Writer Santhosh Echikkanam receiving O.V. Vijayan Literary Award from Minister for Culture Saji Cherian at O.V. Vijayan Memorial, Thasrak, on Sunday.
Minister for Culture and Fisheries Saji Cherian gave away the O.V. Vijayan Literary Awards to E. Santhosh Kumar, Santhosh Echikkanam and Shafi Poovathinkal at a function held at O.V. Vijayan Memorial, Thasrak, near here on Sunday.
The Minister also inaugurated the renovated road to the memorial, which was relaid by the Fisheries department by spending ₹92 lakh from the inland fisheries development project. He assured that the government would continue its support for the memorial at Thasrak.
When Santhosh Kumar won the O.V. Vijayan Award in the novel category for his book Jnanabharam, Santhosh Echikkanam won the award in the short story category for his anthology Kavana. In the youth story category, Shafi Poovathinkal won the award for Raqeebinum Atheedhinum Idayile Nunakal.
Key jury members C.P. Chithrabhanu, Manoj Veettikkad and Rajesh Menon introduced the award winners and read out the citations.
The awards consisted of a plaque, a certificate or appreciation, a shawl and a prize money. When the prize money for novel and short story collection was ₹25,000 each, it was ₹10,000 for youth story.
V.K. Sreekandan, MP, and Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Sivan Namboothiri were chief guests. A. Prabhakaran, MLA, presided over the function. District panchayat president K. Binumol and former Kerala Sahitya Akademi president Vaisakhan were special guests.
Harbour Engineering department chief engineer Mohammed Ansari presented a report. The Minister felicitated assistant engineer Abdul Salim P.M., contractor A.K. Babu, and artist Shibu Signature.
District panchayat member M. Padmini, Malampuzha block panchayat president Bijoy V., block panchayat member K. Komalam, Kodumbu panchayat member K. Anita, CPI(M) leader Nidhin Kanicheri, Congress leader S. Sukumaran, CPI leader M. Haridas and Janata Dal leader K.M. Haridas spoke.
Kodumba panchayat president R. Dhanaraj welcomed the gathering. O.V. Vijayan Memorial treasurer C.P. Pramod proposed a vote of thanks.
Published – May 18, 2025 08:42 pm IST
