Priya A. S.

{{short description|Indian writer of Malayalam literature (born 1967)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox writer | name = Priya A. S. | honorific_prefix = | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Priya AS Reading Oru Bhoomi Oru Veedu Oru Thankakkutti.jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = Malayalam writer Priya A. S. at the launch of her book “Oru Bhoomi Oru Veedu Oru Thankakkutti” photographed on 6 March 2026 by Arun Bhavana. | caption = Priya A. S. at the launch of her book “Oru Bhoomi Oru Veedu Oru Thankakkutti” photographed on 6 March 2026 by Arun Bhavana. | native_name = പ്രിയ ആനന്ദവല്ലി സദാശിവൻ | native_name_lang = Malayalam | birth_name = Priya Anandavalli Sadashivan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1967|05|28}} | birth_place = Eramalloor, Cherthala, Kerala, India | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = Writer, translator | language = Malayalam | nationality = Indian | education = BA (English Literature), MA (Private) | alma_mater = Maharaja's College, Ernakulam | period = 1980s–present | genre = Short story, memoirs, children's literature, translations | subject = | movement = Post-modern | notableworks = | children = Tanmoy (Kunjunni) | relatives = {{ubl|Anandavalli (mother)|K. R. Sadashivan Nair (father)}} | awards = {{ubl|2003 Lalithambika Anterjanam Award|2004 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story|2006 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature|2012 Siddhartha Literary Award|2014 Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize|2020 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature|2023 Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar}} | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = | module = | website = | portaldisp = }}

'''Priya A. S.''' (born 28 May 1967), born '''Priya Anandavalli Sadashivan''', is an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Her oeuvre encompasses short stories, children's literature, translations, and memoirs.<ref name="Priyalokam">{{cite news|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-314715|title=പ്രിയലോകം|author=A. S. Jibina|newspaper=Mathrubhumi|access-date=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106071623/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-314715|archive-date=6 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is a three-time recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and a recipient of the national Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize (2014) and the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar (2023).<ref name="Sahitya Akademi Translation Award - 2014">{{Cite web |url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/pdf/Press_Release_(English)_SATA_2014.pdf |title=Sahitya Akademi Translation Award - 2014 |date=9 March 2015 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="BSP2023">{{cite web |title=Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023 |url=https://www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in/pdf/Pressrelease_BSP-2023.pdf |website=sahitya-akademi.gov.in |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref>

She is best known for her translation of Arundhati Roy's Booker Prize-winning novel ''The God of Small Things'' into Malayalam, titled ''Kunju Karyangalude Odeythampuran''. Roy herself has stated that although the novel has been translated into several languages, no other translation holds as much significance to her as the Malayalam version, as it is the language of the novel's central characters.<ref name="Estha, Rahel now speak Malayalam">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/estha-rahel-now-speak-malayalam/article1156883.ece |title=Estha, Rahel now speak Malayalam |last=K. P. M. Basheer |date=3 January 2012 |work=The Hindu |access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref>

== Early life and education == She had a difficult childhood owing to recurring illnesses, which confined her to hospital stays for extended periods. She has described how the experience of illness turned her towards reading and eventually writing as a means of engaging with the world beyond her immediate circumstances.<ref name="Spainadanam">{{Cite web |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/literature/memoir/2016/sep/19/222341 |title=Spainadanam |website=Madhyamam |date=19 September 2016 |access-date=2019-03-29}}</ref><ref name="Priya A S - Interview">{{Cite web |url=https://video.webindia123.com/p_interviews/literary%20stalwarts/priyaas/interview/index.htm |title=Priya A S - Interview |date=January 27, 2014 |website=Webindia123.com |access-date=2019-03-29}}</ref><ref name="Manorama Interview">{{Cite web |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/interviews/in-conversation-with-writer-priya.html |title=കീറിമുറിച്ചുള്ള വായന അനാവശ്യം: പ്രിയ എ എസ് |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml |date=12 September 2016 |access-date=2019-03-29}}</ref>

After completing her schooling at E.C.E.K Union High School, Kuthiyathodu, she enrolled at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, where she graduated with a degree in English literature.<ref name="Aksharatthinte">{{Cite web |url=https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/news/features/priya-a-s-remembers-writer-poet-and-teacher-b-sujathadevi/ |title=അക്ഷരത്തിന്റെ സൗന്ദര്യവും തലയെടുപ്പും |date=2018-06-27 |website=Indian Express Malayalam |language=ml |access-date=2019-03-29}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Administrative career === Priya worked in administrative positions at Mahatma Gandhi University before joining Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kochi, where she served for over two decades. She retired from CUSAT in 2023 as a section officer.<ref name="Adda247">{{cite web |url=https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/priya-a-s-received-sahitya-akademi-award-2023-for-childrens-literature/ |title=Priya A.S. received Sahitya Akademi Award 2023 for children's literature |website=Adda247 |date=28 June 2023 |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref>

=== Literary career === 500px|thumb|Malayalam writer Priya A. S. at the launch of her book “Oru Bhoomi Oru Veedu Oru Thankakkutti” at Mathrubhumi Books, Kaloor, photographed on 6 March 2026 by Arun Bhavana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Priya entered the Malayalam literary scene during her college years at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, through short stories published in prominent Malayalam magazines. Her initial works appeared in the children's section of ''Mathrubhumi'', including the story "Achan", which was later featured in ''Mathrubhumi Weekly''. Senior students studying MA Malayalam at her college hostel recognized her from her children's magazine stories and offered encouragement, which she has credited as an early source of confidence.<ref name="Manorama Interview" />

Her debut short story anthology, ''Ororo Thirivukal'' (''Various Turns''), was published in 1994, marking the formal beginning of her literary career. Her subsequent collection, ''Manjamarangal Chuttilum'' (''Yellow Trees All Around''), published in 2002 by DC Books, compiled several of her stories exploring family dynamics and emotional currents in everyday life.

=== Short fiction === Her notable collections include ''Enthuppatti Ente Neelappoovinu'' (2008), ''Jagarooka'' (2015 edition; originally awarded in 2004), ''Pookkathirikkan Enikkavathille'', and ''Violet Poochakalku Soo Vaikaan Thonnumpol'' (2017). Her stories frequently address themes of childhood experiences, women's lives, family bonds, societal pressures, and the inner worlds of individuals navigating difficult circumstances.<ref name="Asianet Ath">{{Cite web |url=https://www.asianetnews.com/literature-magazine/reading-the-short-story-ath-by-priya-as-rmixul |title=Reading the short story Ath by Priya AS |website=Asianet News |language=ml |date=7 December 2022 |access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>

=== Translations === Her most celebrated translation is ''Kunju Karyangalude Odeythampuran'' (2011), the Malayalam rendering of Arundhati Roy's ''The God of Small Things'' (1997), published by DC Books. Set in Kerala and dealing with themes of caste, forbidden love, and social taboos, the translation was praised for its authentic integration of local idioms and rhythmic patterns. Roy endorsed the translation as the most significant among all language editions of the novel.<ref name="Estha, Rahel now speak Malayalam" /> The translation earned Priya the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize in 2014. The award, consisting of a cash prize of {{INR}}50,000, a plaque, and a shawl, was presented during a ceremony on 4 September 2015 at Rang Ghar auditorium in Dibrugarh University, Assam, where 24 translators from various Indian languages were honoured.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi Translation Award - 2014" />

Her other significant translation work is ''Janmanthara Vagdhanangal'' (2001), the Malayalam version of Jaishree Misra's ''Ancient Promises'' (1999), also published by DC Books. The novel, which traces a woman's journey through arranged marriage, separation, and self-realization, addresses conflicts between tradition and modernity. Priya's translation of this work received the V. K. Unnikrishnan Smaraka Award for its sensitive handling of psychological nuances and cultural contexts.<ref name="Priya A S - Interview" />

=== Children's literature === Children's literature forms a substantial and acclaimed portion of Priya's body of work. She has stated that her entry into children's writing was unplanned, beginning with ''Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu'' (''House of Painted Butterflies'', 2008), published by DC Books. The work centres on a butterfly named Chitra, exploring life's lessons through the creature's journey in a natural setting, using the butterfly's adventures as a metaphor for personal discovery and environmental harmony. The collection won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 2006.<ref name="Children's Literature 1959 - 2006">{{cite web |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ml_aw13.htm |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106042311/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ml_aw13.htm |archive-date=6 November 2012 |language=ml}}</ref>

When her son Tanmoy was young, she captured his childhood in the collection ''Ammem Kunjunneem Kunjunneem Ammem'', which received widespread recognition and won the Siddhartha Literary Award in 2012.<ref name="LiteratureCurry">{{cite web |url=https://literaturecurry.com/news-details/1402/priya-as-gets-kendriya-sahitya-akademi-award |title=Priya A.S. gets Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for children's literature |website=LiteratureCurry |access-date=2023-06-29}}</ref>

Her most celebrated children's work is the novel ''Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal'' (''The Children Who Never Withered''), published on 1 November 2018 by Poorna Publications as part of the Sammanapothi series edited by K. Sreekumar. The novel was inspired by the 2018 Kerala floods. While working at CUSAT during the floods, Priya witnessed the relief camps set up on campus by the university's Department of Instrumentation, where she observed children from diverse backgrounds displaying resilience and unity in the face of the natural disaster. She has stated that her original story idea was entirely transformed by the experience of the floods, and every life she observed at the relief camp became an inspiration for the novel.<ref name="Adda247" /><ref name="Frontlist">{{cite web |url=https://www.frontlist.in/priya-a-s-receives-kendra-sahitya-akademi-bal-sahitya-puraskar-2023 |title=Priya A S Receives Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023 |website=Frontlist |date=6 November 2022 |access-date=2023-06-29}}</ref> The novel's publication marked the inauguration of the children's literature section on IE Malayalam, the Malayalam news portal of ''The Indian Express''.<ref name="Adda247" />

''Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal'' won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 2020<ref name="KSA 2020">{{Cite web|title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi awards announced, Sethu and Sreedharan honoured with fellowships|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/aug/17/kerala-sahitya-akademi-awards-announced-sethu-and-sreedharan-honoured-with-fellowships-2345971.html|access-date=2021-08-18|website=The New Indian Express|date=17 August 2021}}</ref> and the national Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2023, which carries a cash prize of {{INR}}50,000 and an engraved copper plaque. The Malayalam jury for the 2023 award comprised Dr Paul Manalil, Mundoor Sethumadhavan, and B. S. Rajeev, who selected her novel from among ten recommended works.<ref name="BSP2023" /><ref name="TheHindu BSP">{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/priya-as-gets-kendra-sahitya-akademi-award-for-childrens-literature/article67002572.ece |title=Priya A.S. gets Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for children's literature |work=The Hindu |date=23 June 2023 |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref>

300px|thumb|Priya A S in 2013 == Personal life == Priya has a son, Tanmoy, also known as Kunjunni. Following her retirement from CUSAT in 2023, she resides in her ancestral home at Eramalloor in Alappuzha district.<ref name="Adda247" />

== Bibliography ==

=== Short story anthologies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Title !! Year !! Publisher !! Notes |- | ''Manjamarangal Chuttilum'' || 2002 || DC Books, Kottayam || {{ISBN|978-8126405190}}; won Lalithambika Anterjanam Award (2003) |- | ''Enthuppatti Ente Neelappoovinu'' || 2008 || DC Books || {{ISBN|978-81-264-1930-2}} |- | ''Jagarooka'' || 2015 || Poorna Publications || {{ISBN|9788130016931}}; won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story (2004) |- | ''Ormmayanu Njan'' || 2016 || DC Books || {{ISBN|978-8126466894}} |- | ''Parippu Jeevitham'' || 2016 || Kelkkam Audio Books || {{ISBN|9780000104830}} (audio book) |- | ''Violet Poochakalku Soo Vaikaan Thonnumpol'' || 2017 || Mathrubhumi || {{ISBN|978-81-8266-754-9}} |}

=== Translations === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Title !! Original work !! Original author !! Year !! Publisher |- | ''Janmanthara Vagdhanangal'' || ''Ancient Promises'' (1999) || Jaishree Misra || 2001 || DC Books |- | ''Kunju Karyangalude Odeythampuran'' || ''The God of Small Things'' (1997) || Arundhati Roy || 2011 || DC Books |}

=== Children's literature === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Title !! Year !! Publisher !! Notes |- | ''Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu'' || 2008 || DC Books || {{ISBN|978-81-264-0994-5}}; Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2006) |- | ''Ammem Kunjunnim Mookkurummi Mookkurummi'' || 2017 || Mathrubhumi || {{ISBN|978-81-8266-754-9}} |- | ''Tha Enna Aniyathikutty'' || 2017 || Poorna Publications || {{ISBN|9788130019529}} |- | ''Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal'' || 2018 || Poorna Publications || {{ISBN|978-8130021171}}; Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2020); Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar (2023) |- | ''Oru Bhoomi Oru Veedu Oru Thankakkutti'' || 2026 || Mathrhubhumi Books || {{ISBN|9789359628578}} |}

=== Memoirs === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Title !! Year !! Publisher !! Notes |- | ''Maayakkaazhchakal'' || 2006 || DC Books || {{ISBN|9788126408108}} |- | ''Katha Bakki'' || 2007 || DC Books || {{ISBN|978-8126415557}} |- | ''Fantas Minta'' || 2017 || Green Books || {{ISBN|978-9386440815}} |}

== Awards and honours ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Award !! Awarded for !! Awarding body |- | 2003 || Lalithambika Anterjanam Award (Best Young Woman Writer) || ''Manjamarangal Chuttilum'' || Kerala Sahitya Akademi |- | 2004 || Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story || ''Jagarooka'' || Kerala Sahitya Akademi |- | 2006 || Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature || ''Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu'' || Kerala Sahitya Akademi |- | -- || Kerala Sahitya Akademi Endowment (Sri Padmanabhaswamy Endowment for Children's Literature) || ''Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu'' || Kerala Sahitya Akademi |- | -- || S.B.I. Literary Award || || State Bank of India |- | -- || V. K. Unnikrishnan Smaraka Award (Translation) || ''Janmanthara Vagdhanangal'' || |- | -- || Grihalakshmi Award || || Grihalakshmi (Mathrubhumi Group) |- | -- || Ankanam Sahitya Award || || |- | -- || Ramu Kariat Award || || |- | 2012 || Siddhartha Literary Award || ''Ammem Kunjunneem Kunjunneem Ammem'' || |- | 2014 || Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize || ''Kunju Karyangalude Odeythampuran'' || Sahitya Akademi |- | 2020 || Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature || ''Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal'' || Kerala Sahitya Akademi |- | 2023 || Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar || ''Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal'' || Sahitya Akademi |}

<ref name="MT Vasudevan chosen for Lalithambika Award">{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-03-31/thiruvananthapuram/27270707_1_malayalam-literature-cash-prize-memento |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126130406/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-03-31/thiruvananthapuram/27270707_1_malayalam-literature-cash-prize-memento |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2013 |title=MT Vasudevan chosen for Lalithambika Award |date=31 March 2003 |work=The Times of India |access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="Sahitya Akademi awards announced">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/25/stories/2005052513930400.htm |title=Sahitya Akademi awards announced |date=25 May 2005 |work=The Hindu |access-date=20 July 2015}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="Priya A S - Interview" /><ref name="BSP2023" /><ref name="KSA 2020" />

== See also == * List of Malayalam-language authors by category * List of Malayalam-language authors * Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature * Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize

{{Portal|India|Literature}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== Further reading == * {{cite book|author=Sreedevi K. Nair|title=Ten Women Writers of Kerala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LJri-J4wgnsC&pg=PR20|year=2012|publisher=SSS Publications|isbn=978-81-902282-6-8|pages=20-}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/bookreview/2019/01/05/fantas-minta-book-by-priya-as.html |title=ഫന്റാസ് മിന്റ: സ്വപ്നങ്ങളുടെ നീർക്കുമിളകൾ |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml |access-date=2019-03-29}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/literaryworld/2025/01/12/priya-as-malayalam-writer.html |title=ജീവിക്കാനും എഴുതാനും പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് അക്ഷരങ്ങൾ: പ്രിയ എ എസ് |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml |date=12 January 2025 |access-date=2025-03-03}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.asianetnews.com/literature-magazine/reading-pokkuveyilum-poya-sesham-a-short-story-by-priya-as-qvkfo0 |title=പോക്കുവെയിലും പോയ ശേഷം: സ്‌നേഹത്തെ തിരയുമ്പോൾ |website=Asianet News |language=ml |date=1 July 2021 |access-date=2025-03-03}}

== External links == {{commons category|Priya A. S.}} * {{Cite web |url=http://womenwritersofkerala.com/author.php?author_id=417&lang=en |title=Women Writers of Kerala - Priya A S |date=2019-03-29 |website=womenwritersofkerala.com |access-date=2019-03-29}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhqf863Bbs0 |title=Priya A.S at DC Books International Book Fair |last=DC Books |date=2011-01-05 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-03-29}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKZ-3Vp_DeM |title=Life And Science Astonishing Me - Priya S |last=Kerala Freethinkers Forum - kftf |date=2016-11-03 |website=YouTube |access-date=2019-03-29}} * [https://dcbookstore.com/authors/priya-a.-s. Priya A. S.] at DC Books Store

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Category:Living people Category:1967 births Category:Writers from Alappuzha district Category:Malayalam-language writers Category:Malayalam short story writers Category:Writers from Kochi Category:20th-century Indian novelists Category:Indian women short story writers Category:Translators to Malayalam Category:20th-century Indian translators Category:21st-century Indian translators Category:21st-century Indian short story writers Category:21st-century Indian novelists Category:Indian women children's writers Category:Indian children's writers Category:Women writers from Kerala Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize Category:Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, alumni Category:Cochin University of Science and Technology Category:Indian memoirists Category:Women memoirists Category:20th-century Indian women novelists Category:21st-century Indian women novelists