Akbar Kakkattil, Indian writer, Died at 62

  Writers

Akbar Kakkattil was born on July 7, 1954, and died on February 17, 2016.

He was an Indian short-story writer and novelist from Kerala state.

Akbar works are known for their unique narrative style which has an undertone of unfailing humour.

However, his tales written which centred on teachers and their foibles gave birth to a new genre in Malayalam literature.

Akbar Kakkattil ‘Paadham 30’ was the First Teacher Service Story in Malayalam.

Kakkattil piece, ‘Sarga Sameeksha’, a creative and critical interface of a young writer with the iconic writers of the old generation was perhaps the first of its kind amongst Indian languages.

He converted to creative writing at the age of fourteen by publishing short stories in a regular column for children in the leading Malayalam weekly Mathrubhumi.

He had oringinally published his first story Pothichoru in 1969 through the weekly.

He kept his contact with G. Sankara Kurup, Thakazhi and Basheer.

Kakkattil has a collection of works to his credit that comprises 54 books.

His collection includes four novels, seven collections of novelettes, twenty-seven anthologies of short stories, collections of six essays, memoirs, a play and a volume of critical essays and interviews with the leading writers of Malayalam.

Kakkattil earned the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award twice.

Which was the first ever award in humour section in 1992 for his School Diary, which consist of an anthology of short essays and in the year 2004, ‘Vadakkuninnoru Kudumba Vrithantham’, was awarded as the best novel.

In the year 1998, Kakkattil has also been honoured twice by the State Government.

Antoher work of his ‘Sthrynam’ was awarded the Joseph Mundassery Award for the best Novel.

He gained the Television Award for the best story writer ( School Diary – Doordarsan serial) for the year 2002.

He was awarded The fellowship of Literature from Government of India, in the year 1992.

Also, The Abudhabi Sakti Award was given him in the year 2002.

His work earned him the S K Pottakkad award, Ankanam Award, Malayala Manorama Prize, Rajiv Gandhi Peace Foundation Award, C H Muhammed Koya Award, T V Kochubaava Award, V Sambasivan Puraskar and Dubai Book Trust Award etc.

And, a book he wrote on Adoor Gopalakrishnan titled Varoo Adoorileykku Pokam was translated to Tamil (“Adoor Gopalakrishnan – Idam Porul Kalai) and his novel Mrithyuyogam is translated to Kannada (Mrithyuyoga.

Akbar Kakkattil passed away at 62 yrs old.