Renowned Poet NK Desam’s Demise at 87: A Literary Journey Remembered

In a solemn moment for literature enthusiasts, the celebrated poet N Kuttykrishna Pillai, popularly known as NK Desam, bid farewell at the age of 87 on Sunday at 10:30 pm. Born on October 31, 1936, in Aluva Desam, Desam embarked on his prolific writing journey at the tender age of 12. His first collection saw the light of day in 1973, marking the inception of a remarkable literary career. An LIC employee by profession, Desam’s literary prowess flourished with notable works such as ‘Kanyahridayam,’ ‘Appupanthaadi,’ ‘Chottayile Sheelam,’ ‘Pavizhamalli,’ and ‘Ullekham,’ to name a few.

Not only did Desam contribute significantly to Malayalam literature, but he also received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for his translation of Tagore’s ‘Gitanjali.’ His poetic masterpiece, ‘Ullekham,’ earned him the first Edasseri Award in 1982. The poet’s contributions were further recognized with the Odakuzhal Award in 2007 and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2009 for his work ‘Mudra.’ As the literary community mourns the loss, Desam’s legacy lives on through his influential body of work, including the acclaimed anthology ‘Desika,’ which clinched the inaugural poetry prize in memory of KT Krishna Warrier.