Ashitha (writer)

Ashitha (Malayalam: അഷിത; 5 April 1956 – 27 March 2019) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, best known for her short stories, poems and translations. She contributed in popularising haiku poems in Malayalam through her translations and her stories were known for the sensitive portrayal of life. She was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story as well as other honours including Padmarajan Award, Lalithambika Anterjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award and Edasseri Award.

Ashitha
Born(1956-04-05)5 April 1956
Pazhayannur, Trichur, Travancore-Cochin, India
Died27 March 2019(2019-03-27) (aged 62)
Thrissur, Kerala, India
OccupationWriter
NationalityIndian
GenreShort story, poetry, novel, translation
Notable works
  • Vismaya Chhihnangal
  • Apoorna Viramangal
  • Mazhameghangal
  • Thathagatha
  • Meera Padunnu
Notable awards
SpouseRaman Kutty
ChildrenA daughter
Relatives
  • Kazhangottu Balachandran Nair (father)
  • Thankamani Amma (mother)

Biography
Maharaja's College, Ashitha's alma mater

Ashitha was born on 5 April 1956[1] in Pazhayannur in Trichur district of south Indian state of Kerala to Kazhangottu Balachandran Nair, a defence accounts officer and Thekkekarupath Thankamani Amma.[2] She completed her schooling from Delhi and Bombay and obtained her graduate and master's degrees in English literature from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam.[3][4]

Ashitha was married to K. V. Ramankutty, an academic, and the couple had a daughter, Uma Praseedha.[5][6] She was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and was undergoing treatment following a relapse at a private hospital in Thrissur (Trichur) when she died on 27 March 2019, at the age of 62, survived by her husband, daughter and son-in-law.[7][8]

Legacy

Ashitha, who authored over 20 books,[9][10] was known to have portrayed her life experiences through her short stories and poems.[11] Counted among the most prominent women writers in Malayalam after Kamala Surayya and best known for her short stories,[12] she translated a number of works of Alexander Pushkin and Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī as well as many haiku poems.[13] She also adapted Ramayana, Bhagavatam, Jataka tales and Aithihyamala for children.[14] Her biography, Athu Njanayirunnu (That Was I), was published by Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu, in the form of an interview.[15]

Awards

Ponnani Edasseri Smaraka Samithi selected Ashitha's work, Vismaya Chhihnangal for Edasseri Award in 1986[16] and she received the Lalithambika Anterjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award in 1994.[17] Her short story anthology, Thathagatha, fetched her the Padmarajan Award in 2000.[18][19] Kerala Sahitya Akademi selected Ashithayude Kathakal, another short story anthology, for its annual award for story in 2015.[20] She was also a recipient of Ankanam Award[21] and Thoppil Ravi Foundation Award.[22]

Selected works

Short stories
  • Ashitha (2002). Nilavinte Nattile. DC Books. ASIN B007E4VMWU.
  • Ashitha (2012). Mazhameghangal. DC Books. ASIN B007E4VNO2.
  • Ashitha (2007). Amma Ennotu Parnha Nunakal. Green Books. ISBN 979-8184230535.
  • Ashitha (2015). Ashithayude Kathakal. Mathrubhumi. ISBN 978-8182664937.
  • Ashitha (2013). Ori Sthreeyum Parayathathu. Kerala Bhasha Institute. ISBN 9788188420100.
  • Ashitha (2015). Ma Faleshu (in Malayalam). Kelkkam Audio Books. ISBN 9780000104847. (audio book)
  • Ashitha (1987). Vismaya chihnangal. Edatt: Malayalam.
  • Ashitha (1993). Apoorna viramanghal. Kozhikode: Mulberry.
  • Ashitha (1999). Thathagatha.

Novels and novellas
  • Ashitha (2013). Mayilpeelisparsham. Melinda Books. ISBN 978-8188420841.
  • Ashitha (2017). Ashithayude Novallettukal. Saikatham Books. ISBN 978-9386222152.
  • Ashitha (2018). Ashithayude Novallettukal. Saikatham Books. ISBN 978-9386222787.

Poetry

Children's literature

Translations
  • Ashitha. Rumi Paranja Kathakal (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi.
  • Ashitha (2017). Parayam Namukku Kathakal. Read Me Books. ISBN 978-8193422526.
  • Potter, Beatrix (2016). Peter Enna Muyalum Mattu Kathakalum. Translated by Ashitha (First ed.). Kozhikode, Keralaṃ, India: Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182669529. OCLC 971034780.
  • Spyri, Johanna (2017). Heidi. Translated by Ashitha. Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182671591.
  • Padhavinyaasangal: 32 Russian kavithakal. Translated by Ashitha. Thrissur: Cosmo books. 1999.
  • Laotsu (2003). Tao: Guruvinte vazhi. Translated by Ashitha. Ayiloor: Sorba Publications. ISBN 9789382279419.

Memoirs

Others
  • Ashitha (2015). Vishnu Sahasranamam. Saikatham Books. ISBN 978-9382909286.
  • Ashitha (2015). Sneham Thanne Snehathilezhuthiyathu (Ashithayude Kathukal). Green Pepper. ISBN 978-9385253065.

In compilations

See also

References
  1. "Kerala: Malayalam writer Ashita passes away". The Indian Express. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. "Writer Ashitha, who popularised Haiku in Kerala, passes away". OnManorama. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  3. "Famous alumni of the Department"
  4. "Well-known Malyalam writer, poet Ashita passes away - New Delhi Times". New Delhi Times. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. "books.puzha.com - Author Details". www.puzha.com. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. "Malayalam writer Ashita passes away - Kalakaumudi". Keralakaumudi Daily. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  7. "എഴുത്തുകാരി അഷിത അന്തരിച്ചു". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  8. ANI (27 March 2019). "Malayalam writer Ashita passes away". Business Standard. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  9. "Noted Malayalam writer Ashitha dead - Times of India". The Times of India. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  10. "Malayalam Writer and Poet Ashita Passes Away at 63". The Quint. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  11. "പ്രശസ്ത സാഹിത്യകാരി അഷിത അന്തരിച്ചു". mediaone. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  12. "Ashita, renowned Malayalam poet and writer, dies aged 63 - News Nation". newsnation.in. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  13. "ആത്മകഥനത്തിന് അപൂര്‍ണവിരാമമിട്ട് മടക്കം; പ്രിയകഥാകാരിക്ക് വിട". Manoramanews. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  14. "Noted Malayalam writer Ashitha passes away". Mathrubhumi. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  15. "Athu Njanayirunnu". mathrubhumi.com. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  16. "Winners of Edasseri Award". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  17. "എഴുത്തുകാരി അഷിത അന്തരിച്ചു - Asianet News". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  18. "Winners of Padmarajan Award". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  19. "Malayalam writer Ashita passes away - rediff". news.rediff.com. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  20. "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story" (PDF). Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  21. "Malayalam short story writer and poet Ashitha passes away at 63". The New Indian Express. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  22. "Thoppil Ravi Foundation Award". keralabookstore.com. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.

Further reading
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