Kerala Sahitya Akademi opens its doors, tightens award process

Writer Kalpetta Narayanan, the newly appointed president of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi

The newly appointed management of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi has announced a major overhaul of the functioning of the institution, promising greater inclusivity, a comprehensive administrative audit and stricter, more transparent procedures for awarding literary awards.

Akademi president Kalpetta Narayanan and secretary MP Surendran said the institution would open its doors to writers and cultural practitioners without discrimination and shift from routine programs to a more vibrant cultural ecosystem.

Speaking at the Meet the Press program organized by the Thrissur Press Club on Wednesday, Mr. Narayanan said a large-scale audit of the administrative functioning of the Academy, including the systems governing awarding and other activities, was necessary. Detailed plans will be worked out after examining the functioning of the institution, he said.

The Academy would also seek to make the award selection process more impartial and rigorous. “The politics of the writer is not our concern, what matters is the writing and its value,” Mr. Narayanan said, adding that the award selection procedures would be stricter and fairer.

Mr. Surendran said that the existing award guidelines will be strictly followed and revised whenever necessary to make the process more transparent and flaw-free. The Academy will announce its findings after investigating complaints about previous awards.

Financial crisis

Regarding the financial crisis facing the Akademi, Mr. Surendran said that of the earmarked plan fund of ₹ 3.45 crore for 2026-27, the Akademi has so far received only ₹ 1.20 crore. According to him, ensuring the monthly salaries of the employees will be an immediate priority, with the fact that programs with additional financial obligations will be started only after the basic financial needs of the Academy have been ensured.

The new management also plans to expand the distribution of Akademi publications. Its books, currently available primarily through the Academy itself, would be made available through bookstores and other distribution outlets with adjusted discounts and distribution arrangements. The move is expected to bring in additional revenue.

Nationwide cultural festival

Mr Narayanan said the Akademi was not interested in holding a conventional literary festival only as an annual ritual. Instead, he explored a national cultural festival involving Sahitya Akademi, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy that combined literature, theatre, music and dance.

Mr. Surendran said the proposed Kerala festival will showcase the state’s cultural wealth not only in Kerala but also in cities outside the state. The first edition of the revived festival is to be held in Thrissur, followed by places including Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.

Management said collaboration between various academies and government departments, including tourism, forestry and public works, will help share responsibility as well as financial burden.

Keralam song

Mr. Narayanan also said that the Akademi would work closely with the Thrissur Press Club during its golden jubilee year, given the city’s long tradition of journalism and its contribution to Kerala’s media and cultural history.

On the long-pending Keralam song, the President said the Akademi was yet to look into the issue but expressed a clear preference for a “Keralam song sung by children”.

Published – 30 Sep 2026 19:16 IST