THRISSUR: The condition of the noted social and cultural critic Sukumar Azhikode, who passed away on Tuesday was deteriorating day by day, after he was admitted to Amala Hospital near here on December 10. He was slurring when this correspondent visited the 85-year old orator at Amala Hospital, in Thrissur on January 3. Fast spreading cancer seemed to have gained an upper hand even on his tongue which had mesmerized thousands of people across the state and even outside by providing sumptuous and inspiring treats of words of wisdom on divergent topics for about six decades. It was a hard task to hold back tears and appear to be calm when one realizes that it has become impossible to make sense of even a single word uttered by a man who was a charismatic presence in the social and cultural lives of Kerala for decades on mainly through the delivery of scholarly and poetic observations from public platforms. Azhikode's most famous work is Tatvamasi, an authoritative book on Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishads. Asante Seetha Kavyam, Sankara Kurup Vimarsikkapedunnu Mahakavi Ulloor, Ramananum Malayalakavithayum, Vayanayude Swargattil, Mahatmavinte Margam, Tatvavum Manushyanum,Purogamanasahityavum Mattum, Malayala Sahityavimarsanam, Malayala Sahitya Padanangal, Guruvinte Dukham, Aakasam Nashtapetunna India are his other important works.
He had won many awards including the Indian Sahitya Academi Award, Kerala Sahithya Academy Award, Vayalar Award and the Rajaji Award. Azhikode had won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram - the highest literary award instituted by the State Government in 2004 and bagged last year's Mathrubhumi literature award for his overall contributions to the Malayalam literary world. In Jan 2007, he refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him stating that Such honours are against the Constitution. "The Constitution says everyone should be treated as equal. BY Giving such honours at different levels, the State discriminates between people. I see the Padma Shri conferred on me as an opportunity to expose this discrimination."
Azhikode is the founder and president of Navabharathavedi - a socio-cultural organization. He has also worked at several newspapers including Varthamanam, Dinabandhu, Malayala Harijan, Desamitram, Navayugam and Dinaprabha.
