VernellSteward1 at 20:39, 14 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian Malayalam language writer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Iyyamcode Sreedharan
| native_name =
| image = File:Iyyamcode Sreedharan.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = Sreedharan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|07|04}}
| birth_place = Iyyamcode near [[Nadapuram]], [[Malabar district]], [[British India]]
| death_place =
| death_date =
| alma_mater =
| nationality = Indian
| citizenship = India
| occupation = Writer, Playwright
| genre = Travelogue, Poetry, Short story, Biography
| movement =
| notableworks =
| parents = M. Narayana Kurup<br>M. P. Karthayani Amma
| spouse = Komalavalli
| children = 3 including [[S. K. Kavitha]]
| awards = [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]]<br> [[Kerala Sahithya Akademi]] Award for travelogue<br>[[Kerala Kalamandalam]] Mukundaraja Award<br>Kerala Kalamandalam M. K. K. Nair Award
| influences =
| signature =
}}
'''Iyyamcode Sreedharan''' (also spelled as Iyyamkode or Iyyamkodu) is a Malayalam language writer from [[Kerala]], [[India]]. He is well known in various fields of literature, such as a travelogue writer, [[Aattakatha (performance)|Aattakkatha]] writer, playwright, poet and biographer. He received several awards, including [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]], Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for travelogue, Kerala Kalamandalam Mukundaraja Award, and Kerala Kalamandalam Award for outstanding contribution in the field of literature.

==Biography==
Sreedharan was born on 4 September 1941, in Puthiya veettil House in Iyyamcode near [[Nadapuram]] in the present-day [[Kozhikode district]] of Kerala.<ref name="Malayalam"/><ref name="Keralaliterature"/> His father, M. Narayana Kurup, was a teacher, poet, painter and, sculptor.<ref name="sivagiri">{{cite web |title=മൂന്നു ഗുരുസ്ഥാനീയര്‍ |url=https://www.sivagiri.info/article-details.php?id=43 |website=www.sivagiri.info}}</ref> His mother, M. P. Karthayani Amma, is the sister of M. P. Narayanan Nambiar, a prominent leader of the Karshaka Sangham, a long-time farmers' movement in Kerala.<ref name="Keralaliterature">{{cite web |title=ഈയ്യങ്കോട് ശ്രീധരന്‍ |url=https://keralaliterature.com/malayalam-writers-%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82-%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%B4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D/%E0%B4%88%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D-%E0%B4%B6%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%A7%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D/ |website=Keralaliterature.com |date=14 October 2017}}</ref> He had his primary education at Nadapuram C.C. UP School.<ref>{{cite news |title=സി.സി. യു.പി. സ്‌കൂൾ നവതി ആഘോഷം പുർവവിദ്യാർഥി സംഗമം ഇന്ന് |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/kozhikode/news/nadapuram-1.4437370 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=ml |access-date=31 January 2022 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131075431/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/kozhikode/news/nadapuram-1.4437370 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After passing tenth class from Kadathanad Rajas High School in Kozhikode District, he studied ''Kathakali chamayam'' (makeup of [[Kathakali]] artists) for three years at the [[Kerala Kalamandalam]] in [[Cheruthuruthy]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |title=ഇയ്യങ്കോടിന് ആരവങ്ങളില്ലാതെ എണ്‍പതാം പിറന്നാള്‍ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/news/writer-iyyamcode-sreedharan-80th-birthday-1.5936571 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=ml}}</ref> In 1961, he joined Kollankode Rajas High School in [[Palakkad district]] as a teacher in ''Kathakali chamayam'' and later became a descendant of poet [[P. Kunhiraman Nair]], who was a colleague there.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

Sreedharan started writing poems at the age of fifteen. In 1962, he won the first prize in the Mathrubhumi Weekly poetry competition for students.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> Subsequently, in 1964, he was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Samithi Poetry Award.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> He brought together theatre artists from Kollengode and the surrounding areas, and formed a theater troupe in 1975 and performed plays all over Kerala.<ref name="Malayalam"/>

He was instrumental in establishing the ''P. Smaraka Kalakendram'' (P. Memorial Art Center) at Kollengode in 1981, in memory of the poet P. Kunhiraman Nair. Iyyamcode has been the secretary of the art centre for the last forty years. In 1988, when he was the secretary of the Kerala Kalamandalam, he formed a Kathakali group named ''Kerala Kalabhavan'' and wrote three [[Aattakatha (performance)|aattakkathas]], including 'Kinglier', and performed in many stages, including in foreign countries.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/><ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

Iyankode Sreedharan, who has been one of the directors of the Kerala Institute of Children's Literature, held several other positions, including member of the Kerala Sahitya Samithi and the Vice President of the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]].<ref name="Manorama">{{cite news |title=അവശതകൾക്കിടയിലും മലയാളത്തിനൊപ്പം നടന്ന് കവി ഇയ്യങ്കോട്; അടുക്കിവയ്ക്കുന്ന ഓർമകൾ |url=https://www.manoramanews.com/news/kerala/2019/12/09/palakkad-poet-iyynkodu-life-story.html |work=Manoramanews |language=ml}}</ref> He was a member of the Board of Directors of the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] for seven years and was the state secretary of the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangh, a group of progressive literary activists.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/> He represented India in the World [[Ramayana]] Festival.<ref name="Malayalam"/>

===Personal life===
He and his wife, Komalavalli, have 3 children.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> His daughter S. K. Kavitha is a Malayalam language poet.<ref name="Malayalam">{{cite news |title=കവിതയുടെ പൂമരം |url=https://www.malayalamnewsdaily.com/node/329806/sunday-plus/sk-kavitha |work=Malayalam News |date=19 July 2020}}</ref> They live in their house 'Sakalya' in Vattekatte near [[Kollengode, Palakkad|Kollengode]] in Palakkad district.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

==Literary works==
===Poetry collection===
*''Mulakinkodi''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Njattu Paattu''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Perumbara''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Jaya He''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Sakshi Mozhi''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Patiyirangunna Daivam''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Sangha Ganam''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Njan Itha Padunnu Veendum''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

===Short story collection===
*{{cite book |title=Nizhalukalude Nritham |date=2016 |publisher=Prabhatham Publishers |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/114805 |language=Malayalam}}
*''Thalam Thettiya Kalaasangal''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

===Novels===
*{{cite book |title=Chuvanna Theruvu |date=1977 |publisher=[[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]] |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/76048 |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Varum Thirichuvarum |date=1 January 2012 |publisher=Mythri Books |url= |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Vanadevatha |date=1968 |publisher=[[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]] |url=http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=2166&query_desc= |language=Malayalam |access-date=31 January 2022 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131121227/http://www.el-aloysius.in:8081/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=2166&query_desc= |url-status=dead }}
*''Vadamallika''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Appunni''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

===Memoirs===
*{{cite book |title=V K N Kalari |year=2012 |publisher=National Book Stall |isbn=9789382654711 |language=Malayalam}} Memoirs about [[V. K. N.]]
*{{cite book |title=Ormayile Sugandam |publisher=[[Kerala Sahithya Akademi]] |date=2012 |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/298944 |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Ormakalile Sancharam |date=May 2010 |publisher=UnmaPublications |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Ormayile Kalamandalam |date=November 2015 |publisher=National Book Stall |language=Malayalam}}
*''Varna Renukkal''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Mayil Peelikal''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Ormayile Mandasmeram''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Ornmayile Madhuryam''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

===Essays and studies===
*{{cite book |title=Hinduthwam Enna Avastha |date=October 2016 |publisher=Chintha Publications |isbn=9789386112880 |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |title=Kalathinte Kalochakal |date=June 2015 |publisher=Melinda Books |language=Malayalam}}
*''Kochukochu Varthamanangal''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Snehadarasamanwitham''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

===Dance Dramas===
*''Malanadu''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Kavikal Paadiya Keralam''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

===Biographies===
*{{cite book |title=Changampuzha |date=2017 |publisher=Mythri books |isbn=9780000105370 |language=Malayalam}} Biography of [[Changampuzha Krishna Pillai]]
*{{cite book |title=Vallathol |date=2017 |publisher=Mythri books |isbn=9780000105431 |language=Malayalam}} Biography of [[Vallathol Narayana Menon]]
*{{cite book |title=P Kunhiraman Nair |date=2017 |publisher=Mythri books |isbn=9780000105462 |language=Malayalam}} Biography of [[P. Kunhiraman Nair]]
*{{cite book |title=Kunchan Nambiar |date=March 2012 |publisher=Mythri books |language=Malayalam}} Biography of [[Kunchan Nambiar]]
*{{cite book |title=Azhikode Enna Anubhavam |publisher=National Book Stall |isbn=9789388597517 |edition=2 |language=Malayalam}} Based on the life of [[Sukumar Azhikode]]
*{{cite book |title=Cherukadu ezhuthum karuthum |date=2010 |publisher=[[Kerala Sahithya Akademi]] |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/299984}} Based on the life of [[Cherukad]]
*''Swapnadanam,'' based on the life of P. Kunhiraman Nair.

===Plays===
*''Ore vargam Ore margam''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Ithile''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
*''Padayottam''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

===Aattakkathas===
*''Manava Vijayam''<ref name="Malayalam"/>
*''Sneha Sandesam''<ref name="Malayalam"/>
*''King Lear'', adaptation of [[William Shakespeare]]'s play [[King Lear]]<ref name="Malayalam"/>

===Studies and research===
*{{cite book |title=Kathakali Vicharam |date=2011 |publisher=National Book Stall |isbn=9780000186393 |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=1469}}

===Travelogues===
*''King Lierinte Europyan Sanchara Padangal''
*{{cite book |title=Ethra Ethra Ramayanangal |date=2000 |publisher=Deshabhimani |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/357936}} In this book, [[Ramayana]] from fourteen countries of the world, including [[Uzbekistan]], the [[Philippines]], and [[Vietnam]] is mentioned.<ref name="Malayalam"/>
*''Spain Oru Ottapradakshinam.''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

==Books on him==
*{{cite book |title=Iyyankodinte lokam |last1=Surendran |first1=V. U. |date=2018 |publisher=Seed Books |isbn=9788193697962 |url=http://103.251.43.202:8080/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=319847 |language=Malayalam}}
*{{cite book |last1=P |first1=Kunhiraman Nair |title=Hridayam Thurakkunna Thakkolukal |date=2009 |publisher=Melinda Books |location=Tiruvanthapuram |isbn=9788188420681 |edition=First}} Letters of Mahakavi P. Kunjiraman Nair to Iyyancode Sreedharan
*''Kalppadukal'' part 2 titled as ''Puram'', [[S. K. Vasanthan]]'s memoirs of friendships and cordial interactions with notable personalities including, Sreedharan.<ref name="Manorama2">{{cite web |title=കാലത്തിന്റെ കയ്യൊപ്പുള്ള കാൽപ്പാടുകൾ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/bookreview/2020/04/11/kalppadukal-book-by-s-k-vasanthan.html |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=സാവിത്രി രാജീവനും ടി.ഡി.രാമകൃഷ്ണനും എസ്.ഹരീഷിനും കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാര്‍ഡ് |url=https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/kerala-news/keralasahityaakademi-awards-announced/ |work=Indian Express Malayalam |language=ml}}</ref>
* Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award 2008 for his travelogue ''King Lierinte Europyan Sanchara Padangal''<ref>{{cite web |title=യാത്രാവിവരണം, കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്കാരങ്ങള്‍ |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/malayalam/yatravivaranam-awards/458 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=ml}}</ref>
* Kerala Kalamandalam M. K. K. Nair Award for outstanding contribution in the field of literature.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title= കലാമണ്ഡലം പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു ഇയ്യങ്കോട് ശ്രീധരന് സമഗ്ര സംഭാവനാ പുരസ്‌കാരം |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=168514&u=award |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=ml}}</ref>
* Kerala Kalamandalam 'Mukundaraja Award' for his contributions to Kathakali.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
* [[Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award]] 1997- for poetry collection ''Sanghaganam''.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
* Arts Service International Book Development Committee Award, Paris- for his Aattakkatha ''King Lear''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
* [[UNESCO]] Member International Book Committee Award- for his biography, ''Swapnadanam''.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>
* The first literary award was instituted by the Professor P. Meerakutty Foundation for his autobiography, ''Swapnadanam''.<ref>{{cite news |title=പ്രൊഫസര്‍ മീരാക്കുട്ടി സ്മാരകസാഹിത്യ പുരസ്‌കാരം ഇയ്യങ്കോട് ശ്രീധരന് |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/news/iyyamkodu-sreedharan-bags-prof-meerakkutty-award-1.3137195 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=ml}}</ref>
* First Kaliyachan Award instituted by Cheruthuruthy Kathakali School in memory of [[P. Kunhiraman Nair]].<ref>{{cite news |title=കളിയച്ഛൻ പുരസ്കാരം ഇയ്യങ്കോട് ശ്രീധരന് |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/announcements/2018/10/10/06-tcr-award-to-iyyamkode.html |work=ManoramaOnline}}</ref>
* K. P. Kesava Menon Award<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>
* First prize in the Mathrubhumi Weekly poetry competition for students, 1962
* Kerala Sahitya Samithi Poetry Award 1964

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sreedharan, Iyyamcode}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Indian male short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Indian male essayists]]
[[Category:People from Kozhikode district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award]]

Iyyamcode Sreedharan - Revision history

VernellSteward1 at 20:39, 14 March 2026