Maythil Radhakrishnan selected for Ezhuthachan Award

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Renowned writer Maythil Radhakrishnan has been selected for the prestigious Ezhuthachan Award, the highest literary honour given by the Kerala government for lifetime contributions to Malayalam literature. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a plaque. Cultural Affairs Minister P C Vishnunath announced the award on Sunday, on the occasion of Kerala Piravi Day. Maythil Radhakrishnan was selected for the award by a jury chaired by K G Sankara Pillai.

Hailing from Palakkad, Maythil Radhakrishnan is a literary talent who has amazed Malayali readers with his distinctive language and thoughts. He entered the Malayalam literary world with an article in the weekly Navayugam, criticising Ente Vazhithirivu, the autobiography of Ponkunnam Varkey. He wrote the article while waiting for his Class 10 examination results. He wrote his first short story 'Octopusinte Shavam' at the age of 18. In 1970, during the final year of his degree course, he wrote his first novel, 'Suryavamsam'.

He later wrote two more novels, 'Bra' and 'Chuvanna Vidushakarude Anjam Pathi'. Maythil also wrote a handbook explaining how readers should approach and understand his books. He then stayed away from writing for the next 20 years and worked as a computer expert with a Norwegian shipping company. In the 1990s, he returned to the literary world with 'Dylan Thomasinte Panthu'. Even the titles of his books reflect his distinctive style and creativity. Maythil, who once said that centipedes and humans spoke to him in the same language, has often described himself as an environmentalist.