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{{Short description|Indian writer (born 1967)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = K. Sreekumar
| image = K. Sreekumar 05.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|12|31|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Chottanikkara]], [[Ernakulam district]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Writer
| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater = [[Maharaja's College, Kochi]]
| period =
| genre = Children's literature
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks =
| spouse = R. Indu
| partner =
| children = 2
| relatives =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = {{bullet list|[[Bal Sahitya Puraskar]] (2012)|[[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] (2003&2022)|[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]}}
}}
'''K. Sreekumar''' a Malayalam language writer and journalist from [[Kerala]], India. His book ''Malayalam Sangeetha Nataka Charitram'', a book on Malayalam musical dramas won four awards, including the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature]] (2003) and the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]. For overall contribution to children's literature, he received the [[Bal Sahitya Puraskar]], the children's literature award of [[Sahitya Akademi]] in 2012, and the C G Santhakumar Award, instituted by the [[Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature]], in 2016. In 2023, he received Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2022, for his children's book ''Chakkkaramampazham''.

==Biography==
K. Sreekumar was born in [[Chottanikkara]] in [[Ernakulam district]] to K. M. Lakshmanan Nair and A. S. Visalakshi, on 31 December 1967.<ref name="green">{{cite web |title=K Sreekumar |url=https://greenbooksindia.com/dr-k-sreekumar}}</ref><ref name="KMA">{{Cite web |title=Dr.K Sreekumar {{!}} Kerala Media Academy |url=https://keralamediaacademy.org/archives/?q=content/drk-sreekumar |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=keralamediaacademy.org}}</ref> His parents were teachers.<ref name="Madhyamam">{{cite news |last1=Pradeep |first1=M |title=ബാലസാഹിത്യത്തിന്റെ മുഖശ്രീ {{!}} Chakkaramambazham- Kerala Sahitya Academy award- children's literature- Dr. K. Sreekuma {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/culture/literature/chakkaramambazham-kerala-sahitya-academy-award-childrens-literature-dr-k-sreekuma-1206818 |work=www.madhyamam.com |date=24 September 2023 |language=ml}}</ref> After completing his M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed. degrees in Malayalam literature and a P.G. Diploma in Journalism, he obtained a doctorate degree for research on Malayalam musical dramas.<ref name="puzha">{{cite web |title=Author Details- K. Sreekumar |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=1876 |website=www.puzha.com |access-date=2025-07-16 |archive-date=2012-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007154313/http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=1876 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sreekumar's writing career was influenced by his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Malayalam at [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]], under distinguished teachers such as [[Thuravoor Viswambharan]], [[M. Thomas Mathew]], [[K. G. Sankara Pillai]], and [[George Irumbayam]].<ref name="Madhyamam"/> After his studies, he worked as a journalist in [[Mathrubhumi]] from 1993 to 2016.<ref name="puzha"/><ref name="parag">{{cite web |title=K. Sreekumar – Winner Author, BLBA 2021 – Interview {{!}} Parag |url=https://www.paragreads.in/parag-nurtures/big-little-book-award/blba-2021/dr.-k.-sreekumar-winner-illustrator-blba-2021-interview/}}</ref> During this period, he was also responsible for many publications under the Mathrubhumi Group, including the [[Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu|Mathrubhumi weekly]] and Sunday special editions of newspaper.<ref name="KMA" />

He is currently the coordinator of the Tirur Thunchan Memorial Trust and a consultant editor at Poorna Publications, Kozhikode.<ref name="Madhyamam"/>

===Personal life===
Sreekumar and his wife R. Indu, who is also the principal of Balussery G.G.H.S.S. school, have two children, Vyshakhan, a software engineer, and Nayanathara, an archaeology student.<ref name="Madhyamam"/> They lives in [[Balussery]] in [[Kozhikode district]] now.<ref name="KMA" />

==Literary career==
Sreekumar's first published work was ''Unnayayem Ponnu Muthassim'', published in 1996.<ref name="Madhyamam"/> Of the 200 books he wrote, 186 are in the children's literature category.<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite news |last1=Meethal |first1=Amiya |title=Seasoned writer's 200th book is milestone in Malayalam children's litt |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/Nov/14/seasoned-writers-200th-book-is-milestone-inmalayalam-childrens-litt-2383318.html |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=14 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Among them, the books related to drama or theatre include ''Malayalam Sangeetha Nataka Charitram'' (meaning: History of Malayalam Musical Theatre), ''Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavatar'' (biography of Malayalam theatre actor [[Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar]]), ''Orumugham - Janapriya Nataka Vediyude Midippukal'', and ''Andrews Master'', the biography of Malayalam theatre person Andrews Master, published by [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]].<ref name="green"/><ref name="Times">{{cite news |title=K Sreekumar bags children's literature award |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/K-Sreekumar-bags-childrens-literature-award/articleshow/51102737.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=23 February 2016}}</ref> His notable works of children's literature include three volume book ''Nammude Nadodikathakalum Aythihyangalum'' (meaning:Our Folktales and Legends), published in 2010, ''Naradan'', ''Ganapati'', ''Karnan'', ''Kunchirama Circus'', ''Kuchelan'', ''Lalithangi'', ''Unnikatha'', ''Viddi! Kushmanda'', ''Ozhivukalam'', ''Chakkaramampazham'' and ''Balakathasaram'' (published in 2018).<ref name="Indian Express"/> Some of the stories he wrote are taught in classes 3 and 4 under the Kerala school syllabus.<ref name="Indian Express"/> A poetry collection called Snehachanta has also been published.<ref>{{cite news |title=ഡോ.കെ.ശ്രീകുമാർ |url=https://archives.mathrubhumi.com/books/special/mbifl-2020/speakers/dr-k-sreekumar-mbifl2020-1.4468394 |work=Mathrubhumi Archives |date=23 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

The children's book ''Soviet Naatile Balakathakalum Nadodikathakalum'', on children's stories and folktales from [[Soviet Union]] was published in two volumes by Mathrubhumi.<ref name="parag"/> The children's novel ''Kannur'' was about children becoming victims of political unrest in [[Kannur district]], which he witnessed during his journalism times.<ref name="Madhyamam"/> The stories in ''Chakkaramambazham'', which won 2023 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] are developed around new topics such as gender equality, adoption, floods, and COVID-19.<ref name="Madhyamam"/>

His 200th book is, 1312-page two-volume book ''Malayala Balasahitya Charithram'', which documents the history of Malayalam children's literature from ancient folk tales and ballads to writings of 2021.<ref name="Indian Express"/>

His next book to be released is the biography of [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]]. MT had already announced that he would not write an autobiography. His stance was that since his life had been covered in many books he written, there was no point in writing another autobiography.<ref name="Janayugom">{{Cite web |date=2024-12-26 |title=ജീവചരിത്രം പുറത്തിറങ്ങും മുമ്പേ എംടി വിട വാങ്ങി: വേദനയിൽ ഡോ. കെ ശ്രീകുമാർ |url=https://janayugomonline.com/mt-bid-farewell-before-the-release-of-the-biography-dr-k-sreekumar/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Janayugom Online |language=ml}}</ref> But one day, he unexpectedly called Sreekumar to his flat and asked him to write a biography.<ref name="Janayugom" /> MT died when the writing was ninety percent complete.<ref name="Janayugom" /> The 1008-page book, which comprehensively documents MT's personal and creative life, is scheduled for release on 13 August 2025, the day of Uthrattathi ([[Uttara Bhadrapada]]) in the month of [[Karkkitakam|Karkkidakam]], the birthday of MT according to [[Nakshatra|birth star]] and [[Malayalam calendar]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=ലേഖകൻ |first=മാധ്യമം |date=2025-03-05 |title=എം.ടിയുടെ ജീവചരിത്രഗ്രന്ഥം എഴുതിത്തീർന്നതായി ഡോ. കെ. ശ്രീകുമാർ; 'ഞാനേറ്റെടുത്തതിൽ ഏറ്റവും ശ്രമകരമായ ദൗത്യം' {{!}} Dr K Sreekumar says MTs biography has been written {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/culture/literature/drksreekumar-says-mts-biography-has-been-written-1386234 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.madhyamam.com |language=ml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-14 |title=ദിവസവും ഒന്നരമണിക്കൂർവരെ നീണ്ട സംസാരം; പൂർത്തിയായത് 1008 പേജിൽ എം.ടിയുടെ ജീവചരിത്രം |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/literature/news/mt-vasudevan-nair-biography-k-sreekumar-1.10746262 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref> The book is written by combining information gathered from MT's relatives, friends, and cultural activists associated with MT, as well as things MT told him directly.<ref name="Janayugom" /> The book does not have a foreword or introduction. Sreekumar decided that MT's biography did not need an introduction by anyone else.<ref name="Janayugom" />

==Awards and honors==
''Malayalam Sangeetha Nataka Charitram'', a books on Malayalam musical dramas won four awards, including the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature]] (2003) and the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]].<ref name="puzha"/> Sreekumar received the [[Bal Sahitya Puraskar]], the children's literature award of [[Sahitya Akademi]], Government of India in 2012 for his comprehensive contribution to the field of children's literature.<ref>{{cite news |title=കെ.ശ്രീകുമാറിന് കേന്ദ്രസാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാര്‍ഡ്‌ - Latest News - Mathrubhumi |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=297363 |work=www.mathrubhumi.com |language=ml |archive-date=2012-08-27 |access-date=2025-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827023434/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=297363 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2012 May, he received the Sree Padmanabha Swami children's literature award, instituted by Gramam Samskarika Vedi for his children's novel ''Ozhivukalam''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=archive |first=From our online |date=2008-11-25 |title=Children's literature award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2008/Nov/25/childrens-literature-award-2325.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In 2016, he received the C G Santhakumar Award for overall contribution to children's literature, instituted by the [[Kerala State Institute of Children's Literature]].<ref name="Times"/> In 2023, he received [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] (for the year 2022) for his children's book ''Chakkkaramampazham''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2023-07-01 |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi fellowships for M M Basheer, N Prabhakaran |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Jul/01/kerala-sahitya-akademi-fellowships-for-m-m-basheer-n-prabhakaran-2590213.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He also received several other awards including [[Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award]], [[Cherukad Award]], Bhima Children's Literature Award, Yuva Puraskar of Calcutta Bharatheeya Bhasha Parishad, Kadavanad Award and SBT Award.<ref name="green"/><ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |title=K Sreekumar |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/mbifl-2020/speakers/k-sreekumar-mbifl-2020-aaef96d5 |work=[[Mathrubhumi]] |date=15 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

As a journalist Sreekumar also received the Kerala State Media Award for General Reporting.<ref name="Manorama">{{cite web |title=K Sreekumar |url=https://manoramahortus.com/speaker/k-sreekumar-2/ |website=Manorama Hortus : Celebrates Art and Literature {{!}} SUBHASH PARK, KOCHI, 27, 28, 29 and 30, NOVEMBER 2025 |publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]] |date=16 October 2024}}</ref> The award went to the news series ''Aashubhayatra Arakshitayatra'', which deals with the problems of train travel in Kerala that time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mathrubhumi Latest News ഡോ. കെ.ശ്രീകുമാറിന് സംസ്ഥാന മാധ്യമ പുരസ്‌കാരം |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=260151 |work=www.mathrubhumi.com |archive-date=2012-03-20 |access-date=2025-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320133221/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=260151 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sreekumar, K.}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language novelists]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Novelists from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, alumni]]
[[Category:Journalists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Writers from Ernakulam district]]

K. Sreekumar - Revision history

MaximilianGreenb at 05:55, 2 May 2026