"Now Why Should I Write?"

Mahakavi Akkitham Receives Amritakeerti Puraskar

Monday, 27 September 2004 — Amritapuri

When Mahakavi Akkitham Achyuthan Nambootiri received the Mata Amritanandamayi Math's Amritakeerti Puraskar for his contributions to poetry, philosophy and Vedic culture, his eyes were filled with tears. "I am standing in the greatest, most auspicious moment of my life," he said, standing at Amma's side. "There is no greater recognition than this for me to attain." He then quoted a verse from one of his famous poems:

oru kannirkkanam mattullavarkkay nan pozhikkave
udikkayaanennatmavil aayiram saura mandalam
oru punchiri nan mattullavarkkay chilavakkave
hrdayattilulaavunnu nitya nirmmala paurnnami

[When I shed one tear drop for others,
a thousand gallaxies burst forth in my heart.
When I offer a smile for others,
the eternal pure light of the full moon strolls in my heart.]

"My lines—Amma has accepted. This is the contentment receiving this award gives to me. The goal of human life is moksha. Through accepting my poem and giving me this award, Amma has given me moksha. Now, why should I write?"

It was Kerala's Honourable Chief Minister, Shri. Oommen Chandy, who handed the award to the renowned Malayalam poet and scholar.

Mahakavi Akkitham, 73, is one of today's most revered Malayalam writers. He has received numerous awards since his works began to be regularly published in the early 1950s, including a 1973 Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for his poem "Balidarsanam" ["Vision of Bali"] and the Sanjayan Award for his 1952 poem "Irupatham Nottandinte Ithihasam" ["Epic of the 20th Century"]. In literary circles, many consider this work as the starting point of modernism in Malayalam poetry. In all, some 45 collections of his poems, plays and short stories have been published.

For his part, Akkitham considers his translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam as his life's most valued work. It comprises 14,613 verses, running 2,400 printed pages. Srimad Bhagavatam is the composition of sage Veda Vyasa on the avatars of Lord Vishnu including the life of Sri Krishna.

As a member of the Yogakshema Sabha (Trissur), Akkitham has worked for social reforms among the Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala. He also has worked for the promotion of Vedic studies in association with the famous Vedic Study Centres at Thirunavaya, Kadavalloor and Trissur, including the proliferation of Vedic studies among non-Brahmins.

He has strongly spoken out and against untouchability, participating in the Paliyam Sathyagraha fight against untouchability in 1947.

Akkitham was born and lives in Kumaranallur, Palakkad District, Kerala.

The Math first began presenting the Amritakeerthi Award in 2001 "to seek out and honour those deserving personalities who have helped to promote a healthy society through the preservation of the ancient and enduring human values of Sanatana Dharma."

Previous winners include:

2003 – Dr. Shankar Abhyankar (National Award)
2003 – Prof. Harihara Shastri (Kerala State Award)
2002 – Shri. P. Parameswaran (Kerala State Award)
2001 – Acharya Narendra Bhushan (Kerala State Award)

The Amrita Keerthi Award includes a cash prize of Rs. 123,456, a trophy and a Certificate of Commendation from the Mata Amritanandamayi Math. The cash prize rendered through this award is intended to support the recipients, helping them to be financially in the position to continue to dedicate their life to their noble pursuits, and thereby foster the cultural heritage of India.

To read more about Amritakeerthi, click here.