both print and digital writing. In recent centuries, ...

critic and

educationist Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education also fol ...

. She taught at various colleges in

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

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 Br ...

. During her long literary career, she won several awards including

Sahitya Akademi Award The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the 22 languages of the ...

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.

. 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), Malayalam writer, scholar and literary critic * Kayalakakam M. George, banker and former CEO of Palai Central Ban ...

, S. Guptan Nair, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan, 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 Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the ...

. Leelavathy is a recipient of the

Padma Shri Award The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

Education and career

Leelavathy was born in Kottapadi 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 ...

Thrissur district Thrissur (), anglicised as Trichur, is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. It is situated in the central region of the state. Spanning an area of about , th ...

(then in

Malabar district Malabar District, also known as British Malabar or simply Malabar was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792–1800), Madras Presidency (1800–1950) and finally, Madras State (1950–1956) in ...

Madras State Madras State was a state in the Indian Republic, which was in existence during the mid-20th century as a successor to the Madras Presidency of British India. The state came into existence on 26 January 1950 when the Constitution of India was ad ...

) on 16 September 1927. Her parents were Kazhungampilly Kunjunni Nambidi and Mundanat Nangayya Mandal, and she was their eldest child. She attended school in

Kunnamkulam Kunnamkulam is a municipal town located in the Thrissur District of Kerala, India, with historical origins tracing back to the Paleolithic age. Renowned for its deep-rooted cultural heritage, vibrant printing industry, and religious diversity, ...

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

Maharaja's College, Ernakulam The Maharaja's College is a Public university, government college located in the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. Established in 1875, it is one of the oldest colleges in India. Located in the heart of the city, the college campus is spread ov ...

for her BA degree. She received her MA degree from

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

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

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

, she joined Victoria College, Palakkad in 1952 and subsequently taught at Maharaja's College and

. She was awarded her PhD degree from

Kerala University University of Kerala (formerly known as University of Travancore) is a state-run public university in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital of Kerala, India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Chithira ...

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 in

Ernakulam Ernakulam () is the central business district of the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. It is the namesake of Ernakulam district. The eastern part of Kochi city is mainly known as Ernakulam, while the western part of it after the Venduruthy Bridge ...

district.

Awards and honours

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

(1980) for ''Varnaraji'',

Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the 22 languages of the ...

(1986) for ''Kavithadhwani'', Nalapadan Award given by Nalapadan Memorial Cultural Society (1993) for ''Aadi Prabhandhangal Sahithyathil'' Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999),

Vallathol Award Vallathol Award is a literary award given by the Vallathol Sahithya Samithi for contribution to Malayalam literature Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union ...

(2002), Basheer Award (2005), Guptan Nair Memorial Award (2007),

Vayalar Award The Vayalar Award is a literary award presented annually in Kerala, India, for the best literary work in Malayalam. It was instituted in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust in memory of poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma (1928-1975). A ...

(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 the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education als ...

. She won

Ezhuthachan Puraskaram The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary honour given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Government of Kerala. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, the father of the Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages ...

, 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),"Leelavati chosen for Mathrubhumi Literary Award"
''

The Hindu Business Line ''Business Line'', known as ''The Hindu Business Line'', is an Indian business newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black in ...

''. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012. 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 not limited to Malayalam, Malayalam–language authors but is a national award for which writers fro ...

(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 Academic staff of Government Victoria College, Palakkad Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni Academic staff of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam 20th-century Indian women writers 20th-century Indian writers 21st-century Indian women writers 21st-century Indian writers Writers from Thrissur district 20th-century Indian women scientists 21st-century Indian women scientists 20th-century Indian educational theorists Women writers from Kerala 21st-century Indian educational theorists 21st-century Indian women educators 21st-century Indian educators Women educators from Kerala Educators from Kerala 20th-century Indian women educators 20th-century Indian educators Recipients of the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award 21st-century Indian women educational theorists 20th-century Indian women educational theorists