M. Leelavathy
Encyclopedia
M. Leelavathy (born 16 September 1927) is a Malayalam writer, literary critic, and educationist. 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
, and Sukumar Azhikode
. Leelavathy is a recipient of Padma Shri Award
.
near Guruvayur
in Thrissur district
. She attended school in Kunnamkulam
before joining Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for her B.A. dgree. 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. For a brief period of time, she also served as a Visiting Professor in University of Calicut
. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983.
(1986) for Kavithadhwani, Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002), Basheer Award (2005), Guptan Nair Memorial Award
(2007), Vayalar Ramavarma Award
(2007) for Appuvinte Anweshanam, and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009). Leelavathy is also a recipient of Padma Shri Award
for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education.
She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Kendra Sahithya Academy Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
and Kerala Sahithya Academy Award. She is a contemporary of such noted critics in Malayalam including K. M. George, S. Guptan Nair
S. Guptan Nair
S. Guptan Nair was a well known Malayalam writer, literary critic, scholar, orator, essayist, lexicographer, translator and educationist. A multi-faceted personality, his interests included music, acting and sports .He was a critic-visionary who probed the human values and aesthetics of...
, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan
P. K. Balakrishnan
P. K. Balakrishnan was a Malayalam novelist, critic and historian. His multifaceted interests took him through politics, journalism, public speaking and creative writing...
, and Sukumar Azhikode
Sukumar Azhikode
Sukumar Azhikode is a writer, critic and orator, acknowledged for his contributions to Malayalam and insights on Indian philosophy. He is a bachelor and lives in Eravimangalam near Thrissur....
. Leelavathy is a recipient of Padma Shri Award
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
.
Education and career
Leelavathy was born in KottapadiKottapadi
Kottapadi is a gateway of Guruvayur town in the district of Thrissur, Kerala, South India. Kottapadi literally translates as Gates to Fort. The fort here refers to the Punnathur Kotta...
near Guruvayur
Guruvayur
Guruvayur is a municipal town in Thrissur District, of Kerala State in India. It houses the famous Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, the fourth biggest temple in India in terms of the number of devotees per day.-History:Guruvayur, according to the legends may be 5,000 years old as the Guruvayur...
in Thrissur district
Thrissur district
Thrissur is a revenue district of Kerala situated in the central part of that state. Spanning an area of about 3,032 km2, Thrissur district is home to over 10% of Kerala’s population. Thrissur district was formed on July 1, 1949, with the headquarters at Thrissur City. Thrissur is known as...
. She attended school in Kunnamkulam
Kunnamkulam
Kunnamkulam is a municipal town situated in the Thrissur District of Kerala in India, spread over an area of 6.96 km2. It is an old commercial town, with a history of more than 300 years, famous for its printing and book binding industry...
before joining Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for her B.A. dgree. She received her M.A. degree from Madras University
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
. 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
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, she joined Victoria College, Palakkad
Government Victoria College, Palakkad
Government Victoria College Palakkad is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Malabar region of Kerala. It is affiliated to the Calicut University and provides undergraduate and postgraduate education in Science, Arts and Commerce subjects....
in 1952 and subsequently taught at Maharaja's College and Government Brennen College, Thalassery. She was awarded her Ph.D. degree from Kerala University
Kerala University
The University of Kerala, formerly the University of Travancore, is an affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. It was established in 1937, long before the birth of the state of Kerala in India...
in 1972. For a brief period of time, she also served as a Visiting Professor in University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...
. Leelavathy retired from Brennen College in 1983.
Awards and honors
During her long literary career, she won several awards and honors including Odakuzhal Award (1978) and Kerala Sahithya Academy Award (1980) for Varnaraji, Kendra Sahithya Academy AwardSahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
(1986) for Kavithadhwani, Lalithambika Antarjanam Award (1999), Vallathol Award (2002), Basheer Award (2005), Guptan Nair Memorial Award
S. Guptan Nair
S. Guptan Nair was a well known Malayalam writer, literary critic, scholar, orator, essayist, lexicographer, translator and educationist. A multi-faceted personality, his interests included music, acting and sports .He was a critic-visionary who probed the human values and aesthetics of...
(2007), Vayalar Ramavarma Award
Vayalar Award
The Vayalar Award is given for the best literary work in Malayalam. The award was instituted in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust in memory of the poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma . A sum of Rs.25,000/-, a silver plate and certificate constitutes the award...
(2007) for Appuvinte Anweshanam, and FACT MKK Nayar Award (2009). Leelavathy is also a recipient of Padma Shri Award
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education.
She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works