Renowned poet K.G. Sankara Pillai has won the Ezhuthachhan Puraskaram for the year 2025.
Minister for Culture Saji Cherian made the announcement here on Saturday (November 1, 2025).
Instituted by the Kerala government, the Ezhuthachhan prize honours eminent literary figures who have made outstanding contributions to the growth of Malayalam language and literature.
The jury headed by writer and last year’s winner N.S. Madhavan described Prof. Pillai as an eminently gifted poet who enriched Malayalam literature as a whole, and, notably, poetry.
Writer K.R. Meera and K.M. Anil were the other members of the jury and Kerala Sahitya Akademi secretary C.P. Aboobakker, its member secretary.
Prof. Pillai’s poetry represents the exhilarating pace of modern Malayalam poetry and its distinct sensibility. Poetic excellence remains the hallmark of his works even when they react strongly to contemporary issues, the panel observed.
Journeying through diverse pathways of poetic expression, Prof. Pillai who has earlier won the Kerala and Central Sahitya Akademi awards has left his imprint on literature over a 50-year period, the jury said.
Prof. Pillai was born to A.N. Gopala Pillai and G. Bhavani Amma in Chavara, Kollam district, in 1948. He is an alumnus of the SN College, Kollam, and the Malayalam department of the University of Kerala. Highly respected as a teacher, he has taught at and later headed a number of government colleges in the State. He retired as Principal of the Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam.
His major works include Kochiyile Vrikshangal, Ammamaar, Njaanente Ethirkakshi, Sanchari Marangal, Marichavarude Veedu, Thakazhiyum Manthrika Kuthirayum, Sainikante Premalekhanangal and K.G. Sankara Pillayude Kavithakal.
Prof. Pillai is also a recipient of the Odakkuzhal Award, Asan Puraskaram, Ulloor Puraskaram, Kamala Surayya Award, and the Pandalam Kerala Varma Award.
Published – November 01, 2025 06:01 pm IST
