M. K. Sanu

M. K. Sanu
Born(1928-10-27)27 October 1928
Thumpoly, Kingdom of Travancore, British India
(present-day Alappuzha, Kerala, India)
Died2 August 2025(2025-08-02) (aged 96)
Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Resting placeRavipuram Crematorium
Occupation
  • Writer
  • critic
  • poet
  • biographer
  • journalist
LanguageMalayalam
NationalityIndian
GenrePoetry, essay, biography
SpouseRathnamma
Website
sanumash.com

Mangalath Kesavan Sanu (27 October 1928 – 2 August 2025) was an Indian Malayalam-language writer, critic, academic, biographer, journalist, orator, social activist and human rights activist. He authored at least 36 books.

Sanu was a permanent member of the International Body for Human Rights, as well as the founding member of the Mithram, a school for the mentally handicapped, in Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam district, Kerala. He was a member of the award selection committee of the Vayalar Ramavarma Literary Award; however, he resigned in September 2019.[1] In 2011, he won the Padmaprabha Literary Award.[2]

Background

Sanu was born on 27 October 1928 in Thumpoly in the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore, as the son of M. P. Kesavan and K. P. Bhavani.[3][4] He died from pneumonia at Amrita Hospital in Ernakulam, on 2 August 2025, at the age of 96.[5][4][6]

Career

In 1955 and 1956, Sanu joined the Sree Narayana College and Maharaja's College as a lecturer. He retired as a professor in 1983. In 1984, he was elected as the President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham and the director of Sree Narayana Study Centre, University of Kerala in 1985, followed by an appointment to Sree Narayana Chair, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in 1997.

In 1987, he was elected as an MLA from Ernakulam Assembly constituency. In 1991, he joined Kumkumam Weekly, Kollam, as the chief editor. He became the elected President of the Vayalar Award Memorial Trust in 2005.

Recognition

  • 2011 – Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for the biography "Basheer: Ekantha Veedhiyile Avadhoothan"[7]
  • 2011 – Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (other category literature) for overall contributions[8]
  • 2012 – Pavanan foundation India's Award for 2011 for his Autobiography "Karmagathi"
  • 2013 – Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary honour given by the Kerala government[9]
  • 2013 – Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award for Overall Contribution (T. K. Ramakrishnan Award)[10]
  • 2014 – Father Vadakkan Puraskaram[11]
  • 2015 – P. Kesavadev Literary Award[12]
  • 2020 – Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (other category literature) (Sakti Erumeli Award) for Kesari Oru Kaalaghattathinte Srishtaavu[13]
  • 2021 – Chavara Samskruthy Puraskar by Chavara Cultural Centre
  • 2022 – D.Litt. by Mahatma Gandhi University[14]

Works

Autobiography

  • Karmagathi – 2010

Children's literature

Work Year Publisher Place
Sree Narayana Gurudevan 1983 Vivekodayam Printing & Publishing Co. Irinjalakuda
Sree Narayana Guru 1999 SPCS Kottayam
Jeevithasanuvil 2007 Balasahitya Prakasham Edappally

Criticism

Work Year Publisher Place
Kaattum Velichavum 1960 NBS Kottayam
Chakravaalam 1962 Sahitya Nilayam Publishing House Kochi
Manninu Manninte Gunam 1964 Vidyartimitram Kottayam
Prabhathadarsanam 1970 Poorna Publications Kozhikode
Chumarile Chitrangal 1971 P.K Brothers Kozhikode
Rajaveedhi 1971 NBS Kottayam
Avadhaaranam 1984 DC Books Kottayam
Anubhoothiyude Nirangal 1986 SPCS Kottayam
Athirvarampukalillathe 2000 SPCS Kottayam
Unnathathmakkalude Jeevaraktham 2002 Mathrubhoomi Publishing Co. Kozhikode
Asaanthiyilninnu Saanthiyilekku 2003 Current Books Kottayam
Ente Vazhiyampalangal 2004 Green Books Thrissur
Ezhuthinte Naanarthangal 2005 Green Books Thrissur
Vimarsanathile Raajasilpi 2005 Maarar Saahitya Prakaasham Kozhikode
Thuranna Jaalakam 2006 Kavya Books Mavelikkara
Kaavyathathwa Praveshika 2008 DC Books Kottayam

Interpretations

Work Year Publisher Place
Aadhyatma Ramayanam 2004 Mathrubhoomi Publishing Co. Kozhikode
Sree Maha Bhagavatham 2008 Green Books Thrissur

Travelogues

Work Year Publisher Place
Anubhavangal Prathyaasakal 1985 Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham Trivandrum

Biographies

Work Year Publisher Place
Asthamikkatha Velicham 1962 Poorna Publications Kozhikode
Narayanaguru Swami 1976 Vivekodayam Printing & Publishing Co. Iringalakuda
Sahodaran. K. Ayyappan 1980 DC Books Kottayam
Changampuzha Krishnapilla: Nakshatrangalude Snehabhajanam 1988 SPCS Kottayam
Sahodaran Ayyappan: Oru Kalaghattathinte Silpi 1989 Sree Narayanaguru Samskara Samiti Kollam
Mruthyunjayam Kavyajeevitham 1996 S.N Chandrika Educational Trust Iringalakuda
Parvathy Amma: Asaranarude Amma 2000 Sree Narayana Sevika Samajam Aluva
M Govindan 2002 DC Books Kottayam
Yukthivaadi M.C Joseph 2002 Dept. of Cultural Publications, Govt. of Kerala Trivandrum
Basheer: Ekantha Veedhiyile Avadhoothan 2007 DC Books Kottayam
K.C Mamman Mappila 2008 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Thrissur

Memoirs

Work Year Publisher Place
Thaazhvarayile Sandhya: Parts I & II 1992 DC Books Kottayam
Ivar Lokathe Snehichavar 1999 Prabhath Book House Trivandrum

Collected essays

Work Year Publisher Place
Sree Narayana Sandhesam 2000 Lalu Books Kottayam
Ethra Sokamayam Jeevitham 2004 Haritham Books Kozhikode

Translations

Work Year Publisher Place
Anchu Sastra Nayakanmar (Five Major Scientists) 1958 Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
Viswasathilek Veendum (Recovery of Faith) 1959 Southern Languages Book Trust Madras
American Sahityam 2000 SPCS Kottayam
Guide 1989 Sahitya Akademi New Delhi

Edited works

Work Year Publisher Place
Sahodara Saptati 1960 Sahodaran Ayyappan Saptati Celebration Committee Ernakulam
Kumaranasante Kavyaprapancham 1974 Navodhana Samiti Ernakulam
Sahodarante Padyakritikal 1981 DC Books Kottayam
Sree Narayana Sameeksha 1987 Sree Narayana Study Centre, University of Kerala Trivandrum
Kusumathinte Kritikal 1989 DC Books Kottayam
Basheer: Varthamanthinte Bhavi 1994 Asayam Books Kozhikode
Kudumba Vijnana Kosham 1999 Maanas Foundation Kozhikode
Kochi 2000 2000 Cochin Corporation Ernakulam
T.K Ramakrishnan 2001 CPI (M) Dist. Committee Ernakulam
Changampuzha: Selected Poems 2008 Green Books Thrissur
Selected Essays 2008 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Thrissur

Controversies

Sanu resigned from the award selection committee and chairmanship of the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust (VRMT) in September 2019, specifying that he was suffering from health issues. A few days later, during an interview, he clarified the controversy of his resignation from the Trust. Sanu stated that he was being pressurised to select a book[15] which, according to him, scored the least during evaluation. He also said that the piece Nireeshwaran by author V. J. James had scored the highest points in the last stage of the assessment.[1] Later in September 2019, VRMT chose Nireeshwaran by V. J. James for the Vayalar Rama Varma Literary Award 2019.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Venugopal, Minnu (28 September 2019). "Vayalar award row: MK Sanu criticises award selection". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  2. ^ "M K Sanu chosen for Padmaprabha Award". The Times of India. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. ^ www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2022/oct/28/useful-to-society-m-k-sanu-terms-96-years-well-lived-2512378.amp
  4. ^ a b "Malayalam literary critic M K Sanoo passes away". Onmanorama. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  5. ^ "പ്രൊഫസർ എം കെ സാനു അന്തരിച്ചു". www.keralavisionnews.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Teacher, author, critic, orator — M K Sanu, distinguished fixture in Kerala's intellectual landscape, dies at 98". The Indian Express. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Poets Dominate Sahitya Akademi Awards 2011" (PDF). sahitya-akademi.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2012.
  8. ^ "അബുദാബി ശക്തി അവാര്‍ഡ് സമര്‍പ്പണം വ്യാഴാഴ്ച". ePathram. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  9. ^ "M K Sanu selected for Ezhuthachan Puraskaram". Press Trust of India. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  10. ^ "അബുദാബി ശക്തി തായാട്ട് പുരസ്കാരങ്ങള്‍ സമ്മാനിച്ചു". Deshabhimani. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  11. ^ "പ്രൊഫ. എം.കെ. സാനുവിന് ഫാ. വടക്കന്‍ സ്മാരകപുരസ്‌കാരം". DC Books. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Kesavadev award". The Hindu. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  13. ^ "എം കെ സാനുവിനും പി രാജീവിനും സി എൽ ജോസിനും അബുദാബി ശക്തി അവാർഡ്‌". Deshabhimani. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  14. ^ "എം കെ സാനുവിനും സ്‌കറിയ സക്കറിയക്കും എംജി ഡി ലിറ്റ്‌". DC Books. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Vayalar award kicks up row; MK Sanu quits trust". The New Indian Express. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  16. ^ "'Nireeshwaran' by J James wins Vayalar Rama Varma Award". The New Indian Express. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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