Priya A. S.: All About Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award Winner!

Priya A. S. is an Indian writer who belongs to the Malayalam literature. A post-modern writer, Priya’s writings consist of short stories, children’s literature, translations, and memoirs. Some of her acclaimed works include Pookkathirikkan Enikkavathille, Kunju Karyangalude Odeythampuran, and Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu.

A recipient of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for children’s literature in 2023, Priya has also won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award thrice in the past.

Physical Stats

Priya A. S Family

Priya was born on May 28, 1967, to K. R. Sadashivan Nair and Anandavalli, a teacher couple. The writer went through a difficult childhood as she suffered from various diseases.

Relationships

Priya is married to Mr. Unni and the couple has a son Tanmay, who is also known by the name Kunjunni.

Education

Priya did her schooling at E.C.E.K Union High School, Kuthiyathodu. Later, she joined Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam to pursue her graduation in Malayalam literature. The writer also holds a Master’s degree which she secured through a private course.

Priya A. S Awards

In 2003, Priya won the first major award in her career, the Lalithambika Anterjanam Award for the best young woman writer. She won the award for ‘Manjamarangal Chuttilum’, a short story anthology. It was followed by Kerala Sahitya Akademi’s annual award for story in 2004.

Priya got the award for Jagarooka, another short story anthology written by her. In 2006, the writer was recognized with Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children’s Literature for her collection ‘Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu’.

Priya won the same awards for the second time in 2010 for ‘Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal’, her other collection. The writer is also a recipient of the Siddhartha Literary Award in 2012 for ‘ Ammem Kunjunneem Kunjunneem Ammem’,  her work for children.

After a decade, Priya went on to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for the third time in 2014. It was the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize for translating ‘Kunju Karyangalude Odeythampuran’, a Booker Prize-winning novel written by Arundhati Roy. For the novel ‘Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal’, written in 2018, Priya won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraksar for the year 2023.

Priya has also been a recipient of several other awards such as the State Bank of India Literary Award, V. K. Unnikrishnan Award for Translation, Ramu Kariat Award, Grihalakshmi Award, and Ankanam Sahitya Award.

Controversies

There are no known controversies available about Priya in public sources.

Priya A. S Profession

At Maharajas College, Priya always used to participate in Malayalam literature competitions, even though she was a student of BA. English Literature. The writer also went on to win prizes in those competitions.

Later, Priya’s short stories were published in Mathrubhumi’s children’s article section. Eventually, her story ‘Achan’ was published in Mathrubhoomi weekly as well. Many of Priya’s stories including ‘Ammem Kunjunnim Kunjunnim Ammem’ and ‘Ammem Kunjunnim Mookkurummi Mookkurummi’ were based on her son Kunjunni.

Apart from the ones mentioned earlier, some of Priya’s short story anthologies include Ororo Thirivukal, Priya A. S.-inte Kathakal, and Violet Poochakalku Soo Vaikaan Thonnumpol.

When it comes to children’s literature, her contributions include Kathakatha Painkili and Tha Enna Aniyathikutty. Priya has also written several memoirs including Ozhukkil Orila, Maayakkaazhchakal, and Thanmayam.

Priya worked with the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and retired as a section officer.

Priya A. S Net worth

Priya’s main source of income is the royalty earned from writing. Reportedly, her net worth as of 2023 stands somewhere between $ 1 million to $ 5 million.

Lesser Known Facts About Priya A. S.

• Once many butterflies came flying into Priya’s kitchen. The writer felt that they are asking her to write a story. On another occasion, a mother came to Priya and told her that her son finds it very difficult to learn Malayalam. Suddenly the story of butterflies came to Priya’s mind and it led to the birth of her book ‘ Chithrasalabhangalude Veedu’. 

• During her study at Maharaja’s College, Priya’s story was never published in the college magazine. However, when her memoir was published in the later years, the writer showed it to Abhay Kumar who was the editor of the college magazine during her college days.  On a lighter note, Priya told him that it was revenge for not publishing her story earlier.

• When her son Kunjunni was a kid, Priya used to tell stories to him. Since he hated stories with sad endings, the writer changed them to happy endings while telling him stories.

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