DR.M. LEELAVATHY (എം. ലീലാവതി)

DR.M. LEELAVATHY (എം. ലീലാവതി)

The eminent author and scholar broke new ground in Malayalam literary criticism through the method of incisive textual study and has to her credit several books and hundreds of articles. Eminent author, literary critic and academic M. Leelvathy have been chosen for Kerala government’s highest literary award “Ezhuthachan Puraskaram She was born 16 September 1927) is a Malayalam   writer, literary critic, and educationist. She taught at various colleges in Kerala   before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College,Thalasery. 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.Leelavathy was born in Kottapadi near

Guruvayur  in Thrissur  . She attended school in  kunnamkulam before joining  Maharajas College Ernakulam for her B.A. dgree. She received her M.A. degree from Madras University. Leelavathy began her teaching career in 1949 as a lecturer at  St.Mary’s College, Thrissur. After a brief stint at Stell Maris College Chennai, she joined Victoria College Palakkad in 1952 and subsequently taught at Maharaja's College and Government Brennen  College, Thalaserry .. She was awarded her Ph.D. degree from Kerala University in 1972. For a brief period of time, she also served as a Visiting Professor in University of Calicut. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983.During her long literary career, she won several awards and honors including Odakuzhal Award (1978) and Kerala Sahithya Academy Award (1980) for Varnaraji, Kendrs Sahithya Academy Award    (1986) for Kavithadhwani, Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002) Basheer Award (2005), Guptan Nair Memorial Award   (2007), Vayalar Rama Varma Award (2007) for Appuvinte Anweshanam, and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009). Leelavathy is also a recipient of  Padma Shri Award for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education. She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works Noted critic and litterateur M Leelavathi has been selected for this year's prestigious Vayalar literary award for her book ''Appuvinte Anveshanam.'' Announcing this here today, Vayalar Rama Varma   Memorial Trust president M K Sanu, said the award was selected by a three-member committee comprising Dr P V Krishnan Nair, Dr B Benjamin and Prof Sebastin Antony.

The judging committee members said ''Appuvinte Anveshanam,'' a critical work on the nine novels of famous writer C Radhakrishnan, was a true presentation of the works. It also showed the transition of the country in the past 50 years. Though Radhakrishnan was considered a great novelist, his works had not been discussed much, they said and added this book would throw a light in that direction. 
Radhakrishnan himself had bagged the Vayalar award in 1990 for his novel '' Munpe Parakunna Pakshikal.'' The award comprising a citation, a statuette sculpted by Kanayi Kunhiraman and a purse of Rs 25,000, will be presented to Dr Leelavathi on October 27, the death anniversary of Vayalar Rama Varma, one of the greatest Malayalam poets. Apart from literary criticism, Dr Leelavathi got accolades in various other literary genres like poetry, translation and biographies. She won the Odakuzhal award in (1978), Kerala Sahitya Academy award in (1980), Sahitya Academi award (1987), Lalithambika Antarjanam award (1999), Padmaprabha award (2001), and Vallathol award in 2002.

Prof. John Kurakar