{{Short description|Autonomous body to promote the Malayalam language and literature}} {{More footnotes needed|date=May 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox organization | image = Kerala Sahitya Akademy.JPG | formation = {{start date|df=y|1956|10|15}} | native_name = '''കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി'''<br>Kerala Sahitya Akademi | type = Literary Organisation | headquarters = Thrissur, Kerala, <br>{{IND}} | language = Malayalam | leader_title = Patron | leader_name = Pinarayi Vijayan | leader_title2 = President | leader_name2 = K. Satchidanandan | leader_name3 = C.P. Aboobacker | leader_title3 = Secretary | name = Academy for Malayalam Literature | website = {{URL|keralasahityaakademi.org}} }}
The '''Kerala Sahitya Akademi''' or '''Academy for Malayalam Literature''' is an autonomous body established to promote the Malayalam language and literature. It is situated in the city of Thrissur, Kerala in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_culture/dept_sahithya_akademi.htm |title=Sahitya Akademi |publisher=Government of Kerala |access-date=11 April 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719173818/http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_culture/dept_sahithya_akademi.htm |archive-date=19 July 2010 }}</ref>
==History== The academy was inaugurated on 15 October 1956, by Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the former king of Travancore, in Thiruvananthapuram. It was shifted to its present location at City of Thrissur in September 1957. Though the Kerala Government provides the funding and support for the academy, the administration of the academy is autonomous according to its constitution. The academy recognises superior literary works through its annual literary awards for Poetry, Novel, Story, Drama, Literary criticism, Biography – autobiography, Travelogue, Humour, Translation, Children's literature etc.. {{As of|2016}} the academy is headed by Malayalam short story writer Vaisakhan, who is serving as its president, Khadija Mumtaz as its vice president, and K P Mohanan as its secretary.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tsr.kerala.gov.in/sectors.htm |title = LITERARY AND CULTURAL SOCIETIES |publisher = Government of Kerala |access-date = 2010-05-12 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120218134049/http://www.tsr.kerala.gov.in/sectors.htm |archive-date = 2012-02-18 }}</ref>
==Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award== {{main|Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award}} The Akademi instituted the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958. It is given annually to Malayalam writers for their outstanding books of literary merit. The awards are given in various categories.
==Activities== {{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}} The academy has a library in Kerala. It is an approved doctoral research centre for the universities in Kerala. The Akademi also holds periodic book festivals to encourage reading among the masses. The Akademi has a picture gallery of writers of yester years. The Akademi regularly publishes three journals ''Sahithyalokam'', ''Sahithya Chakravalam'' and ''Malayalam Literary Survey'' (in English). Besides the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, the Akademi awards the illustrious ''Ezhuthachan Puraskaram'', which is named after the father of Malayalam literature Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, yearly to prominent literary figures.
==See also== * Sahitya Akademi * Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi * Kerala Lalithakala Akademi
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ Kerala Sahitya Academy] – official website * [https://web.archive.org/web/20180705200610/http://keralasahityaakademi.org/eng_about.htm Kerala Sahitya Academy: Governing Body] (archived) *[http://www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in Sahitya Akademy: India's National Academy of Letters]
{{Kerala}} {{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}} {{thrissur topics}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Kerala Sahitya Akademi Category:Culture of Kerala Category:Malayalam language Category:Indic literature societies Category:Organisations based in Thrissur Category:Non-profit organisations based in India Category:Language regulators Category:1956 establishments in Kerala Category:Organizations established in 1956