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Ashitha (writer)

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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
ParentsBalachandran Nair
Thankamani Amma

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 helped popularize haiku poems in Malayalam through her translations. She was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story and other honours including the Padmarajan Award, Lalithambika Anterjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award and Edasseri Award.

Biography

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Maharaja's College, Ashitha's alma mater

Ashitha was born on 5 April 1956[1] in Pazhayannur in Trichur district of Kerala to Kazhangottu Balachandran Nair 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][additional citation(s) needed]

Ashitha was married to K. V. Ramankutty and had a daughter, Uma Praseedha.[4][5] She was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and was undergoing treatment when she died on 27 March 2019, at 62, survived by her husband, daughter and son-in-law.[6][7]

Legacy

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Ashitha, who authored over 20 books,[8][9] was known to have portrayed her life experiences through short stories and poems.[10] Counted among the most prominent women writers in Malayalam after Kamala Surayya and best known for her short stories,[11] she translated a number of works of Alexander Pushkin and Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī as well as many haikus.[12] She also adapted the Ramayana, Bhagavatam, Jataka tales and Aithihyamala for children.[13] Her biography, Athu Njanayirunnu (That Was I), was published by Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu.[14] The annual Ashitha Memorial Literary Award was instituted in 2022 in her memory.[15]

Awards

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Ponnani Edasseri Smaraka Samithi selected Ashitha's work, Vismaya Chhihnangal for an 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

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Short stories

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  • 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

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Poetry

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Children's literature

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Translations

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  • 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

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Others

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

In compilations

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See also

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References

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  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"". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  4. ^ "books.puzha.com - Author Details". www.puzha.com. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Malayalam writer Ashita passes away - Kalakaumudi". Keralakaumudi Daily. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. ^ "എഴുത്തുകാരി അഷിത അന്തരിച്ചു". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  7. ^ ANI (27 March 2019). "Malayalam writer Ashita passes away". Business Standard. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Noted Malayalam writer Ashitha dead - Times of India". The Times of India. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Malayalam Writer and Poet Ashita Passes Away at 63". The Quint. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  10. ^ "പ്രശസ്ത സാഹിത്യകാരി അഷിത അന്തരിച്ചു". mediaone. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Ashita, renowned Malayalam poet and writer, dies aged 63 - News Nation". newsnation.in. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  12. ^ "ആത്മകഥനത്തിന് അപൂര്‍ണവിരാമമിട്ട് മടക്കം; പ്രിയകഥാകാരിക്ക് വിട". Manoramanews. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Noted Malayalam writer Ashitha passes away". Mathrubhumi. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Athu Njanayirunnu". mathrubhumi.com. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  15. ^ "പ്രഥമ അഷിത സ്മാരക സാഹിത്യ പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങള്‍ വിതരണം ചെയ്തു". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 30 March 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  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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