M. Leelavathy

Mundanat Leelavathy (born 16 September 1927) is a Malayalam writer, literary critic, and educationist.[1] She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. 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, S. Guptan Nair, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan, M.K. Sanu, and Sukumar Azhikode.[2] Leelavathy is a recipient of the Padma Shri Award.[3]

M. Leelavathy
Born (1927-09-16) 16 September 1927
Kottappadi, Thrissur
EducationPhD
OccupationCritic, Teacher
Spouse(s)C. Purushothama Menon
ChildrenVinayakumar
Jayakumar
Parent(s)Kazhunkampilli Kunjunni Nambidi
Mundanat Nangayya Maandal
Awards

Education and career

Leelavathy was born in Kottapadi near Guruvayur in Thrissur district (Then in Malabar district of Madras state) on 16 September 1927.[4] She attended school in Kunnamkulam, another nearby town (Kottapadi is midway between Guruvayur and Kunnamkulam), before joining Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for her B.A. degree. 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 Stella Maris College, Chennai, she joined Victoria College, Palakkad in 1952 and subsequently taught at Maharaja's College and Government Brennen College, Thalassery. She was awarded her Ph.D. degree from Kerala University in 1972.[5] For a brief period of time, she also served as a Visiting Professor in University of Calicut. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983. She now lives in Thrikkakkara in Ernakulam district.

Awards and honors

During her long literary career, she won several awards and honors including Odakuzhal Award (1978)[5] and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1980) for Varnaraji, Kendra Sahithya Academy Award (1986) for Kavithadhwani, Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002),[6] Basheer Award (2005),[7] Guptan Nair Memorial Award (2007),[8] Vayalar Ramavarma Award (2007) for Appuvinte Anweshanam,[9] and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009).[10] Leelavathy is also a recipient of Padma Shri Award for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education.[11] She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary prize in Kerala, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works.[12] She was also conferred with many other literary awards including the Mathrubhumi Literary Award (2011), P. S. John Award (2011),[13][14] K. P. Kesava Menon Award (2014),[15] and O. N. V. Literary Award (2020).[16]

References
  1. "Nayar award for M. Leelavathy". The Hindu. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  2. Paniker, Ayyappa (1992). K. M. George (ed.). Modern Indian Literature, An Anthology. 2. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 254–255. ISBN 9788172013240.
  3. "Padma Shri Awardees". india.gov.in. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  4. "ആഘോഷങ്ങളില്ല; ലീലാവതി ടീച്ചര്‍ക്ക് ഇന്ന് 93-ാം പിറന്നാള്‍". 16 September 2020.
  5. "Labour India - Our Experts". labourindia.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  6. "Literary Awards". kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  7. "The Hindu images". The Hindu. 3 September 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  8. "The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Around the City". The Hindu. 7 February 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  9. "Vayalar award for M. Leelavathy". The Hindu. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  10. "Nayar award for M. Leelavathy". The Hindu. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  11. "Padma award winners from Kerala". The Hindu. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  12. "ഡോ.എം.ലീലാവതിക്ക് എഴുത്തച്ഛന്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരം". Mathrubhumi. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  13. "Leelavati chosen for Mathrubhumi Literary Award". The Hindu Business Line. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  14. "M Leelavathi to be honoured". Kerala Kaumudi. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  15. "ഡോ. എം. ലീലാവതിക്ക് കേശവമേനോന്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരം". DC Books. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  16. "Kerala: Noted critic M Leelavathy bags this year's ONV literary award". The New Indian Express. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
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