TrivandrumLife>> Renowned poet and social activist B Sugathakumari passed away on Wednesday. She was 86. Sugathakumari was under treatment for Covid 19 at Medical college hospital Thiruvananthapuram. Her condition worsened after she was diagnosed with bronchopneumonia, a complication developed due to Covid 19 infection.
In her literary career spanning over seven decades, Sugathakumari had written several poems and won prestigious awards, including Kendra Sahitya Akademy Award, Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, Vayalar award, Ezhuthachan Puraskaram and Saraswathi Samman.
Apart from literature, Sugathakumari had given a significant contribution to social and environmental issues. She played a major role in Save Silent Valley protest, which was successful in preserving Silent Valley forest in Palakkad. She founded Abhaya, a home for destitute and mentally ill women. While serving as chairperson of Kerala Women’s commission, Sugathakumari had made successful interventions in various issues concerning women.
In 2006, country honoured Sugathakumari with Padmashree award.
Born in 1934 to freedom fighter Bodheswaran and Sanskrit scholar Karthiyayani, Sugathakumari was drawn to the world of literature at a young age. He sister Hridayakumar too was a literary critic and orator. SUgathakumar’s husband Dr K Velayudhan Nair died in 2003. She is survived by daughter Lakshmi.
