Eminent Malayalam poet Akkitham was conferred with the 55th Jnanpith award for his outstanding contribution to the Malayalam literature. He has bagged the award at the age of 93. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh and a bronze replica of Goddess Saraswati.
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri who is popularly known as Akkitham is the 6th Malayalam writer who bagged the award. Poet G Sankara Kurup was the first Malayalam writer who won the award. Thakazhi, SK Pottekatt, MT Vasudevan Nair and ONV Kurup are the other Malayalam writers who bagged the award. He has penned over 43 works in Malayalam.
Akkitham was honoured with Padma Sri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Government of India in 2017. He also won a number of awards including Kendra and Kerala Sahithya Akademi awards and Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
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