Jnanpith awardee Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri passes away

Thiruvananthapuram: Renowned Malayalam poet and Jnanpith laureate Mahakavi Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri died at a private hospital here on Thursday, family sources said. He was 94. Akkitham, who was admitted to hospital due to age-related ailments, died at 8.10 am, hospital sources said. Recently, he was conferred with the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary award in the country, at a special function held at his house at Kumaranallur in Palakkad district. The poet, who was instrumental in heralding modernism in Malayalam poetry, was also a true Gandhian, social reformer, journalist and an example of simplicity.