Malayalam lost one its Finest novelists with the death of George Varghese Kakkanadan ( 23 April 1935 - 19 October 2011) in Kollam on Wednesday (Oct 19, 2011). He was popularly know as Kakkanadan in the Malayalam literature world.

Born on April 23, 1935 at Thiruvalla, later moved to Kottarakkara, Kakkanadan started his professional career as a school teacher. He quit the job to join Southern Railway as an officer and later shifted to Ministry of Indian Railways. He left the job to pursue a whole time literary career.He published his first work, Kachavadam, in 1963.

76 Year old Kakkanadan was battling cancer for the past few years. He is survived by wife Ammini, two sons and a daughter.

Famous works

Ushnamekhala, Vasoori, Ajnathayude Thazhvara, Japana Pukayila, which won him Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Saakshi are some of his famous works. Two of his works, Parankimala and Aniyara, had been made into films by (late) director Bharathan.

Awards

He was honoured with several awards for his contributions to Malayalam Literature world; among that the most important are listed below:

* Malayala Nadu Cherukatha Award (1971)
* Padma Prabha Award (2002)
* Kendra Sahithya Academy Award (2005)
* Balamaniamma Award (2008)
* Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam "Sahithya Award" (2009)
* Muttathu Varkey Award